The Washington times. [volume], August 23, 1914, SUNDAY EVENING EDITION, Page 14, Image 14

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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THE WASHINGTON TIMES, SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 1914.
14
i i-y-
WashingtonBritish
Prize Century Ago
Confusion Among American Commanders Permitted
Enemy to Enter City Practically Unopposed.
Torch Put to White House and Capitol.
By LEONARD ORMEROD.
It will be 100 years tomorrow since the flames started
by British torches wrapped the Capitol, the White House,
and other' public buildings in the smoke of wanton pillage.
Not in all the stirring years of the intervening century has
anything occurred that reflects so seriously on American
valor.
A one historian aptly puts it, there is nothing in the
burning of Washington, August 24, 1814, which can be a
matter of pride to either nation, and indeed the actions of
General Ross, Rear Admiral Cockburn, and others in this
matter were the subject of much adverse comment in Lon
don and Europe generally. The blame, so far as the British
are concerned, rests squarely on the shoulders of Admiral
Cockburn.
BRITISH GENERAL ASHAMED OF WORK.
Major General Ross was loath to
rr.arcb on the Capital and to burn the
rublic building alter lie occupied the
city. Indeed his manner while here was
r.pclc-Fotlc and tho resident at whose
1'cuee he stayed said that he did not
smile while In the city.
In his official report General Boss
i.aid: To Rear Admiral Cockburn. who
i-ufgciltd th attack on Washington
anfl accompanied the nrmy, I confess
the greatest obllKatiun."
The responsibility ou the American
rMe Is not so easy to flx. but President
Madison and his Cabinet must bear the
prcater partlon of it- Hris. Gen. Wil
liam 11 Winder, who uommanded the
American troops, was possessed of at
luet ordinary courage, but lia lacked a
commanding personality and military
Cinlus. and it has been said that he
wa too tender heartsd to order his
neighbors into a tierce conflict where
many of them would le ure to be killed
or wounded.
Kor more than two months there were
jiers'stcnt rumors thai tlij British would
attack Washington, but the President
and his Cabinet refusi-d to regard tne
vamini: seriously. On one occasion
President Madison asked "What the
o'evil would the Mrltish do in Washing
ton?" addlnp that llaltunoic was their
cHecllve point.
British ships manned by more than
S.000 fighting men had been in Chesa
peake Bay for a year, but there seems
to have been no real alarm in Wash
ington until Thursday, August IS, when
Commodore Joshua Barney, in charge
of the little American force oa the bay,
ent word that Rear Admiral Cochrane
had boasted he would eat his Sunday
dinner In Washington.
Barney Told to Bum Shipj.
Cotnmodore Barney, veteran navy of
ficer, was In command of fourteen
small barges manned by 00 men, and
with this small force he had harassed
the British ships for months, making
several Important captures. When the
British menaced Washington, he sailed
up the Patuxent to Nottingham, where
he had a skirmish with the enemy, who
had disembarked at Benedict and
marched on to Nottingham.
August 3) the Secretary of the Navy
sent the commodore orders which read:
"Should the enemy dash for this place
(Washington), des'troy the flotilla and
proceed with the men to this place.
This order was typical of the American
officers' procedure in the entire affair,
making defeat almost certain by pre
paring for it
Accordingly, on August 21, Barry has
tened with his men to join the forces of
General Winder, loavinst a small foice
to destroy the on'y flsluin? vessels the.
Americans h.iJ in Ciesipeake wateis.
The moral effert n the Anv-iKan -"d
was depressini;. anl the enemy was
greatly encoumsed.
Winder male his headi'ir.ors in what
is now Anaco.itia, cx:ectin the British
to approach ly lliat roij. Thlzher .-iit
President Mad-svn and lii whole t'ab;
net at daybcei-v iiKust ZA. The lailer
included James Monro;, j. Revolutionary
veteran, Sec,eta--v of Stale, J hn Ann
Mron? Secretary -if ''ir; William
Jones, Secretarj jf !- Navy; George
W Campbell, Secretary af the Tiaury.
and Richard Rush, Attorney General.
