The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-12-28
wAsHiNGToN,s MOTHERS GRAVE.
Its Unfinished and Neglected Condition.
Corr. Ne,o York Telegram .

Corr Neac York Telegram.
The grave of Washington's mother, at
Fredericksburg, Va, Is unkept, neglected
and the fayorite resort Of relic hunters, who
mutilate the partially completed monument
and deface the grave with impunity. Mrs.
Washington selected during her life the spot
where she wished to be buried. 1t was west
from the house In which she lived, just on
the edge of this city, within the corporate
limits, on the Kenmore estate, now owned
by W. Key Howard, of MARY land, owned At
the time of her death by her son.in-law, Col.
Fielding Lewis, from whose hands 1t passed
into possession of the Gordon family. Just
where the Kenmore place begins to slope
down on every side to the valley below is the
grave, commanding pretty view of the
upper edge of the town, of the valley up to-
ward the dam of the Stafford Hills and of the
nights of Fredericksburg, including the now
famous Marye's Hights. Southwark few
hundred yards is the Confederate cemetery,
and from the hill beyond Marye's Hishts,
now the National Cemetery, the flag of the
Republic her son saved looks down upon
Mary Washington's grave.
To the left of the monument as you face
northwest is a private graveyard of small
size, surrounded by brick wall. This is
the last resting place Of many of the Gordons.
A few oaks snd aspen trees shade the sacred
SPOT. This monument was commenced by
Mr.. Silas Burrows, a wealthy merchant of
New York, and all that has ever been ex-
pended on 1t was given by him. 1t has
never been completed. Near the unfinished
monument lies al enormous cone.shaped
piece of marble that was to have been the
capstone, so TO speak, Of the monument. 1t
never was put on top of its place, and lies
half buried in the ground, sad spectacle OF
wasted efforts. The monument is square,
the base large and massive, surmounted by
smaller square of solid marble blocks, built
ID imitation Of temple, the four sides being
ornamented with two futed columns, each
Of marble. 1t is sadly defaced. The marble
columns are thrown down, broken, and some
of them have been carried away.
The corDers are Clipped and broken. Bull
let, shot aud pencil have helped in the dis
figuration. Grass and weeds crown the
summit, and here 1t stands, fitting emblem
Of the futility of human hopes, aspirations
and works. The foundation Of the monu-
ment was laid en- May 8, 1888. In digging
for the foundation the coffin was exposed
1t was of black walnut. 1t had decayed and
fallen apart, exposing the bones of Mrs
| Washington. II Is said that one relic hunt.
log citizen, Mr.. Anthony Buck, secured one
of the finger bones, and that for years be
showed 1t as curiosity. The corner stone
was laid on the 7th of May, 1888, amid Z
grand civic and military display in the pres
ence of the President, Andrew Jackson. II
was on bis way to attend this ceremony that
Lieut.. Randolph, Of the navy, pulled the
Presidents nose. have talked with gen.
tleman who was present when the President
addressed the people from the steps Of DR.
Wxllace's house, on Main street. He tell.
me that an old negro man, George White by
name, a vender of fruits and cakes, pressed
up close to Jackson and called out, "Bres.
yer heart, honey! did dey hurt yer nose?"
Old Hickory looked like gamecock as hi
drew himself up, his eyes flashing, and hi.
white, bristly hair standing straight up, and
thundered out, No, by the Eternal"