davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-19

Samuel Davidson, infant children Of
John Davidson; Margaret Davidson,
and Thomas Harris, for himself and
Eleanor, his wife"
Later on in years. the original IS lots
in this square were subdivided and in
some cases combined and even dupli-
cate numbers crept in. so that in 1887
We find on New York avenue the follow
ing owners: Lot l, at the nothwest cor
ner of Fourteenth, occupied by the
Clarendon Hotel-A. Gleason, lot had
three buildings on it: on lot there
was the building of the Young Mems
Christian Association; lots 3, 4. S. 6
and were then owned by John T.
Lehman. and upon which was the Lem
man Building; the National Savings Ss
Trust Co., chartered by Congress in
1867, being on lot s, on the corner.
On the Fifteenth street side Welcker
had lots 6, 10, II and IL, and the Co.
lumbar (now George Washington Uni
versity), covered lots 9, 10 and II, at
the southeast corner of Fifteenth and
H streets. On H street, j. T. Lee owned
lot 12; Richard Smith, lots 13 and IA;
Clara A. Rines, lots Is and Is; w. P.
Johnston, lot II, and lot 18 was the
southwest corner of Fourteenth street.
Evening star., 1943-12-19

a day. averaging IL guests at each,
and each costing upward of $1oo."
John Welcker first engaged in the res
taurant business in building on the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue. be-
tween Ninth and Tenth streets, some-
time prior to 1865, and was still there
the following year. Soon afterward he
moved to the Fifteenth street address,
where he died in 1875
Operating the business with him at
this time was his brother, Peter D.
Welcker, who continued to manage the
restaurant with the widow A few years
later, however, Mrs. John WelcKer mar
ried for the second time Theopilus Fell
ter and then Peter D. Welcker engaged
in business for himself at GOT Fifteenth
street
While Peter D. Welcker was employed
by his brother John, he was married at
the latter's hotel to Mrs. Anna E.
Welcker. when she was but 16 years of
age. Her mother was sister to Mrs.
William Petersen, who resided with her
family at SIG Tenth street, in the house
where President Lincoln died. Her
uncle was Charles Kloman.
This Mrs. Welcker told the writer that
she often saw at her brother-in laws
hotel such notables as President U. S.
Grant. Henry Watterson. Stephen B.
Elkins and Dom Piatt, editor of The
Capital, whose respect" for the Con-
Evening star., 1943-12-19

deathbed Of Lincoln, and he appears as
the only colored man in Littlefield's
picture of the death Of the President.
He was also present at the deathbed Of
Sumner. He was noted for his charity
to the benevolent institutions here"
Where the Woodward Building now
stands resided just 100 years ago, Mrs.
Susan Graham, widow, and the names
Ripley, Griswold and Buell. are also
associated with this corner. The old
mansion which stood here for so many
years was of brick, painted brown, and
other residents included Senator Ira T.
Harris, M. Berthemy, French Minister,
and Don Manuel Freye, Peruvian Min
lister. and here was organized in 1863
the original Metropolitan Club which
disbanded about four years later. The
present generation will recall this site
best as having been occupied by George
Washington University as its head
quarters prior to the erection of the
Woodward Building.
Evening star., 1943-12-19

street near the Treasury, and at times
he has leased several surrounding
dwellings, so that he kept a hotel in
fact, though without the name.
"Welcker has large dining room,
80 feet long by 16 feet wide, with ad-
Unstable screens, adapting 1t to several
small parties, or by their removal to
make one large dining room. which will
seat 100 people. Welcker's main lot is
1873 by Is feet.
The character of Welcker's enter
tainments is eminently select, and his
prices approach those of the English
Castle and Falcon, or of Phillippes in
Paris. His breakfasts and dinners a la
carte are about at New York rates,
less than those of the Fourteenth street
Delmonico and matching the ST. James
and Hoffman Restaurant prices The
most expensive dinners he has ever
given have cost $40 a plate. Fine din
ners cost from $40 to Sl2 per plate.
and breakfast from $5 to SO per plate.
He has fed between six and seven hun
dred people per diem, as on the day of
Grants Inauguration.
Early Hotel Rates
His best rooms rent at So a day and
consist of suite of three rooms, but the
habitants thereof pay the establish
Evening star., 1943-12-19
By Arden Skidmore,
Associated Press Staff Writer.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa-Johnstown no
longer fears death and destruction like
that which gave 1t the name of Flood
City"
Men and machinery have thrown up
eight miles of new channel walls which
engineers believe are high enough to
free this busting Western Pennsylvania
steel town from high water threats
Twice Johnstown has been swept by
tremendous floods. In one, back in 1889,
more than 1000 persons lost their lives.
Another, as late as 1886, took only a half
dozen lives but did damage amounting
to around s4OOO0OOO and left 5000
homeless.
Since 1883, Johnstown frequently has
been threatened by smaller foods Until
1913, 7foot flood stage was reached or
exceeded annually. After civic improve
ments raised the flood stage to 10 feet,
this mark was exceeded IA times.
Hence, Johnstown became the Flood
City"
Townspeople for long time pondered
the problem of how to control the great
Evening star., 1943-12-19