Debate in Face of Foe.
As a gather..,- .-f ihii.j1;3 it way im
pressive, bui as a council of war it as
farcical President Mj1lto issued an
order putting the Secret-irv of War in
eharge of the defi -. of ill- ity. and
i a few houis rcs'-imle-J i While !-.:
debated what was to be done. to:rt was
-ought thai G-.i-ral Ross .1 iiukIi
I b on Bladensburs and there wns a
great scurrying to nw hiiii tlitn
Here they found a very respectable
' rce of Americans drawn up in tne
Washington side of the little stream
-ar Bladensburg. Brig. Gen. Tobias B.
.'ansbury had thrown up earthworks
nd had distributed his men In what is
.-'knowledged to be an effective defense.
' ut ijecretarv of State Monroe sum
"uril changed the alignment, bringing
hre- regiments back to the real fui a
fcf-ond line of defense in an exposed
position
Then had a Washington, a Napoleonc
a Le. a Sheridan, or even a military
leader of relatively smaller lallber
arisen. American valor might ha- e been
vin-llt-nted Cm on th- evs of UiAU.
General Stansbury and General Smith
cere disputing as to their relati.-e rank.
General Winder giving orders to a cuij
1. In of artillery aid. '"when you re
treat retreat b the Georgetown roaa "
- retar of the Navy Jones was still
'jrther antlcipatinR defeat by hlnwim;
jp the navj yard Attornej Genet nl
njj-h started to make a speech of en
largement to the troops, lJt was
han'l admonished by an offici that
is men needed no exhortation to tight.
Impeded By Red Tape.
In Washington, a clerk in the War
Department was furnishing 709 Vir
ginians under Colonel Minor, with flints
for their guns, but his Insistence on
going through all the .departmental
tape kept the entire force from the
front till the rout was complete. The
ieautiful "Dolly" Madison, naclne the
""Anil House n or. n anxiety for her
I'rcsldent-husband, sensed the general
'onfuslon. and writing to a friend at
neon on the 21th. said:
Since sunrise 1 have been turnlnc my
spyglass in every direction and watch
ing with unwearied anxiety, hoplnc to
discern the approach of my dear hus
band, but, alas. I can descry only
groups of military wahderinsr In all di
rections as If there was a lack of arms,
or of spirit to fight for their own fire
sides. '
Brigedler General Young's brigade
of SO men, after a series of confusing
commands, was finally ordered to re
main at a certain spot till further ord
er Ther they were promptly forsot
en till the fight was over and then
they were ordered to Join the retreat
Accurdins to Charles Jared Ingcrsdll,
the h'.sto ian, ther were more than
7.000 American regulirs and militiamen
at or near the scenj of the BladjncuriiR
battle, while the British had "not more
than 4.000, of Tirom less than 1,500 be
gan and not exceeding 3.00C sained the
batll-v living the Marjlande-s In thts
twln'WJiK of an eje from their com
manding ground."
American Force Superior.
The Blader.tburg battle began nt 1
o'clock, on the afternoon of August 24.
In describing; It, Ingcrsoll says:
'The British advance, from 1.500 to
1,500. began their Movement igsJnst or
2,-VX) people, to whom the machinery of
subordination was unknown, and the
multitude of commanders was distract
ing. 'The Jlrst discharges from our ri til
ler were effectual, and the few fires of
the r.fiemen sailing, the enemy, driven
back from the bridge, took refuge be
hind the houses, rer'ying with volleys
of rockets to our cannonade military
inMeors streaming through the air
which. General Winder riding along the
lines, encourared his men to disregard,
cs less dangerous than alarming: as
thev did, whll those m'sMts flew over
their heads, 'ailing beyond thsm where
the President and his Cabinet stood,
whom the general 'hen advised to re
tire farther back.
