Middletown transcript., 1880-02-28
RANDOLPH OF ROAHOKE.
His Deathbed Scene in delphia-Tnci-
dents offs Trip to Europe-A Talk
With One Who Knew Him.

F'orty-seven years nave elapsed slnct
| old John Randolph, the eccentric Sen
ator of Virginia, who was pleased tc
write himself Randolph of Roanoke,
died in the City Hotel, on North Third
street, between Market and Arch. 1t
/ will be remembered that Mr.. Randolph
reached this city one evening in June,
on his way to Europe. He came on
| the Baltimore packet-the weather
was rainy and the air was chilly. The
packet for Europe had sailed, and the
famous Virginian, who was dying by
inches, was alone and without friends.
A colored man, named John. who ac-
companied him in all his travels, had
gone out in the storm to search for a
hack. The best he could find was
without windows and with very leaky
roof. In this the invalid was placed,
and driven from hotel to hotel without
being able to find shelter until the
City Hotel was reached. This resort
was kept by Edmund Badger, a jolly
Boniface, who came here originally
from Connecticut with his brother, the
late Alderman Badger. MIR. Badger
was well provided with guests, but
promised to do all within his power
for the comfort of Mr. Randolph, who
thanked God that he had found friends.
The City Hotel has long since passed
away to make room for modern stores,
but there are many old merchants
who recollect it and describe it as a
rather pretenSious three-story building.
At the side was a large gateway,
through which the farmers drove their
wagons. Although large number Of
farmers made this their regular stop
ping-place, many prominent men had
also been guests at this hostelrie. The
street numbers of the hotel at the date
referred to were Al and 43, but the
site is now numbered IS and AZ The
room in which Mr.. Randolph died was
thereafter held too sacred to be occu-
pied for a number of years, and was
generally pointed out to visitors as the
place where the great Virginian had
breathed his last. 1t was here that
his will, manumitting his slaves, and
which he had brought with him in his
baggage, was read aloud to him bv DIR.
Joseph Parish, physician and men,
ber of the Soeity of Friends, residing
on Arch street, above Third. The
witnesses were DIR. Isaac Parrish "a son
of DIR. Joseph Parrish), DR.. Francis
West, brother of Captain James
West, member of the present Board
of Health, and Edmund Badger, the
proprietor of the hotel. John, the
faithful servant, heard the instrument
read that was to make him free man.
Mr.. Randolp ph wanted witnesses, be-
cause, he said, the laws Of Virginia
were very particular about such mat
tiers, especially where the manumission
of slaves was involved. He is said to
have added that he wished some one
present who wore "a metal button" on
his coat, or, in o:her words, some one
who was not a Quaker. 1t was while |
by the people mentioned |
that the will was read, and the old |
man expressed himselfas being pleased |
with it. The scene at that moment is
described by DR.. Parrish, in papers
that he left, as being deeply affecting.
The dying man stretched forth his at
tenuated hand, and said, as the will
was read: Especially for this boy
john" The latter, conscious of his
masters rapid dly-approaching dissolu-
ton, and overwhelmed with gratitude
for this act of kindness, hurst into
tears. DR.. Parrish states that Mr..
said when he entered the
room: Il know you through Giles
md the Doctor supposed that Mr..
alluded to the late Governor
Giles, Of Virginia, by whom DR.. Par
'ish was frequently consulted. The
Doctor and all the witnesses remained
With the dying man until he had pass
q away, as Mr. Randolph said that
his was required by the laws Of Vir
yinia where testament was made
reeing slaves and providing for their
suppor.. In making his
to die Randolph had his
ather's old breast button or stud
brought to his bedside, and a hole
arge enough for it to fit in was cut in
lis shirt DR.. Parrish's papers state
hat he laid perfectly quiet for a few
with his eyes closed, and
hen very dramatic scene followed.
The room was hushed in stiffness, {
ghen Mr.. Randol ph suddenly reused
Ip and exclaimed: "RemorseI' 1t {
vas repeated again, and third time,
t the top of his voice, and with agi /
alton He cried out: Let me see
he word get % dictionary let me {
ee the word" He was told that there ,
Yas none in the room. "Write it |
own, then-let me see the word" c
he Doctor took up from q table
ard hearing the words Randolph of j
soanoke," " in which the servant had '
unehed hole that it might be tied t
} the baggage, and asked if he should r
rite it on that, and Randolph re- {
bonded that there was nothing more y
roper. t
The recent removal of the remains q
f Mr.. Randolph from his old home :
t Roanoke. and there reinterment in \
hollywood Cemetery, at Richmond, t,
as opened discussion in some of the /
ewspapers regarding his death, and
sporter of The Record made inquiry F
mong plumber of old residents Of n
to ascertain if any of f
lose present at the time of his death +,
ere now living, but found that they {
ave all passed away. The widow of Il
IF. Isaac Parrish, the youngest of the y
hysicians of that name present at the i
eathbed scene, is living in this city, c,
nd is remarkably we'll preserved. I,
he reporter found in the possession II
this lady the card upon which the Il
ord "Remorse" was written. 1t is h
nall piece of Bristol board, and does Il
ot differ widely from many of the b
sitting cards used at this time. The d