National Republican., 1883-11-01
AN HISTORICAL CAVE.
Interesting Facts in Regard 10 a Cavern Near
Four Mile Run.
Hermits who Have Lived Thcro-DIstin-
guished Men Who Have Visited ~.

n cave to which is linked considerable carly
American history aud romance This is
doubtless, owing TO the fact that many Of tho
old residents, who lived in that vicinity u
score of years ago, have been forced TO move
to other parts of the country by the results of
the war. The highways constructed In re-
cent years have left this cave in very mac
cessablo position, and this probably
also has much to do with the obscu-
rity which now surrounds the noted
excavation. Persons riding toward Alex
andria in the cars or by way of tho
public roads would never SEQ it, and its exist
cnce would probably be entirely unknown Co
the public if it was not for the casual remarks
made by loafers at the suburban railway sta
tions and the startling tales told by tho
squads of ubiquitous capital city urchins who
make Sabbath day invasions into the Old
Dominion to fish, hunt, and disturb tho peace
iul seclusion of the farmers
The cave has been largely filled in by the
washings from the hillsides and the rubbish
aud field refuse thrown in it from year to
year by the farmers of the vicinity, but
enough Of it remains and sufficient is
known of its history to warrant the exer-
tions of a journey to the spot. In fact, few
rambles into the country surrounding
Washington will be as interesting and afford
as much amusement to the pleasure seeker.
In reaching the cave tho best way is to cross
the Long bridge aud follow tho public road
TO -Four Mile Run station, where in addition
to giving directions, hOspitablo and accom-
modating resident will cheerfully relate
many interesting traditions handed down
from past generations by the few old natives
remaining. The man is Pennsylvania by
birth, and on your departure he excuses
himself for not knowing more about his new
home. His directions will lead nearly half
mile along a tortuous and lily kept tow
path of the Alexandria canal and
then across cultivated fields, briar patches,
and shrub forests to the base of tho yellow
clay hills known rs Swallow hill,
forming tho embankment overlooking
the lowands of the Potomac. Here, after
much vexatious hunting and possibly swear
ing. the mouth of the cave is discovered, sur
rounded by thick growth of young trees,
dead blackberry vines, and tall decaying
grass. The place isnow seldom disturbed by
the foot of man, and tho approach of the city
tramp causes myriads of butterflies, bugs, and
lazy lizards to scamper in all directions, while
countless thousands of low-ground crickets
which have taken up their abode on the in
side are disturbed in their slumbers,
and chirp and escape in swarms. The
cave can still be entered for many
feet. The air ON the inside is damp and op-
pressively chilly, and tho visitor is not in
clined to remain longer than few moments
before taking his departure. To add to the
unpleasantness the huge sandstones are
thickly coated with wet and Shiny vegetation,
and, unlike the Luray caves, you cannot sit
down. Tho walls are lined with gravel and
clay, and the stones are covered in u similar
manner. The visitor can still be refreshed
with an ice cold drink of water from the fa-
nous spring which has existed for generations,
about fifteen feet from the entrance. This
spring was well known, and tho cave was
commonly entered by travellers going along
the old obsolete road across tho hills to secure
drink as far back as colonial days.
Many Of the colored aud white residents
now in the vicinity declare that rheumatism is
is caused by entering the cave, and thus
numerous other unfounded superstitions COM
pei them to keep away, and the water is at
present seldom drank.
The traditions concerning the famous terres-
trial hollow antedates the American revolu
tion, but arc not SO complete and satisfactory
as visitor would like to have them. IL is
stated that the troops, of Braddock's ill-fated
army, after leaving Alexandria ON a.hot day
in the latter of the spring of 1855, halted be-
yond the hills, and, stacking arms, crossed
over, and besides drinking plentifully each
weary soldier filled his flask from the
cave spring. Gen. Washington, who was
with the army, also was sick with
dangerous attack of fever at the time, and
remained in wagon while his servant
brought him some of the cold lfe-giving
fluid, and of which he drank greedily. Other
armies passing by at that period of American
history also stopped here, for the old road
was one much travelled at that time, and the
cave and spring water enjoyed fame which
extended from Georgia to New England, and
was probably known to every educated man,
woman, and child in the original thirteen
colonies. Lafayettes men, while defending
| Virginia in the latter days of the revolution,
also drank here, but the gallant and noble
Frenchman did not come near enough him
self to imbibe of the COOL delicious
water. In the fall of 1900, while the
young republic was being disturbed by the
! troublous times of the first administration,
an eccentric Englishman named Peter Ston-
ington, who had fought in the army, and who
failed to secure position in the treasury
under Hamilton in New York, moved south
ward, and, ascortaining the whereabouts of
the cave, took up his residence there for "a
number of years, during which he subsisted
| by fishing in tho Potomac. and doing occa-
sional jobs on the surrounding plantations.
The cave was at that time dryer and in much
better condition than in later years, and
Stonington never suffered from sickness.
| The story of this queer man, who always
dressed in clothing made of sheepskin, was
Mt that time published in some of the Old
| Dominion papers, and glimmering tradition
concerning him is still told in tho neighbor-
hood, the best account being given by a
farmer named Crane, living about half
mile away.
When the government was removed to
| Washington members of congress and other
great men from the south on their way to and
from tho ferry at Georgetown often stopped
and were supplied with water from the cave
by colored man kept there for that purpose,
and who always expected to be rewarded for
his labor with the huge copper pennies OF
| that date. Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe
all drank from the spring, and Old Hickory
declared the water to be the best this side OF
tho Hermitage, and ON numerous occasions
insisted on having some of it transported
to the city for use at the white
house. John G. Calhoun, Secretary Crawford,
aud Senator Tyler, of Virginia, were noted
patrons Of the cave spring water, and John
Randolph, of Roanoke, the brilliant orator
statesman, and eccentric planter, not only
insisted on drinking 1t himself when he
passed over the ancient road, but wanted al
of his hounds, horses, and negro servants tc
imbibe, for he declared that no such water
existed anywhere else, Many other of Ameri
cas- illustrious dead have drank the water in
the cave, and up TO 1860 1t was commonly
used by the population living convenient.
A Iew years previous to the late civil wal
another crank commenced living in the cave
lio was an elderly man, and was distracted
by grief on account of the ruin and desertiOr
of his daughter in Alexandria, where he re
sided. His daughter finally went to Balti
moro and died in house of i'll repute, and
after spending several years In the extreme
interior of the cave with scarcely ever seeinl
anyone be also died and was buried in tn,