"Emerging .'rom their cover and
ur?ed forward by their officers, the
stout British, overloaded and panting
with fatigue. wre hastily driven over
the bridge, at the lost 'of a good manv
killed; throwing Oit their knapsacks. In
Fmall niuads. or singly, pushed up the
slope, s-prcadlng on both sides to out
rank our men. The. elevation of the
rockets being changed, and aimed at
the faces of the crafted militia, in a
few instances Ihey broke and fled In
the inmost precipitation and
Baltimore millt a began to break: sev
eral of the Fifth Baltimore Regiment
also tied. General Winder ordered us
to retreat. In consequence of the flight
of the militia. The British column had
just then begun to advance. Not a man
of our company had been touched by
the fire or the enemy: and 1 thought
that the battle was only then serloulsy
commencing.' '
The onlv death on the retreat was
said to be that of a captain of the
regular army, of approved courage,
taken with the contagion of unanimous
panic, who ran with the crowd till he
fell, fainted, and expired.
On the other hand there were num
erous Instances of individual bravery.
One of the most striking was that of a
private, Barney Parsons, later a door
keeper at the Capitol, who refused to
retreat when ordered, but single hand
ed loaded and fired a field piece, and
then spiked it as the British bayonets
were within a few yards of him. The
brave Commodore Barney was wound
ed and captured, but General Rosa or
dered that he be shown every courtesy.
When the first of the flceinK militia
men reached Washington the city,
which then only numbered 9,000. became
terror-stricken. Mrs. Madison, unterrl
fled bv the urglngs of her associates,
paused long enough to take Gilbert fctu
art's portrait of Washington from its
heavv frame and carried it and the
original Declaration of Independence
away In the carriage with her. She was
joined bv the President and Mr. Rush
at .Brooicvllle, Md. The SecrctPry of
War and Secretary of the Treasury fled
to Frederick. Md. Secretarj' of State
Monroe went to his home in Virginia,
as did Secretary of the Navy Jones.
Admiral Cockburn possessed himself
of a shabby looking brood mare, which
had a black, unweaned colt following
her, and on this grotesque mount rode
about the city superintending the burn
ing of the public buildings and the de
struction of the office of the National
Intelligencer, which had attacked him
viciously In Its columns. He quartered
himself In the house of a Mrs. Suter.
which stood opposite the southeast
corner of the Treasury. When he sat
down to supper he Jocosely blew out the
candles, saying he preferred to cat by
the light of the burning Treasury.
Valuable Records Burned.
In most of the Government depart
ments the fleeing- clerks carried with
them the more valuable papers, but the
loss to the Congressional Library, which
was then quartered In the Capitol, 'was
Irreparable, many valuable records of
the Revolutionary war being destroyed.
The night of August 25 all residents
were warned under pain of death to
stay indoors from sunset to sunrise. rnd
that evening- the British began their
march back to their ships, leaving their
dead unburied and ninety wounded to
the care of the Americans.
Of the 7.000 men who were supposed to
defend the city from the Invading en
emy less than tw nty were, killed, in
cluding the captain, who ran himself to
death. Seine historians place the num-ber-.-.s
low as eight killed and eleven
wounded.
TI.e attitude of many prominent eng
lishmen on the matter of the burning
of Washington is shoivn by the query
which appeared In the London State's
mau at that time:
"In It qulto true, that the expedition
to Washington will meet with univer
sal approbation? The Cossacks spared
FhiIf. but W2 spared not the Capitol at
Washifgton. "
Breckinridge; Goes to
Berlin With Relief Gold
Taking with him funds for Americans
stranded in Berlin. Assistant Secretary
of War Henry 8. BrecklnridKe, who ar
rived at The Hague yesterday on the
cruiser Tennessee, 1 now- on his Jour
nev to the German capital, according to
advices received here today.
The Tennessee arrived off the hook of
Unllsini nn Vridnv nizht. and Is still at
disorder: 1 annhAr tVir milen nff nhore. Mnrahnll
the illlemen also, inobt of them, retreat-, ianghorn, secretary of the American
ine- I legation at The Hague, has takea over
General Winder, with some few of ; the funds intended for the marooned
the officers. In vain strove to rally and Americans.
ALEXANDRIA POLICE
i
PISTOL 10
Five Prisoners Held on Conceal
ed Weapon Charge Fire
Destroys Small Buildings.
