Evening star., 1944-03-19

Journed mmeQlately after adopting
resolutions expressive of their feelings,
not to meet until the following morning
at IL o'clock.
The Ladies Were Spared
The Globe newspaper, in referring to
this lamentable event at the time, Of
fered the following comforting words
when t said:
In regard to this unhappy occur
renee, the only circumstance calculated
to relieve the all-pervading distress, is,
that Of the multitude of ladies who were
on board the ship, not one was injured.
The happy exemption of such a multi
tude OF the tender SEX who witnessed
the havoc made in their midst of
the most distinguished and beloved of
their countrymen, while it brings some
friends, cannot but deepen the sympa-
thies of the whole community for
the bereaved families of those who
have fallen. This is a theme upon
which it must be needless further to
dwell, but undevout and hardened in
deed must be the heart Of him or her
who is not profoundly grateful that,
dreadful as the result was, it was less
than, under the circumstances, could
have been hoped upon any human COM
putation.'
Profoundly sad, indeed, must have
been this deplorable tragedy, and yet,
since it is true that every cloud has it's
silver lining, SO, In this case, in part
at least, it resulted in happy ending,
and the tender sympathies bestowed bv
President Tyler upon Julia, daughter of
the fatally injured State Senator
Gardiner, soon ripened into love.
At this time President Tyler was a
widower. his wife, whose maiden name
was Letitia Christian, having died in
the White House September 10, 1s42.
When they were married she was but %
years old, and by her he reared a num-
Der OF children. This devoted wife must
have been very fine woman, judging
by what the press had to say about her
at the time of her death. Among other
things it said:
This most estimable lady was in life
more truly than we can represent her in
words wife, mother and a Christian
lowing and confiding to her husband
gentle and aftectionate to her children
kind and charitable to the needy and
afflicted. Deeply impressed in early life
by her highly respected and proud par
ents, with the truthful and heavenly
doctrines of the meek Jesus in all her
actions, with whatever sphere In life
connected, none was forgotten bv her.
and the good of others alone remem-
bered, which won for her wherever she
was known the love and esteem of ALL"
Present Reminders
In many ways, Washington still has
number of silent reminders of the
Princeton disaster, and among these
might be mentioned Tudor Place in
Georgetown, the conspicuous old home
that stands within a large park lying
between Thirty first, Thirty second, @
and r streets.
This historic estate was bought in
1905, by Martha Parke Gusts for the
use OF herself and her husband, Thomas
Peter, son Of George Peter, an early
settler of Georgetown. The funds for
the purchase are reputed to have been
acquired from the Washington estate,
Mrs. Peter being granddaughter of
fl>y
the two wings were standing, they hav-
ing been erected by Francis Lowndes
about 1894. The main portion was sub
sequently added, it being designed by
William Thornton, architect of the orig
Inal Capitol, who also modified the two
wings at the same time.
Thomas Peter and his wife, Martha
Parke (Custis) Peter had three daugh-
tiers, Columbia America and Britannia
Wellington. Brittania married, in 1842.
Commodore Beverly Kennon, before
referred to. She inherited Tudor Place,
and died there at the advanced age of
IS years, after having practically resided
there all her life. In 1843, according to
the city directory, Commodore Kennon
was residing on the south side of H
street between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets, near the center and he
may have lived there at the time of
his sudden death
The eastern portion of the National
Chamber of Commerce Building covers
the site where stood, until 1922, what
was once the residence of Commodore
Richard F. Stockton, who was captain
OF the Princeton at the time of the great
tragedy, but whose injuries were only
Slight
The house was built shortly after 1921.
by lhomas Swami, who served here as
United States district attorney from
1921 to 1888. In 1929, it was occupied
by Baron de Krudener, Russian Minis
ter. AfterWard it became the home of
Ihomas Ritchie, editor of the Globe.
who was facetiously called "the most
genteel old fogy that ever wore man.
Keen trousers and a broad-brimmed
straw hat" Other occupants included
Senator John Slidell who was party
to the Trent affair; Gideon Welles, Dam
lei Lamont and Russell A. Alger.
Senator Benton
Also among those who we're on the
Princeton in 1874, and who suffered onIv
shock, was the noted Missouri Senator,
Thomas H. Benton, who had beautiful
daughter named Jessie, and who was
later to become the wife of John c. FIRE.
mont, the Pathfinder and the first
candidate for the presidency on the