Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-12-02

up to that time laid out according to the
rules of art, in this country.
In May, 1851, Downing came to Washington
and began his labors, taking personal charge
of the grounds between Seventh and Twelfth
streets, near the center of which his memorial
now stands. Beside the Mall he also designed
the Improvements to the square south of the
White House, and to him is due in large meas
ure as one writer has said, "the present bril-
hancy and beauty of Lafayette Square"
In this project, Mr.. Downing was ably assisted
by Mr.. w. D. Breckenridge. the botanist of
the Wilkes Expedition of 1888, who was placed
in charge of the Botanic Garden in 1850,
well as by that celebrated horticulturist, John
Saul of Washington, D. c., of whom it has
been said that he did more toward the develop
ment of California, by sending there, from his
greenhouses in this city, vast numbers of plants
and trees-the fruit from which produces today
such an enormous revenue for that State-than
did Suter in the discovery there of gold
Downings end was sudden and tragic, and
occurred when he was at the pinnacle Of his
fame He was, undoubtedly. very able and
lovabe man, and his death was mourned
throughout the United States by those who
knew him personally, and also by those who
only knew him through the reading of his
articles, mainly in the Horticultural, of which
he was editor.
In company with his wife and her mother,
sister and younger brother, together with
lady friend, Mrs. Wadsworth, he left his
home, Highland Gardens overlooking New
burgh, N. Y, and embarked on the Hudson
River steamboat Henry Clay, bound for New
port The steamer had left Albany at 7
O'Clock am. for New York. and the disaster
which sent to their deaths more than 10
persons took place at 4 o'clock in the after
noon, about az miles from Yonkers
THE thrilling details are hard to depict, so
dreadful was the calamity. The Henry
Clay and another steamboat called the Ar
menia left Albany about the same time, each
crowded with passengers, the former having
between four and five hundred on board.
At the start, the Armenia was in the lead,
and the vessels began racing for the advantage
which would result in reaching the various
landings first, where additional passengers and
freight awaited the f1eetest of the two For
many miles the Armenia led, but was finally
passed by the Henry Clay. both vessels crowd
ing on every ounce of steam their boilers
could carry.
The sides of the boat nearest the engine room
became so hot that it was almost impossible
to pass from one end of the steamer to the other.
Finally, the fears of the passengers were
realized, the vessel took fire about midships,
and the saving of the boat became SO utterly
hopeless within five minutes after the flames
broke out that it was abandoned, and her
head turned toward the east bank of the
river in order to run it ashore. The boat
struck ~ miles below Yonkers.
During the critical period on board. when
everything was chaos and confusion, his self
possession is said never to have failed him.
He impaired wise counsel to his friends, and
even climbed to the upper deck for articles OF
furniture upon which they might float ashore.
When he returned to the lower deck, his wife