ALEXANDRIA. Va.. Aug. 23 In an
effort to break up the pistol carrying
habit by colored hoodlums and visitors
from near-by construction camps. Chief
Goods headed a raid on all the colored
settlements of Alexandria last night In
a Match for concealed weapons. Mary
were stopped and searched, but only
fWo .en found to be ear'Ving p'Si.'s.
'se were taken to the polfc statlrn
jnd eoiiged with carrying conccalc.l
weapi.ns
Misses Geraldlne and Frances Davis
and Dr. Randolph Davis have returned
from Occoquan after a visit of several!
weeKS.
The other Protestant churches of Alex
andria will close tonight in order that
the congregations can be present at the
Washington Street Methodist Church
South to hear the Rev. R. L. Davis, su
perintendent of the Anti-Saloon League
of North Carolina delivere-i an Hildrm
on "State-wide Prohibition." Mr. Davis
arrived In Alexandria unexpectedly last
night, and arrangements for his ad
dress were hurriedly made. He will
make a contrast of conditions in North
Carolina since the State went dry with
thost existing previous to that time.
A fire last night destroyed several
small frame buildings at Gibbon and
Union streets, it is supposed that It
was of Incendiary origin.
Mrs. Sybil Carter, twenty-two years
old, wife of Harvey I Carter, died yes
terday afternoon at the Alexandria Hos
pital of typhoid fever. The body was
tent this morning to PurcellviHa for
burial.
Funeral services for Mrs. Anna E.
Savage, who died in Washington on Fri
day, were held this afternoon from De
malne's undertaking establishment and
were conducted by the Rev. Edgar Car
penter, rector of Grace Episcopal
Church.
Columbia Steam Fire Engine Company
will give an excursion to Marshall Hall
tomorrow. The funds received will be
used to pay the expenses of the com
pany to the Virginia Volunteer Fire
men's Association meeting at Ports
mouth on Tuesday.
The Rev. Paca Kennedy, of the Tneo
logical Seminary, preached at St. Paul's
Church today In the absence of the Rev.
P. P. Phillips. The Rev. David Barr
preached at Christ Church In the ab
sence of the Rev. W. J. Morton, n::J the
Rev. T. D. D. Clark, of Manassas,
preached at the First Baptist Church In
the place of the Rev. W. F. Watson.
There were no morning services today
at the Methodist Protestant Church.
The Rev. O. W. Trlplett. of this city,
preached this afternoon at Fairfax
Court House.
Funeral services for Mrs. Francis Tay
lor were held this afternoon from her
late residence at Virginia Highlands.
CAPITAL REFUGEES
SEND SAFETY NEWS
State Department Learns of
Whereabouts of Washing
tonians Several Arrive.
Cablegrams received by the State De
partment and individuals who have
made Inquiry have brought news of
many Washingtonlans in Europe for
whom fears were entertained.
Thomas G. Sherman, law officer of
the Department of Agriculture, who had
been out of communication with the
Department for a month, cables that
he would sail from Southampton today
on the St Paul.
Mr. and Mrs. Lorlmcr C Graham, of
the Wyoming apartment, have notified
relatives of their safe arrival In Lon
don. Mr. and Mrs. James H. Toomey. who
were on their honeymoon In Europe,
have arrived safely In New York.
Senator Oliver of Pennsylvania, the
State Department has been advised,
sailed yesterday from Southampton on
the Olympic.
Henry Draper Is reported safe at
Paris.
The Misses Helen and Ray Seymour,
of 1S27 Connecticut avenue, have reached
England In safety.
Dr. T. L. McDonald, of 1501 Massa
chusetts avenue northwest; Mrs. J. F.J
Lcary of 2210 M street northwest; Miss
Ella Leary, of 820 Twentieth street
northwest, and Mrs. William Fahey and
Miss Helen Leary. of IS) New Hamp
shire avenue northwest, arrived from
London during tho week, and are at
their homes here.
Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Kendall have been
advlred of the arrival In Nuremberg of
their son, Wiley Kendall, and nis aunt.
