Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-03-11

0s9 @@tsU m@1~9sF&s @ss& &NA~ns&sa~ eAA&ST
at0r &C Virginia, who was pleased 20
write himself Randolph OF Roanoke. : "
died Ia the City Hotel. On North THIRD
street, between Market and Arch. IL
will Be- remembered that Er. Randolph
reached this city one evepIng in June.
on bis way to Europe. He came On
the Baitimofe packet--fhe wesffer was
rainy and the siF was chilly. TIE pack
ct for Europe had sailed, and the Ia-
nous Virginian. who was dying ~
inches. &as alone ard without friends.
a colofeh ms. namef Iokn. who 90
eossp@6Ied bin ID al Eis travels. had
gone out in the storm to search tor, .
hack. The best be could find was
without windows and with very leaky
root. In this the invalid was placed.
and driven from hotel to hotel without
being able 10 fnd shelter until the City
Hotel was reached. This resort was
kept By Edmund Badger. jolly Boni-
face, who came here originally from
Connecticut with his brother, the late
Alderman Badger. MF. Badger was
welfprovided with guests, but promised
TO do all within his power for the COM
fort 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 recoIlect
il and describe il as a rather pretentious
three-story building. At the side was
a large gateway, through which the
farmers drove their wagons. Although
q large number OF farmers made this
their regular stopping-place, many prom
inent men had also been guests at this
hostelrie. The street numbers of the
hotel al the date referred 10 were Al
and 43, but the site Is now numbered
IS and Al. The room in which Mr..
Randolph died was thereafter held too
sacred to be occupied for number of
years, and was generlly pointed out TO
visitors as the place where the greet
Virginian had breathed bis last. 1t was
here that bis will, manumitting his
slaves, and which he had brought with
him IN his baggage, was read aloud to
him by DIR. Joseph Parrish. a physician
and member OF the Socieiyo of Friends,
residing on Arch street, above Third
The witnesses were DIR. Isaac Parrish
"a son of DR.. Joseph Parrish, DR.. Fran
els West, brother Of Captain James
West, member of the present Board
Of Health, and Edmund Badger, the
proprietor Of the hotel. John, the faith
lul servant, heard the instsument fsai|
that was TO make him free man. Mr..
wanted witnesses, because,
he said, the laws of Virginia were
very particular about such matters;
where the manumission oil
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 other words, some one
who was not Quaker. II was while
surrounded by the the people mentioned
that the will was read, and the old man
himself as being pleased with
it. The scene at that moment is des-
crlbed by DR.. Parrish, IN papers that he
lett, as being deeply affecting. The dy-
ing man stretched forth his aitenuated
hand, and said. as the will was read
Especially for this boy John" The
latter, conscious of his masters rapid
" ly-approachsng dissolution, and over
whelmed with gratitude for this act OF
burst into tears. DR.. Parrish
states that Mr.. Randolph said when he
entered the room : al know you through
Giles" and the Doctor supposed that
Mr.. Randolph alluded TO the late Gov
ernor Giles, Of Virginia, by whom DR..
Parrish was frequently consulted. The
Doctor and all the witnesses renamed
wlth the dying man until be had passed
away, as Mr.. Randolph said that this
was required by the laws of Virginia
where atestament Vas made freeing
slaves and providing for their subsequent
support. In making his preparations to
die Randolph had bis fathers old breast
button or stud brought TO his bedside,
and hole large enough for Il to fit in
was cut in his shirt. DR.. Parrish,s pa
pers state that he laid perfectly quiet
Tor few moments. with his eyes closed,
and then a very dramatic scene followed.
The room was husbed in stiffness, when
Mr. Randolph suddenly reused up and
"Remorsel'' Il was re-
peated again. and third time, at the
top Of bis voice, and with agitation. He
cried out: "Let me see the word; get
a dictionary; let me see the word. He
was told that there was none in the
room. "Write it down, then--let me
see the word" The Doctor took up
from o table card bearing the words
Randolph OF Roanoke" IN which the
bad punched a hole thasi might
be tied TO the baggage. and asked If be
should write Il on that, and Randolph
responded that there was nothing more
proper.
The recent removal of The remains
OF Mr.. Randolph from his old home al
Roanoke. and there reinterment il Hol-
lywoOd Cemetery, at Richmond has
opened discussion in some OF the news
papers regarding his death, and a re-
porter Of Tie Record made INQUIRY
among Aumberot old residents OF Phil
adclphia to ascertain il any Of those
present at the time Of bis death were
now living. but found that they have
all passed away. The widow of DIR.
Isaac Parrish, the youngest Of the ply
sicians Of that name present nj the
deathbed scene, - living in this city.
and i remarkably well preserved. Tie
reporter iound N the possession Of this
lady The card upon which the word
g sRemOFse" was written. Its q small
piece of Bristol board. and docs not slsc