building OF the Union Trust Co., at the
north end Of this square, was once a
celebrated hotel which took on the name
of its proprietor, James Wormley, and
was called Wormley's Hotel. For years
this hotel had very high standing
and many prominent men made it their
home. including Roscoe Conkling, who
had previously lived close by. Here
stopped also the English Joint High
Commission on the Geneva Award, and
the place was especially popular with
noted, titled Englishmen when visiting
Washington.
James Wormley, the proprietor, as has
been said. was partly OF colored extrac-
ton, yet was one Of the most successful
and highly regarded hotel proprietors
in this city. AS early as 1856 he en-
gagged in business on I street between
Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets and at
the time Of his death, October l8,
1884. general regret was voiced at his
passing away. and the press, among
other things, had this to say:
IL
teenth street, this city. His mother was
nearly white. His father kept livery
stable near Wizards Hotel, and the
young man began life as the driver Of
a hack. Through some friendly and
influential acquaintances thus made he
was selected to take charge of club
house Oh G. street, and he soon dis
tinguished himself as a caterer
Steward at some of the leading clubs,
he attracted the attention of the late
Reverdy Johnson, who. when United
States Minister, carried him to England
as diplomatist on dishes and he
used terrapin and canvas back to the
same end that the Ambassador used
notes and protocols. He opened Worm
ley's Hotel on Fifteenth and H streets
in the winter Of 1871 and has conducted
1t since that time.
Mr.. Wormley was present at the
Evening star., 1943-12-19
Wartime Quinine Needs
Speeded at Nearby Plant

Southern Europe, the South Pacific ana
in the Caribbean area.
While data on the current output Of
quinine in Central and South America
is restricted information. 1t can be
stated that the output Is much better
than might have been expected. We
are getting the whole-hearted co-opera-
ton of the South and Central American
countries because of their appreciation
of the new plantations which provide
more than an equitable value for the
wild cinchona trees now being cut.
The new paintings are guarantee
and an insurance to the United States
that we cannot exhaust our supply OF
quinine during this war. If faced with
an exhausted stockpile we can quickly
cut down and grind up the two and
three year old trees on the plantations
and thus obtain an adequate supply Of
the vital drug in matter Of several
weeks.
This program, born on Bataan, nur-
tured at Glenn Dale, and carried to
fruition in plantations thousands OF
miles away, is thus seen from its many
advantageous facets; as stimulus to
the production of quinine from wild
trees; as an insurance Of an added
source of supply; and as an instrument
of inter American goodwill through
the cooperative establishment Of
new industry for many of the countries
to the south of us.
Looking somewhat farther into the
future, we can visualize the postwar
role of these cinchona plantations as
the chief source Of the huge quantities
of quinine which will be needed to dose
the several hundred million malaria suf.
ferers in India, China, Europe, Africa
and other parts OF the world afflicted
with this deadly scourage.
Evening star., 1943-12-19
BV Erwin Brown.

Have you seen a package about so
big. wrapped in blue cellophane? I was
taking my husbands Christmas pajamas
home Saturday, but when the train
stopped at my station they were gone"
The pretty young woman looked hope
fully at the man behind the counter
of the Washington Terminals lost and
found department at Union Station.
Those pajamas matched the color of
his eyes, she said, and had to 60 to
four stores before I could find a pair
that was just right
1t is best to keep close tab on your
Christmas packages while travelling but
If you do happen to lose one, don't
despair.
The department has increased its
staff from one man in 194l who worked
only part time to seven at present, who
now operate on 24-hour basis
Lost articles averaged 1000 pieces an
nually before Pearl Harbor. To date
this year almost $4,000 articles have
been handled by the office.
H, j. Marshall, general baggage agent
of the terminal company. and his staff
will 60 to no end of trouble to locate
owners of packages which come to his
department.
For instance if Ruth" had signed her
full name and address in the New Testa-
ment given her in 1886 by mother and
dad with love-" she could read it now.
1t rests instead in the lost and found
department.
Have you heard about the little baby
who had to learn to walk before her
time? Mother left her portable car
riage on an afternoon train from Phila-
delphia to Washington.
Evening star., 1943-12-19
Lost and Found Counter
At Station Is Busy Place