Miss Mattie Kendall. Two daughters .
Mrs. J. L. Kendall. x of Washington, are
In Europe, but have not been located.
Reports to the State Department to
day from consular representatives In
Germany state that failure to locate
many persons for whom Inquiry has
been made Is due to t:ie fact that they
have left Interior iolnts for seaports.
News of many of these Is expected "to
come, in published lists of pasMengcrs
sailing from Rotterdam and other porta
open to refugees.
Campaign Publicity Bill
Due for Vote Soon
Senator Kern, chairman of the Privi
leges and Elections Committee, will call
up the Rucker-Owen campaign publicity
bill In the Senate this week. It Is ex
pected the bill will pass, though con
siderable debate may ensue.
The bill, as reported from the com
mittee, would prevent a national com
mittee from shipping money Into a
State for certain specified campaign
purposes. .The personal expenditures of
s. Congressional candidate are limited
to C.JOO. Another amendment would
prohibit payment of money for a cam
paign speech.
Gude's Flowers and Decorations
Make the most attractive weddings. Ask
for estimates and suggestions. 1214 F.
Advt.
CAR DODGES WOMAN
CONGRESSMAN HUH
I
Though he suffered severely ffoi
shock, when he was thrown from aa
electric coupe driven by his daughter' on
New Jesey avenue, near the Capitol,
Congressman Jeremiah Donovan of
Connectlut ls little the worse for his
accident today. He was Injured because
of the cool Judgment of his daughter
In 'turning the machine Inlo the- curb to ,,
avoid striking an aged woman yes
terday. The machine was running slowly when '
the woman stepped In front of It.
Though realizing the danger tn herself.
Miss Donovan awerved sliarply and .
avoided the woman. Her father waa
thorwwn to the sldcalk, ami buffered a
cut on the head and bruises. Hla n
Jries were dressed at Casualty Hospital,
wwhtre he was token In the automo- ,
bile of Senator Swanson.
An accident of similar nature befell
I'ercy Swwcet, driving a Tolman laun
dry automobile near Fourteenth street.
He swerved his machine to avoid strtk- ;
Ing a boy. and It crashed Into the curb,
throwing him out- He escaped Injury,
but the machine was damaged.
Paul V. Mitchell, real estate dealer.
became 111 and lost control of hi ma
chine while - on Decatur street, near
Fourteenth street, last night, ted it
struck'a tree box. Mr. Mitchell was not
Injured, but was Liken to George
Washington University' Hospital be
cause of his illness.
retain the fugitives. ' In a Deriod
of time incredibly short the disorder be
came total; the flight universal, irre-
Av(f. fprtm PnH av flint th rrilin.
er North Carolian. which also carried
fund for the relief of Americans In
parable, ungovernable, bearing away, in Europe, and arrived at Cherburg some
v.s torrent 01 escape, a" tne front rank days ai
with the artillery, cavalry, regulars.
president, secretaries, nnd commander.
" 'We had scarcely fired three rounds."
said an officer of the Washington artil
lery, John law. 'when the line of the
days ago. will leave that port today.
The North Carolina will co to rai
mouth, England, and may then proceed
to Bergen. Norway. Officers carrying
relief money will leave for Genoa and
Rome tomorrow, advjees say.
1
VsV ssssssssssssP. SlIsssssH
ssssssW ssHsssslsssssW HWfir t V W SjH
EYE STRAIN
Caused by study, reading, writing, or figuring, often brings on
eyeache, headache, brain fatigue, nervousness, and weak or blur
red sight.
Eyestrain can be overcome only in one way by wearing
proper glasses to relieve the strain on the nerves of the eyes.
MY SPECIALTY IS CORRECTING EYE STRAIN
Call and let me help you. I make no charge for consultation.
Special rates will be quoted on all special cases for this
week.
Regular $2.50 Gold Filled Glasses, special this week, $1.00.
