Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-15

The story Revealed by the Discovery OF
n skeleton In u Cave.
Editor kaufman, of the chester Ddiiry
Union, and W. W. Potts, of Warwick
superintendent of one of the extensive
granite quarries at Fails of French Creek,
tell one OF the strangb-t stories ON record,
and NUuch for its entire aulhouticity
This is II wild and romantic region about
twelve miles from Valley Forge, whore
through a large area immense granite
honlders are piled in all sorts of
fantastic shapes and which III the earlier
history of the state was hiding
place for robbers and wild beasts.
Recently while new quarry was being
opened AT Falls of French Creek, a cave
was discovered with II skeleton in il. 4
green glass bottle was found alongside the
skeleton, and Mr. Potts took possession of
1t. In the evening Ht his home he opened
II and found n manuscript, faded and dis
colorcd by time. The manuscript is adj
dressed To Miss Virginia Randolph, of
Richmond, Virginia. He had PARED from
her but short time before to reioin his
command, having been home to be
cured of n wound. The writer signs
himself Arthur l.. Carrington of
the same place, and states that
he was with Washington at Valley
Forge IN lI.S. He goes on to say that he
was sent out on q foraging expedition Ia
the noighberhood of Fronch Creek, when
he received word that the British had sent
a considerable force to cut him oil. The
writer saws that his men took refuge with
friends while he made his way To the cave,
where he had hidden before. 1t was marked
hE rock just over the entrance. SO nicely
laitnCod that man could move il slighti v
with one hand.
The fleeing patriot took shelter inside.
and had hardly done So when the enemy
came near and fired three shots aflcr his
rctrcatlBg men. The conclusion must have
destroyed the balance of the stone above
the entrance, tur il fell and held the writer
prisoner When convinced that he must
die hc wrote the letter explaining his sit
uallon and cluquCntly protesting his love
Tor his sweetheart. The date of the mann
script - May 20, l77s. The letter relates
his mtile efforts To dig his way out through
the walls of solid rock, how he hallooed in
the vain hope that some one would hear
MN until his voice was completely worn
out of his hunger and finally ofthc svmp,
toms of the return of Il fever through whicl
he had passed, which he welcomed "A,
hkyIy 10 hasten his release from suffering
Mr.. Potts says that he wrote 10 AN old
mend III Richmond, and that this frienC
sent HIM word that his grandmother,
maiden name had been Ranaolph. aud tL,
in an old family hurving ground. uc,r he,
house, was monument with thi, inscrip
! hoh: Died Ola broken heart, un the L.
OF March. 1850, Virginia Randolph. areJ y
| years and days. Faithful unto death. -
This friend also sends MIR. Potts Two old
letters written 10 wears ago 10 Alice Pew
ton by Rachael Randolph, in which In
disappearance of the young man is re
ferred to and the approaching end of th
young girl. Mr.. Potts concludes his state
ment AS follows: arthur CarTinrtou'
remains are about 10 be removed. and vii
soon rest by the side of his beloved in Nr
glnia." MIR. Potts says that he has IN
original manuscript, and Editor Kaufima
gives the entire story a strong editorial en-
| dOTscmcut.