When a person goes to the terminal
office to report a loss, a complete de-
scription of the article together with
the owners name and address is filed
When the article is found, the owner is
contacted and asked to come for his
goods
However, there are times when locat-
ing ah owner is impossible.
A sailor lost a brand-new rating
that of thirdclass aviation machinist's
mate-before he could get home and
have it sewed on his blues" He must
have been disappointed not to show 1t
to Mary Jane on his fret leave, but he
never appeared at the station to claim
it.
"WhateEith war on everybodys mind
and ration points and the hard job of
finding things-people don't have time
to look out for what they have Mr..
Marshall says.
Golfer Loses Clubs.
Imagine golfer who would leave his
clubs on the train There was one
about three months ago. The set is still
waiting for the owner to claim it.
There is special system for recover
ing the lost half of round-trip ticket,
it was learned. The loss should be re-
ported to the conductor, who will tele-
graph the station where the traveller
began his trip. If the ticket is recovered
at the station, the conductor is notified.
He then tells the passenger it has been
found and issues refund slip, which
will be redeemed by the railroad
With the busy Christpas season, Mr..
Marshall expects more business than
ever. But he would be twice as happy
If it did not come his way. Watch your
things-or Aunt Minnie will wonder
why she got no gift from you this year.
Evening star., 1943-12-19
Continued From Page CAY

Until after 1860 the bark was obtained
solely in the tropical portions OF Latin
America in much the same manner as
the Indians employed |. e., by chopping
down the tree and stripping and grind
ing up the bark.
In 1854, an Englishman, Charles
Ledger, discovered high-yielding strain
of cinchona in Bolivia. He could not
interest any of his English friends to
experiment with its cultivation on a
commercial scale in British tropical pas
sessions, so he sold his valuable variety
to the Dutch, who Immediately estab-
lished it in their East Indies possess
sions. Here, after several decades. they
developed a monopoly in the quinine
market.
Far-sighted American horticulturists
saw the danger inherent in g. monopoly
on such an important drug. Thus nearly
two decades ago an effort was made to
bring the Ledgeriana variety into the
Philippines or into tropical America.
Synthetic Antimalarias.
Paralleling the efforts to develop
sources of natural quinine are the ex-
periments which are being made to de-
velop and improve upon synthetic anti
malarials derived from coal tar COM
pounds. Two of these, atabrine and
plasmochin, have had limited use
The chief drawback to their use is the
fact that many individuals are allergic
to them. In addition, these drugs are
not suitable for all types of malaria,
hence cannot be used for mass pro-
quinine to prevent and cure malaria in
all OF its forms among its soldiers sta
toned in India, China, North Africa,
Evening star., 1943-12-19

gress often caused him to refer to this
branch OF the Government as THE Fog
Bank" and the Wind Mill" Algernon
Sartoris also stopped at Welckers Just
prior to his marriage to Nellie Grant.
On May 16, 1906 the Welcker property
at 727 Fifteenth street was purchased by
Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey, in asso-
ciation with w. B. Hibbs. and the old
building was removed, and the present
white stone building erected by these
two interests.
The Chamberlin Hotel, or more prop
erly the Chamberlin Club, got its start
where was once 1409-141l New York ave-
nue., in building formerly occupied by
the Washington Club, and once a pri-
vate residence The Washington Club
was organized by number of repre-
sentative men of wealth and renown
from all parts of the country, who en-
larged and remodeled the old building
at cost said to be around $4,000.
When the financial crisis OF 1877 took
place the club suffered for the want OF
patronage and expired. John F. Cham
berlin then took the property and ran
1t as the Chamberlin Club. However,
during the few years it was operated as
club it was one of the most exclusive
places in Washington and was fire.
quented by Presidents, statesmen, legis-
lators and men Of profound learning
and some of the foremost politicians of
that period. Alexander R. Shepherd was
one of the presidents of the Washington
Club.
In 1882 Chamberlin moved to 1923 1926
Fifteenth street, and the club building
was purchased by the Young Mems
Christian Association, which made it its
home until the building was destroyed
in 1895
II anything, Chamberlin's Fifteenth
street enterprise became more famous
than the business conducted by him
on New York avenue
Where stands the formidable granite
Evening star., 1943-12-19

corner Of Fifteenth street, where tho
National Savings g. Trust Building
stands.
Lots 7, 8 and faced Fifteenth street,
lot 10 being on the corner now occu-
pied by the Woodward Building, and
on the H street side were lots II, IL,
13, IA, and ending at Fourteenth street
with lot IS.
When the time arrived for dividing
these lots between the Government and
the original proprietors, lots 4, 5, 6, :,
8, 13 and IA were assigned to the heirs
of John Davidson, as was probably also
lot 10. and to the Government went
lots l, 2, 3, 9, IL, IL and Is.
Subsequent to the signing Of the
agreement with the original proprietors
and the date of the agreement accept
ing the division of the lots, John David
son had evidently died, for we find his
widow, Eleanor Davidson, on March %,
1887, agreeing to the division "for her.
self and as mother. natural guardian,
and next friend to Mary Davidson and
Evening star., 1943-12-19
Along Early Fifteenth Street
BY John Clagett Proctor.

