Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-06-13
MOnna Vernon.

her description OF the trip, says:
We fpaSs the arsenal, which is one of the
lovrc>t spots in the city, though it is not often
visited 10y tourists After It's establishment 10
the carly part ot the century, 1t served several
purposes, at one time belug military station,
and afterwards sort OF supply depot. 1t Was
destroyed BY the British in 1914, humber Of
whom were killed by the explosion of quant-
ty OF powder secrcted in we'll near the quar-
ters. Aler it was rebuilt, it was for some
time under the command Of NJ. Willard, u
French officer, who came 10 the United States
with Gen. Lafayette. Since the dreadful ex
plosion iu 1864, when twentyone girls were
killed, who were employed IN making signal
rockels and filing cartridges there has been
little work done there, but tho grounds have
been greatly adorned and bcautihcd.
We make our first lauding al Alexandria and
all the passengers crowd to see the Old town and
the tower OF the church upon the services Of
which Washiogtop Was dovout attendant. We
pass and salute with shrill whistle, numbers of
river craft fitting up and down, and upon the
stern OF one We see the suggestive name OF Vlr-
giria Dare, thc.nam of the first whito child
born in the colony CT Virginia. AL the ladies
are startled and utter little screams when halt
dozen jolly boys In saucy yacht tre Llll-
putian caunon as they sail past, and the decks
resound with exclamatlons as we see party OF
fishermen successfully haul into their boat an
enormous sturgeon, which founders and plunges
about, making great commotlon IN the water.
We pass Forts Foote and Washington, their
trowDiDg battlcmonts half hidden by peaceful,
waving trees, and their silent guns IN position,
but only serving as resting places for tiny twlt-
tcrlue birds. We can ouly imagine as sort
OF lrieh;iul dream the hustle, thunder and co.,
fusion OF war, and pray 1t may be long ere the
rcisning quiet is disturbed.
Frrt W WishIBg:Ou was formerly called War
burton, aui ln August, 1914. was bIoWn up
aud surrendered without tic firing OF quo, as
the result of which the town of Alexandria fell
into the hands O: the British squadron and was
at their lucrcy for five days, when they left
with all manner Of plundcr. including $4,000
barrels Of a aur, 1000 hogsheads OF tobacco aud
three ships.
Just alter VIC leave Fort Washington the
view Of tic river is grand. Two long lines OF
grccu border the stream, aud closing the vista,
seventeen miles away, We can see ouly the faint
ghost CT The CITY, though the marble glory OF
the capitol is as distinct as figure cut upon a
cameo, and the marble shame ot the Washing
ton monument rises snowy white and shining
beside it,. Turning the bend below the Tort We
catch the first glimpse OF Mount Vernon, beau
titu in situation aud glorious in prospect-ht
home for the master spirit oi his age.
A most u,llirGs:liit feature has been develop
ed since our last visit, which is that the dlsrep-
utatl.. army Of rvi.c hunters have been 30 law
less ot late that II has been lound necessary to
deny general admlttahce 10 several OF the rooms
The doors are open SO that all may look ID, but
the managers have been forced to protect the
aacrrd rcrcs iron, the knivcs-and SCISSORS, 100,
lam airai,i-oi people who chip Oft spllnters OF
f,,rf Irra md nnt
of the bed cu.talns or Ut the taSSced fringe
which borders ti.cm.
Years acu oue Of this shameless class OF marau-
{icrs llapag, to ciambor over the iron door that
guards The tomb, aud breaking Oft one OF the
taIous OF the eagle that IS carved on the sar-
cophagus, carried it otf. To prevent recur.
renee Of such outrages they were compelled to
nut up second aud higher door. Col. Hol-
,iugswortt relates with much indignation that
on one occasion he found a mau standing upon
the bed in the room where Washington died
and delivering 40 harrangue which ne intended
to be very impressive.
So IN other rooms wire scroons have been
placed over the mantels, pictures and other
relics, as the beautiful carved chimney piece 10
the east parlor, wrought in Italy and presented
to Washington by Mr. Vaughan. of London
has been dlsfigurcd and brokun, while even tho
plaster from the chimney backs is crumbled Oft.
For long time the harpsichord presented
to Nelly Gusts by Washington. land which,
plaip AZ it looks, cost thousand dollars, stood
open 10 this room, but the ivory tIom the keys
nlysteriously disappeared, SO that it too is
closed and the cover tastcucd down. Here are
three fiue portraits Of Washington; a copy OF
Trumbulps picture, representing him 10 his
uniioru-a copy Of the portrait painted by
Gilbert Stuart-also RemDrandt Pcalc's large
equestrian picture, representing Washington
before Yorktown. when he rehukcd Col. Tier
nan because his orders Interference to beginning
the tor;ifcations had not been obeyed.
Most OF the iuruitur, is very ancient, the
different pieces possessing historical records
that make them Invaluable. A chair that came
over in the Mayfrwcr, one formerly belonging
TO Lord Boliagbroke, and Bible stand made
from a walnut tree that grew on the farm OF
Robert Morris, are all there; also very inter
cStinc model of the Bastile, carved from one 0
the stones Of that famous prison. Hanging 10
the main hall is glass case, 10 which is the
kew of the Bastiic, which occupies the same
position in which it was placed by Washington
himself after no received it from the hands o
Lafayette through Thomas Palne.
The library is delightful room, with tint
outlook towards the river. The windows opol
to the floor, aud on the porch outside We art
shown tho iavori.o seat of Washington. and tn
bell with which he used to summon his ser
vaut. The old engraving of washington ap'
his Family" portrays tho interior of this room
and gives correct reproduction of its appear
auce. In the garden We see the tree pantet
by Washington, which is protected from dc
struction by railing; also four large bushes Q
sweet scented shrub. presented to Washingto
hv Jefferson, aud named by him Jefferson
Adams, Madison, and Monroe.
DEST POISON, the only Safe, Sure an
Cheap Destroyer of Potato and Tomst
Bugs, Chinch Bugs, Gut Worms. Caterpillar