Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
y. S. to Take Watterson's Birth place

and Rev. DR.. Burgess Money to pay the ex-
pense of the expedition, we told, was bor-
rowed, land the loan repaid from funds raised
by Gen. Mercer and Rev. William Meade aft
erward Bishop Meade Of Virginia"
In an early sketch of this most notable
undertaking we are told:
They sailed November Is, 1917; Mills re-
marking to one of his associates in these move
ments, as he about to embark, This Is the
most important enterprise in which have ever
been engaged Arriving in England in Deem
Der, they were courteouSly received by his royal
highness the Duke Of Gloucester patron and
president, and by the other officers of the
African Institution. Mr.. Wherefore introduced
them to Lord Bathurst, secretary of state for
the colonies, who gave them letters to the gov
ernor and other officers at Sierra Leone, direct
ing them to aid the explorers in their
plorations.
at Sierra Leone March %, 1918. The governor
and other officers received them with great per-
sonal kindness, and very literally obeyed the
instructions of the home government as to fur
nishing facilities for inquiry, but did not con-
ceal their unwillingness that an American
colony should be established in their vicinity.
The principal merchants felt the same unwill-
ingness.
They were more cordially received by the
members of the Friendly Society," instituted
among the colonists at the suggestion of Paul
Cuffee in 1911. Its president, John KEEL who
had been a slave in the West Indies and the
United States, entered heartily into their plans
accompanied them on some of their explora-
tions and introduced them to native chiefs
over whom he possessed much influence.
They examined the coast far as Sherbro,
obtained promises that, on the arrival of colo
nists, suitable land should be furnished for
their settlement, and being unable, for want Of
time and funds, to visit the BaSsa Country,
Cape Palmas, Accra and the Blight of Benin.
as they desired. returned to Sierra Leone, and,
May %. embarked for England on their home
ward voyage.
when they left home, Mills was suffering
from pulmonary disease. The climate of Eng
land aggravated it. That of Africa suspended
its operation, as it often does. few days
after leaving Sierra Leone it returned aided
by severe cold; and on the 10th of June ne
gently expired. and at sunset his body was
committed to the ocean"
THOUGH Capt. Elias B. Caldwell came to
this city to accept Federal employment,
yet he soon became a most active and valuable
citizen Of the District in many ways He was
in the first chamber of the local Legislature in
1907; as well as in the second chamber, 18O8
in which he served as president, and later in
the common council of 1922.
In 1914 when the British burned Washington,
he was captain of the Washington Light Horse
Cavalry, and was ordered to remove and de-
stroy forage and provisions in front of the
enemy. withholding a man of efhciency-he
no doubt did to the best of his ability Just
what he did with his cavalry at the Battle Of
BladenSburg the writer has no knowledge but
he believes that he undoubtedly at least saved
his horses and guns by hiding them over in
Virginia somewhere and that his men all
lived to draw pensions later on, as there were
few casualties except among Barney's men at
this engagement.
The fire on Christmas eve at the White
House but reminds one of the pathetic plight Of
the heroic and noble Dolly Madison when the
British burned Washington If Capt. Caldwell
had Just turned his cavalry over to Queen Dolly
different story might be written of the con-
fiagraion Of August "a, 1914
Poor Dolly did not fare quite as well as