Evening star., 1940-07-28

Washingtonian and eminent
m near the National Hotel.
1923, this celebrated Kentuckian by
adoption, set forth in a resolution,
introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatives, his sentiments relative
to the then provinces of South
America, which reads:
In Congress, United States Of
North America February 10, 1921,
Mr.. Clay submitted the following
resolution which was adopted:
Resolved. That the House OF
Representative participate with the
people of the United States in the
deep interest which they feel for
the success of the Spanish pioneers
| OF South America, which are strug-
Cling to establish their liberty and
independence: And that they will
give their constitutional support to
the President of the United States
whenever he may deem it expedient
to recognize the sovereignty and
independence of any of the said
provinces"
Watterson Birth.
Another adopted son of Kentucky.
who was born in this city, al 235
Pennsylvania avenue. February is.
1910, near the National Hotel, was
Henry Watterson
This noted editor Of the Louisville
. ('OllT1 TNlIrT0 O a yoncitin,1 !, = oll
for so years, spent the first 20 years
OF his life in Washington, his father,
Harvey Magee Watterson, having
come here as member of the House
OF Representatives from Tennessee
in 1899, and served during the
Twenty-sixth and Twenty
Congresses.
Henry Watterson began his news
paper work in Washington in
peculiar way. When 13 years of age,
| so the story goes, together with one
of his intimate boy friends, George
! w. Adams. who afterWard became
one Of the proprietors of The Star.
and boy named Phillips. he went
down to the river to swim. There
were number of boys in the water.
and crv of boy drowned" was
raised, When there appeared to be
no chance of saving the boy they all
scampered to the shore picked out
their clothing and by the clothing
remaining unclaimed identified the
drowned boy as young Phillips.
Watterson and Adams evidently had
the news instinct which was later to
make them both successful news
papermen. and on their way home
! they stopped at The Star Office,
where Watterson wrote an account
OF the drowning, his first newspaper
work.
"Marse" Henry Watterson, as he
is often called, during his residence
/ In Washington worked as a cor
respondent and editorial writer. and
In 1860 was employed on the Union
and States, the publishing office
being at the northwest corner Of
Seventh and D streets NV. where
also was published the National
| 1ntelligencer Mr.. Watterson was
| then residing on the south side Of
G street between Fourteenth and
Fifteenth streets.
! During the Civil War he entered
the Confederate service as aide to
Gen N. B. Forrest, later being
/ assigned to the staff of Gen.
Leonidas Polk. and served as chief
! of scouts in Gen Joseph E.
Johnston's army. For many wears
he was active in Democratic politics,
and was Temporary chairman of the
| Democratic National Convention at
St Louis in 1876: served in the
Forty-fourth Congress from Ken
lucky. and declined denomination.
| Again, delegate to the Democratic
National Convention at Cincinnati.
1880; at CHICAGO. 1894: at St Louis
1888. and at CHICAGO In 1892 He
died in 1921 and is buried in Louis
Vile Ky.
Beau Hickman Fame.
A celebrated character who was
almost a signpost in front of the
| National, many years ago, was Beau
Hickman. just how Beau came to
stop here is interesting.
After he became short In
finances as has been written. "and
had let some months pass without
settling his board bills as formerly.
the proprietors of Browns Hotel
Qater known as the Metropolitan),
which place Beau "honored" with
his patronage, informed him finally
that his bills we're not paid as
presented. and that, perhaps. he had
lust as we'll step across to the
National and share his patronage
with that house. All right, mine
host, cheerfully responded Beau,
and forthwith proceeded to the Ma
tional, where he ordered the best
rooms in the house. and, to his
astonishment. he was permitted to
remain several months before his
bills were presented. This unusual
indulgence was occasioned by the
mistake of visitor, who mistook
Beau for Gen. Hickman of Ken
| lucky, and the proprietor. hearing
him addressed as Gen. Hickman "a
mistaken identity which Beau was
very innocent of correcting), and
knowing him to be reputed very
wealthy, was unwilling to disturb
his opulent guest with the usual
monthly statement of account"
Which only goes to prove that It
70 III