Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-20

THE ROMANCE OF 4 CAVE.
story Of Arthur Darlington and Miss Vir-
ginia Randolph.

Very recently an account was publlshed
concerning the reported finding IN cave
I'm PENNSYLVANIA Of the body Of young
man who in his diving moments wrote a
pathetic account Of his last adventure, and
ID was further related that bis sweetheart,
from grief because of his unexplained alb
sence. died of a broken heart.
The report comes from Reading and IS 70
the effect that while WashingtOns army
was M Valley Forge, Arthur Darlington, -
lieutenant in one Of the Virginia cOmpa-
uies. won't out on foraging expedition
with few soldiers and was beset by SUI
perior force Of the British. Our men be-
ing hopeless Of their ability 10 defend
themselves against such great odds, sepa-
rated, and Darlington went INTO cave,
the whereabouts Of which was unknown 10
the invaders. While in the cave a boulder
on the mountain side fell and closed ITS
entrance. Darlington was supplied with
light FROM some crcylcCs IN the ROOT. but
no exit could be found 10y him. Thus
shut i'm from the world and condemned TO
die bv starvation. hc sat down and wrote q
letter 10 his sweetheart. rcciting tins ad-
venture and describing his feelings in hrs
solitary confinement, and tins writing II IL
related he placed in bottle for preserva-
tion.
The account goes on to say that recently
people quarrying stone in the neighDQr-
hood opened the cave and found skele-
ton. and bv it's side rifle and near by a
bottle, which being opened was found 10
contain a letter from Arthur Darlington 10
Miss Virginia Randolph, a Richmond belle,
and by this letter CarrlngtOn's fate was
first made known.
The skeleton was taken mp and given Sc
pulturc in noighbOring cemetery, and the
letter is now said 10 be in the possession Of
a citizen Of French Falls, Pa. who, It Is al
legged has communicated with the relatives
in Richmond OF the lady and gentleman,
revealing the fact that Arthur Darlington
was really a lieutenant in the patriot army,
and that he disappeared during the Reyo-
luton and never WAS heard Of afterwards,
and that Miss Randolph died OF a broken
heart, which fact is inscribed on her
tombstone in Hollywood cemetery" All
of which is related III divers and sundry
Pennsylvania papers.
This really is a very pretty story. ana
il possibly may be true in some on lts de-
tails. but certainly several OF the alleged
facts have 40 foundation.
HOLLYWOOD cemetery was not III existence
in 1880: IL was only established in lS4s.
and i'm Mr.. Harvies family background,
am old place of sepulture now included IN
HOLLYWOOD, 10 bodies were buried rs early
rs 1900.
Mr.. Pevton r. Darlington, OF Richmond,
who has carefully compiled the gcnealOgy
of the Darlington family for centuries
back. statos positively that there never
was an Arthur Darlington in the Virginia
family until this generation, and that now
the scion of the Virginia family named Ar
thur resides in New York and Is about
thirty-two years Old.
An examination Of the genealogy Of the
Randolph family fails to disclose the name
of any Virginia Randolph rs living IN or
about 1850.
cal romance to be blurred by such defects,
and the writer Of it would do well to revise
and correct IT..