Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1884-02-07
wAsH1NGroN,s MOTHERS GRAVE.

"a NeSlected Burial Place and an Unfin-
ished Monument.
fCors. N. Y. Telegram.l f
The grave Of Washington's mother at
fredericksburg, Va, is unkept, neg
lected and the favorite resort OF relic
hunters, who mutilate the partially com
pleted monument and deface the grave
with impunity. Mrs. Washington Sc
iected during her life the spot where she
wished to be buried. It 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 it passed into posses
sion 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
toward the dam of the Stafford Hills and
OF the heights of Fredericksburg, includ-
ing the famous Marye's Heights. South
ward few hundred yards is the confed-
crate cemetery, and from the hill be-
yond Marye's Heights, now the National
Cemetery, the flag of the republic her
son saved looks down upon Mary WASH
ington's grave. To the left of the mon.
ument as you face northwest is private
graveyard of small size surrounded by a
brick wall. This is the last resting place
of many of the Gordons. A few oaks and
aspen trees shade this sacred spot. The
monument was commenced by Mr.. Sllas
Burrows, wealthy merchant of New
York. and all that has ever been ex-
pended on it was given by him. It has
never been completed. Near the untin-
ished monument lies an enormous cone
shaped piece of marble that was to have
been the capstone, so to speak, of the
monument. It never was put on top OF
its place, and lies half buriod in the
ground, a sad spectacle of wasted efforts.
The monument is square, the base large
and massive, surmounted by smaller
square of solid marble blocks, built in
imitation of temple, the four sides be-
ing ornamented with two huted columns,
each OF marble. It is sadly defaced. The
marble columns are thrown down, brok-
ell, and some of them have been carried
away. The corners are chipped and
broken. Bullet, shot, and pencil have
helped IN the disfguration. Grass and
weeds crown the summit. and here it
stands, fitting emblem of the futility of
human hopes, aspirations and works.
The foundation of the monument was
laid on May 6, 1888. In digging for the
foundation the coffin was exposed. It
was OF black walnut. 1t had decayed
and fallen apart, exposing the bones of
Mrs. Washington. 1t is said that one
relic hunting citizen, Mr.. Anthony Buck,
secured one of the tnger bones, and that
for years he showed it rs curiosity.
The corner stone was laid en- the 7th of
May, 1888, amid grand civic and mill
tary display in the presence of the Presi-
dent, Andrew Jackson. It was on his
way to attend to this ceremony that
Lieut.. Randolph, of the navy, pulled the
Presidents nose. I have talked with
gentleman who was present when the
President addressed the people from the
steps OF DR.. Wallace's house on Main
Street. Hc tells me that an old negro
man, George White by name, vender
of cakes and fruits, passed up close to
Jackson and called out " Bress yer
heart honey! did dey hurt yer nose?"
Old Hickory looked like gamecock as
he drew himself up, his eyes flashing,
and his white, bristly hair standing
straight up, and thundered out, "No,
by the Eternal!"