Monday, August 24, 1812: On this day, two hundred and fourteen years ago, “During the War of 1812, British troops marched on Washington, D. C. Outside the city waited a rag-tag American army along with President James Madison and his advisors, who had raced to the battlefield to witness the capital’s defense. The crack British forces quickly overran the American lines.
“Panic reigned in Washington as fleeing soldiers and statesmen began straggling through the city’s streets. Many public records, including the Declaration of Independence, had already been packed into linen bags and carted off to Virginia, where they were piled in an empty house. Now the roads leading out of town began to fill with wagons carrying families and their valuables. In nearby Georgetown and Alexandria, citizens made plans to surrender at the first sight of a British officer.
“First Lady Dolley Madison calmly directed last-minute details at the White House. A large portrait of George Washington hung in the dining room. It would be a disgrace if it fell into British hands. Dolley ordered two servants to bring it along, but the huge frame was screwed so tightly to the wall that no one could get it down. Minutes ticked by as they tugged and tugged, to no avail. The First Lady refused to leave without the portrait. At last, someone produced a penknife and carefully cut the canvas from the frame. With the precious painting in hand, Dolley and her comrades headed toward Virginia.
“Later that evening, the British entered a dark and empty Washington. The Capital building and White House went up in flames, and the night sky glowed red as the city burned. It was the only time our nation’s capital has fallen into enemy hands. The determined Americans would rebuild. In the meantime, Dolley Madison had saved a piece of the national pride.”
(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)
Tuesday, August 24, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported the following news: “Arrested on the charge of aiding and abetting Hobart Curtis to escape justice, Elby Nave, 22, was given a preliminary trial before Magistrate Hugh F. Anderson Monday afternoon and sent to the Jonesboro jail to await the action of the grand jury. His bond was fixed at $2,500, which he failed to secure.
“Nave was accused of trying to spirit Curtis away in an automobile and of assisting him to evade arrest when the two attempted to escape in a canoe on the Watauga River, at Riverside Sunday afternoon.
“Hobart Curtis was tried Monday morning and in default of making a $5,000 appearance bond was committed to the county jail. The two prisoners will there await the court unless sooner released on bond.
“Curtis faces another charge in Sullivan county (sic for County), a warrant possessed by a deputy sheriff charging him with shooting with intent to kill into an automobile occupied by three boys and two girls. Curtis met the party on a highway near Piney Flats and fired point blank into the windshield of the automobile, the bullet marvelously missing the five passengers in the machine.
“Deputy sheriff (sic for Sheriff) Marion Shipley visited the scene of the Curtis arrest on the Watauga River bank and following directions given him by the youthful pistol toter found his .38 caliber nickel plated pearl handled revolver hurled in sand. It is the presumption that Curtis was armed with the revolver when he fired five shots into the McNees dwelling last Friday night.”
Jonesboro was spelled that way in 1901. It is located about 8 miles from Johnson City in a southwesterly direction.
Two thousand, five hundred dollars in 1901 has the current purchasing power of about $47,200, according to www.in2013dollars.com.
Riverside is a community in rural Carter County.
Piney Flats is located in Sullivan County; in 1926, it was in a rural area of the county.
Monday, August 24, 1931: Ninety-five years ago today, The Elizabethton Star reported news with a dateline from Rogersville. Readers learned that “Dr. Joseph Walker, retired physician of Rogersville, was 100 years old today, and folks gathered from far and near to celebrate his birthday and commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the union of the First and Second Presbyterian Churches. Dr. Walker, who was born here, is the grandson of Joseph Rogers, the town’s founder, who came from Tyre County, Ireland. He is the only living member of the class of 350 graduated from Jefferson Medical college (sic for College), Philadelphia, in 1854. He practiced medicine here for 60 years before failing eyesight compelled him to give up active work.”
Rogersville is located in Hawkins County and is about 37 miles from Johnson City.
The Elizabethton Star is still being published.
Friday, August 24, 1956: Seventy years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported several short news items in a column entitled “On The News Beats”. Some of the items are as follows:
“H. W. Mumpower, 209 W. Fairview Ave., reported to the police department that his 1955 model automobile had been sideswiped yesterday either at his home or behind the Southern Railway Station.”. G.H.
“Albert Shuffler, 311 Wilson Ave., reported the theft of his bicycle yesterday while it was parked in front of Roan Restaurant on Market Street. He said the bicycle is green and yellow and has a wire basket on the front.”
“Patty Jane Blevins, age 3, of 1006 Henry St., was dismissed from Memorial Hospital yesterday after treatment of chin and lip lacerations received in an automobile accident at East Pine and Cloyd Streets.”
Memorial Hospital was a forerunner of the current Johnson City Medical Center.
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