The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-07-26
TIE TRAGEDY OF THE CAVE.
A LOVE MESSAGE wRirTxS sY prIxo Sol
DIRR HUNDRED YrARs AGO.

pIsR HUNDRED TrAss AGO.
R.Ap,So. PA. July l5.-Editor Ksuff-
man. OF the Chester Valley Union, aud W.
w. Potts, Of warwick, Superintendent OF
ous Of the extensive granite quarries at
Falls Of French Creek, furnish here to-day
enc Of the strangest stories on record and
vouch for its authenticity.
Recently while new quarry was being
opened ct Falls Of French Creek, in . wild
section Of oountry, cave was discovered
;si., ri - ..s S-sr'''''' ''-s 7Sai'
In the evening At his home he opened il
and found . manuscript, faded and dis
colored by time. The manuscript is ad-
dressed to Miss Virginia Randolph, Of Rich
mond, Va. The writer signs himself Arthur
l.. Carrinstcn, Of the same place, and he
states that he was with Washington at Val
ley Forge in 1778. He goes on to say that
he was sent out on a foraging expedition to
the neighborbood Of French Creek, when
ne received word that the British had sent
. considerable force to cut him of. The
writer says that his men took refuge with
friends while he made his way to the cave,
where he had hidden before. It was
marked by rock just over the en-
trance, so nicely balanced that man could
move it slightly with one hand.
The fleeing patriot took shelter inside
and had hardly done so when the enemy
came near and fred three shots after his re-
treating men. The concussion must have
destroyed the balance Of the stone above
the entrance, for il fell and held the writer
prisoner. A ray Of sunlight alone
s,reamed through tho top. The manuscript
proceeds to say ,hat after many weary hours
the writer became convinced that he would
have TO perish there. He feels the fever
n-I III l-.L \
indicts this letter-having writing materials
in his pocket-with the hope that the world
may some day know his fate. He speaks
pathetically Of the memory and love Of his
betrothed and concludes as follows
"He who has created us must know what
is good for US and We can only submit an d
trust. To know your heart is mine atones-
far more thaR atenes-for oil have suf-
fered or can yet suffer. My life seems to
have begun with our love; only since then
have truly lived. You have shielded me
from every evil thought; have been in
every way q hetter man since loved you.
When gazed into the pure depths of your
dark-bule eyes doubts and shadows fed
from me. Oh, Virginia, Virginia, l am
looking into them now
God is good; God is merciful to let you
seem so near me. You are praying for me
now, 1T this moment, feel it; ] know il is
so, my beloved. 1t is not farewell can
not say farewell-there is no farewell to
love like ours. This agony will soon be
over and will be free. / will he waiting
for you in the land Of the hereafter. Vir-
ginia, my best beloved, am almost there,
and something tells me will not have to
wait long for your coming.
No ono should ever doubt the goodness,
the love of God. l feel his ways arc the
best. He has bound our souls together for.
evermorc. Blessed be his holy name.''
The date Of the manuscript is May 20,
17IS. Mr.. Potts says he wrote to IN old
friend in Richmond. This friend sent him
word that her grandmothers maiden name
had been Randolph aud that in au old
family burying. ground, near her house, was
m monumont with this Inscription
Died Of a broken heart, on the lst of
March, l7sO, Virginia Randolph, aged u
years and Q days.
Faithful unto death
This friend also sends Mr.. Potts two old
letters, written ITO years ago TO Alice Pey-
ton by Rachel Randolph, in which the dis
appearance of the young man is referred to
aud the approaching end of the young girl.
Mr.. Potts concludes his statement as fol-
tnws: : 49, 49,
= Be removed and viii soon rest by the
side of his beloved Virginia."
Mr.. Potts says that he has the original
manuscript, and Editor Kaufman gives the
entire story strong editorial Endorsement