Downtown Fifteenth street, in the
vicinity of H street, embraces much
local history, especially in connection
with its early hotels, notably Welckers,
Chamberlin's and Wormley's, all close
together and not separated by more
than city block
John Welcker's Hotel and Restaurant
formerly included 723-727 Fifteenth
street, where once resided Richard
Irving, the credit mobiler man. and
Samuel Ward, the king of the lobby,
brother of Julia Ward Howe and clas-
sical scholar.
In his Events of the National Capt.
tall George Alfred Townsend speaks
at length of John Welcker and his
celebrated establishment, and since this
noted Civil War correspondent has told
the story so interestingly, his deScrlp-
lion of this noted hotelman will be
given without change. Here is what
Mr.. Townsend has said in part:
Dining in Washington
- Dining in Washington is a great
element in politics, The lobbyman
dimes the Representative, the Repre-
sentatives dimes the Senator, the Sena-
tor dimes the charming widow and
the charming widow dimes her coming
man. For reed birds the politician
consults Hancock, on the Avenue; for
oysters, Harvey, and for an ice or a
quiet supper, Wormley or Page; but
there is no dinner like Welckers. He
possesses an autograph letter from
Charles Dickens, saying that he kept
the best restaurant in the world. He
has given all the expensive and re-
markable dinners here for several
years, and, talking over the subject Of
his art with him a few days ago, we
obtained some notions about food and
cooking at Washington.
"Welcker Is said to be Belgian, but
he has resided in New York since boy
hood, and he made his appearance in
Washington at the beginning of the
VOL dS StSWdIu VI Illc wi
He Is youthful. florid, stoutish man,
with hearty address, ready blush
and love for the open air and chill
dren..
Every summer he goes down the
Potomac, shutting his place behind him,
and there he fishes and shoots the
entire warm season, wearing an old
straw hat and a coat with only one
flap on the tail. Nobody suspects that
this apparition of Mr.. Wrinkle is the
great caterer for the congressional
stomach. Nobody imagines that this
rustic is the person whose sauces can
please even Mr.. Sam Ward, that dis
tinguished observer for the house of
Barring Brothers. Nobody knows-not
even the innocent and festive shad-
that this Welcker is John Welcker, who
came to Washington during our civil
broil, drew and quartered for Provost
Marshal Fry, fed all the war ministers
Evening star., 1943-12-19

ment for food, wine, etc, not less than
$50 a day.
"Welcker's chief cook is an Italian
Swiss, obtained from Martini's, New
York-the same who distinguished him.
self at Charles Knapp's great enter
was $4,000. Welcker supplied the
food for Mr.. Knapp's last entertain
ment, in 1867, at the street mansion.
now occupied by Sir Edward Thornton.
There are five cooks in all at Welcker's,
and the establishment employs 80
servants. During the past session he
has given at least two dinner parties
Evening star., 1943-12-19

and gave his historic period the agree
able flavor of mushrooms.
"In the early days of Washington,
entertainments other than family ones
were given at the taverns, some of
which. as Beale's, stood on Capitol Hill
Afterward Mrs Wetherill, on Carroll
row, set especial dinners, breakfasts and
suppers to order. In later times
Crutchett on Sixth street, Gautier on
the Avenue and Thompson on street
established restaurants la carte. Gau-
tier sold out to Welcker, who had such
success during the war that he bought
a large brick dwelling on Fifteenth
Evening star., 1943-08-02
Gen. Mitche||'s Sister
To Address Bond Rally

