Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-18
The Mount Vernon Silver.
HOW 1T WAS SAVED THROuGH THE W An

To the Editor of the EVENING STAR -.
In the momentouS occurrences OF war there are
often striking events Of minor nature that when
discovered by the future historian, serve to give
US personal interest in the times and AFFORD a
relief from the description of battles and tales of
terror and suffering. II not authenticated, how
ever, they become so dimmed by tradition as to
be valueless. Accurate versions are proportion
ately valuable. One has been given to me by an
actor and as 1t relates to what would be Of almost
universal interest, send 1t to your paper for pres
eryation heard 1t from his lips on a beautiful
summer afternoon on the spot where the events
occurred. The "Blue Ridge" seemed slumberinp
In the hazy distance the peaceful valleys stretched
shell and screaming ball had never disturbed their
harmony. My hosts place was one of the historic
family homes OF Virginia, where "peace and
soon to be replaced by the tramping OF horses and
clanking OF sabres; the lawn was to know a
gave evidence that the s'livid glare OF war, had
flashed on tangled shrubbery and deSolated fields
In the opening days or the war Qs61) John Au-
guSt1ne washington was living in FauUuier
county. He was the former proprietor OF Mount
Vernon and heir to the family plate Having lin
entailed upon him as owner OF Mount vernon. with
the constant stream OF visitors and the Constant
claims upon his hospitality, he disposed Of the
has since kept the house and grounds I'M renair
and thrown them open to the public. Mr. wash
ngt0n entered the service OF the confederacy and
uneasy about the historic silver under his care as
union troops were already in the vicinity. He
pointed executor OF his (Mr. WESTINGHOUSE win IN
case OF death, that he could no longer have charre
Of It, He was told to send it to kinloch, the rest
dence OF my friend, and in a few days an OK cart
arrived laden with the precious articles packed in
large box. The anxious question that then pre-
die OF the night the host and his SON. unknown 70
any living being, arose and, removing the silver
from the box S1 put II In iiye guano sacks. With
it up into pigeon loft over tool house Seven iset
square) in the large Old-fashioned garden. some
hanging trees Next they flied the box again T wih
corn co6s from the stable packing them In tightly
with a message that the silver would not he safe
at kinloch, as soldiers were camped near by.
| Father and son alone knew OF the deception and
OF the hiding place. The servants were told that
the pigeons from that cote were to be kept for
breeding purposes, and that those from another
suey eay a,o ssSf aid
the San was as
CURED almost to the very base OF the building,
yet was its slumber never disturbed. It cFa need
that after leaving Arlington the wife and 1ily
OF Gen. Robert Z. Lee resided for time ' any
host, who was q cousin, and 1t was contectured
would be Of value to the government. In fact a
toilet box Of the general and some family letters
| were found In the Ice house. This stimulated a
| turned, the family cemetery invaded, buildings
scruitinized, and every conceivable nook and
Granny explored by eager eyes yet, through it all
the washington plate, covered with dirt and dust
and CRIME, rested among the dives, as II, Indeed,
| 1t had found an ark OF safety.
When, at length, the cOmbatants had exhausted
themselves, and the last sulen gun had rosounded
In the distance IL was taken from its dark refuge
the bags SO decayed that they would not bear ~
weight, and restored TO the then heirs Its former
brave and gentlemanly owner had given up his LIE
| for a cause he believed TO be just.
| HENRY G. HAILOWI1x,