SAMUEL
EXPERT EYESIGHT SPECIALIST
1209 G Street N.W.
i
v
I
15 -Day Vacation
TWO FULL WEEKS IN THE
Glorious Mountains of Western North Carolina
"THE LAND OF THE SKY"
MIKII I.K
WO NF.s.I.i:
HOT VI'IU.NC.S
HI.ACK .MOLNTVIN
ttlM.i:iUI-T
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I.AKi: TOX4WAV
itiit; itn
nnoN
.sI,t Il
Kl.AT ItOCK
nd rainy uthrr attract!. iplnrr In that delightful country.
$10
FOR THE
ROUND TRIP
$10
Special Train Will Leave Washington 5:55 P. M,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Arrive Asheville 10:05 A. M. Following Morning.
Through Drawing; lloom I'nlliimn MK-pInc Cum and liny Coachrs.
Southern Hnllvmj IllofnK Or, Service A l.n Carte.
Kr Tlr,eU, Pullman lleaertiitlona, and Complete Information,
Communicate With
Offices, 705 15th and 905 F Street Northwet
fhone Mnln 1212 and 1ZX.
rclAR
THE
f?
r
Tomorrow we will make another gigantic effort to "clear the track" of all
Summer Footwear in order to make room for the Fall styles that will soon be
rushing in. Our shelves are crowded with Summer Shoes that MUST be cleared
away without delay. The only solution to the problem we are facing is price
cutting. So we are cutting them to the very lowest notch almost giving
i i
inein away:
Here's an unprecedented chance to buy high-grade
shoes of nationally famous trade-marked brands at al
most "'give away" prices. Come early!
Any of our Ladies' $4.00 and S5.00 Patent or Gun Metal O-on-ials
in all the new style heels.
Your Choice Only $2.55
Any of our Ladies' S.5.00 and S3. 50 Button or Laced Oxfords, in
patent leather, gun metal or tan calfskin.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .85
A lot of Ladies' Gun Metal Colonials, Patent Strap Slippers, and
Tango Pumps, with satin laces. Regular S3.00 to S4.00 values.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .95
165 pairs Ladies' White Pumps and Oxfords, Buckskin and Can
vas. These are shoes that sell all over the country at S3.00 and S3. 50.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .65
A lot of Ladies' Black Suede Pumps, Black Velvet Strap Pumps,
and Gray Buck Colonials; $3.00 and S3. 50 values, in all sizes.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .65
3 tables piled high with Ladies' Button and Blucher Oxfords and
Pumps, in patent leather, gun metal, black and tan suede, and tan kid.
Some have rubber soles. $3.00 to $5.00 values.
Your Choice Only $ 1 45
One table piled high with Ladies' High Shoes, in patent leather,
gun metal, vici kid, and suede; button and laced models. $3.00 to
$5.00 values.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .85
One table piled high with Ladies' Button and Laced High Shoes,
in patent leather, gun metal, vici kid, black velvet, and black and tan
suede. Values up to $4.00.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .45
One table full of Children's Barefoot Sandals, in tan calfskin
with good heavy soles. Regular $ 1 .25 and $ 1 .50 values. All sizes.
Your Choice Only 65C
One table full of Children's Gun Metal Oxfords and Strap Slip
pers and Tan Calf Oxfords, with elkskin soles. Values up to $2.50.
Your Choice Only 95C
2 tables full of Men's Gun Metal and Tan Calfskin Oxfords, in
button and lace. These are trade marked shoes in Goodyear welt
soles. S3.00, S3.50, and S4.00 values.
Your Choice Only $ 1 .85
One table full of Men's Low Shoes, in patent leather, gun metal,
and tan calfskin. These shoes are from the country's best factories,
in S4.00, $4.50, and S5.00 values.
Your Choice Only $2.45
Men's Pure Silk y2 Hose, all colors. Regular 35c values.
Only 19C
Man's Pure Silk Hose. Regular 50c values.
23c
We still have about 100 pairs of Ladies' Bathing Slippers and
Laced Up Shoes, in all colors. 50c and 75c values.
Your Choice Only 23C
CHOE nU and r Streets
TORE m and D N. W.
Over Lincoln National Bank
Entrance on D Street
Second and Third Floors Take Elevator
.'
t
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