Ruth Mitchell, sister of the late
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, will be
the principal speaker at War bond
rally on the Willard Hotel roof to-
night when the Blue Star Mothers
of America begin their drive to sell
$3.50 900 of War Bonds.
At tonight's rally $50 tickets to
East Lynne" currently running at
the Willard roof, will be given free
to those exchanging a War savings
stamp book for War bond
Miss Mitchell. who served in the
Chetnik guerrilla forces of Gen.
Mihailovich and was a Nazi prisoner
of war until exchanged. had a son.
Pilot Offlcer John van Breda. RAF.
who was killed in action over Libya.
The group seeks to purchase a
Flying Fortress bomber. When the
ship is built, the women hope to
see its crew made up of native
Washingtonians.
The campaign was opened at 10
m. today with a program over
Station WINK. Participating were
H. A. Beuermann of the District
War Finance Committee; Flight 1t.
D. H. FoXMale, veteran British
pilot, and Capt F. A. Bradunes of
the Army Air Forces.
Evening star., 1943-08-02

Bethesda, Md, has been appointed
a cadet -midshipman in the Mer-
chant Marine Cadet Corps and has
reported to the Merchant Marine
Cadet Basic School here for training
to become a deck officer. Cadet
Bondy is graduate of St. Alban s
Scnool.
MIDDLETOWN. Conn - Naval
Aviation Cadets Joseph K Norris,
son of Dr. and Mrs. Cornelius l..
Norris, 1890 Shepherd street NV,
and Charles E. Murray, jr., son of
Mr.. and Mrs Charles E. Murray.
3409 Thirtieth street NV. were
graduated today from the Naval
Flight Preparatory School here at
Wesleyan University. Cadet Norris,
who attended Gonzaga High School,
was formerly employed by the
United States Engineers Cadet
Murray attended Woodrow Wilson
High School and the University of
Maryland
AVON PARK, Flat. Clifford
r. Wood, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Wal
ter G. Wood, 1888 Thirteenth street
NV. is now stationed with a serv-
ice group here at the Avon Park
Bombing Range. 1t. Wood entered
the service in July, 1912, and was
commissioned last December on
graduation from the Quartermaster
Officer Candidate School at Camp
Lee, Va.
Aviation Cadet Theodore H. Will
Evening star., 1943-08-02

liams, husband Of Mrs. May Will
liams. 3038 Georgia avenue NV.
recently was graduated from the
Army Air Forces Flying Training
Detachment.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla-Second 1t.
Woodrow H. Lawn, 1850 Harvard
street NV. has been promoted to
first lieutenant here at the Basic
Training Center for the Army Air
Forces Training Command. where
he is assistant adjutant. A grad
uate of New York University, 1t.
Lawn formerly did personnel ad-
ministration work for the Govern
ment.
ATHENS. Ga. - Naval Aviation
Cadet Homer J. Bowie, son of Mr.
and Mrs. E. H. Bowie, 526 North
Norwood street, Arlington. Va. has
reported to the Navy Pre-Flight
School here for training A grad
uate of Central High School, Cadet
Bowie completed Naval Flight
Evening star., 1943-08-02

Preparatory School at Charlottes-
vile, Va, and was transferred here
from the CAA War Training Service
School, Jackson Mills, w. Va.
FORT BENNING. Ga.-Edward
Paul Genger, son of Mrs. X. r.
Genger. 1926 Tenth street NV,
recently was commissioned a second
lieutenant on successful completion
of the officer candidate course here
at the Infantry School. 1t. Genger
attended Mckinley High School and
George Washington University.
CHICAGO.-Second 1t. William
B. Leatherman, 1920 Nineteenth
street NV, has been promoted to
first lieutenant here at the Army
Air Forces Training Command radio
school, where he is serving as per-
sonnel officer. 1t. Leatherman has
Evening star., 1943-08-02

been in the service since last Oc-
tober.
GALESBURG, Ill.-Corpl. Lloyd
B. Thomas, husband of Mrs. Shirley
c. Thomas, 3403 Newton street. Mt.
Rainier, Md. has arrived here at
Knox College for a course OF in
struction prior to his appointment
as an aviation cadet.
ST. LOUIS, Ill.-Aviation Cadet
James D. Franks. son of Mr.. and
Mrs. James D. Franks, OF Washing
ton, has completed his primary
flight training here at the Army
Air Forces Flying Training Detach-
ment and has been transferred to
independence, Kan, for his basic
instruction.
ABB EEN PROV WING
GROUND, Md.-Clarence H. Weisz
Evening star., 1943-08-02


an formerly was employed as as
sistant manager of the Metropolitan
Theater, He enlisted in the Air
Forces in May, 1912.
COURTLAND. Ala.-Aviation Ca
det William G. Hill, jr., son of Mr..
and Mrs. William G. Hill, Bethesda,
Nd, has completed his training
here at the Army Air Forces Basic
Flying School and has been trans
ferred to the Advanced Flying
School at Craig Field, Selma, Ala,
for the final phase of his pilots
training.
SAN MATEO. Calif.-Robert E.
Bondy, jr., 10, 701o Fairfax road.