Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-24
HIS RICHMOND SWEETHEART.
An Ast oundIng Story From Rea1ing,
Pa.

THE MAN WHO WAS FAITHFUL TO VIRGINIA
RANDOLPH.
The Philadelphia Press of July 18th, has
the following special from Reading, Pa:
The mystery of the death of young Vir-
ginia officer of the Revolutionary army, who
was member of Washington's command
at Valley Forge, has just been unraveled at
the Falls of FIench Creek in most remark
able manner The facts constitute a story
of surprising interest. The skeleton Of the
young soldier has been found in cave and
with it letter which explains the manner
of his death and why it was that for more
than hundred years the fate and place of
sepulchre of Lieutenant Arthur Darlington,
of Richmond, Va, has been unknown.
THE DISCOVERY MADE.
The discovery was made in cave at the
Falls. This is wild and romantic region
about twelve miles from Valley Forge,
where through large area immense granite
boulders are piled in all sorts of fantastic
shapes and which in the earlier history of
the State was hiding place for robbers
and wild beasts. Lately granite quarrles
we're opened there and it was in pursuit of
this industry that the cave was discovered
and opened. This happened several weeks
ago and created good deal of interest in
the neighborhood and much speculation as
to the manner in which the skeleton came
there.
1t was supposed that it was that of a SOL
dier or hunter, from the fact that the re-
mains of ria5 were found by its side, and
it was thought that the person, while in
life, had gone there to escape pursuing Iu-
dians But the finder of the remains, W.
W. Potts, the contractor for the removal of
the stone, did not inform the public that
there had been letter found with the
SKELETON. He had the romans carefully
inferred in the church-yard at st. Mary's
about five miles away, and he now makes
public the story of the letter, together with
the result of his inquiries with reference
thereto.
LETTER FROM THE DEAD.
Ay the side of the skeleton in the cave
was found glass bottle, which was taken
charge of BY Mr.. Potts. In this bottle was
found letter dated May Goth, 177S, and
addressed to Virginia Randolph, Of Rich
moud. It appears from the letter that Miss
Randolph was the sweetheart of the young
soldier; and that he had parted from her a
short time before to join his command, hav-
ing been home to be cured of a wound. He
tells that he had been sent from camp in
charge of small foraging expedition, when
they were cut off and pursued by larger
party of British. He as we'll as several of
the men under him knew of the facilities
for hiding in this locality, and particularly
of cave where ou previous expeditions
horses had been hidden.
By the time they had reached the rocks
pursuit was so close that they had to aban-
don their horses and flee on foot. He alone
reached the cave, and just after he entered,
either through the firing of muskets or by
the clambering over it of some of his pur-
suers, hign boulder that overhung the
entrance was dislodged and came crashing
down, completely closing the opening by
which he had entered. He was frightened
at first, but was reassured by the discovery
that there was little light entering the
cave from another direction. Seeing this
he kept quiet, resolving to find his way out
as soon as be was sure that his pursuers
had left the neighborhood. After while
ne attempted to put bis resolve into execu-
tion, but after diligent search for a means
of exit he found that the only opening was
very small crack in the roof of the cave
far out of reach and scarcely large enough
| to pass his hand through.
FAST IN THE CAVE.
The letter then relates his futile efforts
to dig his way out through the walls of solid
rock that surrounded him; of how he hal
looed in the vain hope that some one would
hear him until his voice WAS completely
worn out; Of his hunger and finally of the
premonitory symptoms of the return of
fever through which he had recently passed,
which be welcomed as likely to hasten his
] release from suffering. The letter ia filled
with the most endearing epistles, and every
1 ,;okrx ov,1 14fk~ k-s0
ism. It closes with tender farewell to his
sweetheart and the hope that they will not
long be separated.
| After reading the letter Mr.. Potts COM
muuicated with friends in Richmond, who
are familiar with the history of the old
| families of that city, and little inquiry
| developed the fact that the death of Vir-
ginia Randolph of broken heart was one
of the traditions of the Revolution among
the old families, and that her grave in Hol-
lywood cemetery is we'll known, being
marked by the following inscription:
"Died of broken heart, on the 1st of
March, 1880, Virginia Randolph, aged 81
years and days. Faithful unto death"
wHoM1ss RANDOLPH WAS.
1t appears that she was related to the
Peyton family of Virginia, and among
their family papers have been found letters
referring to the illness of Miss Randolph as
being caused by the disappointment and
mystery clouding the fate of her betrothed
lover, Arthur Darlington.
The descendants of Miss Randolph's
family have directed that the skeleton be
sent to Richmond in order that it may be
buried by the side of the remains of his
sweetheart in Hollywood, whore the two
graves are likely to be as much the Mecca
of lovers as is the tomb of Abelard and
Heloise in the cemetery of Pere La Chaise.
The original letter, remarkably well
preserved, is in the possession of Mr.. Potts,
who lives in Warwick, few miles from
French Greek, region rich in reminis-
cences of Revolutionary days, and where
many of the cannons used by the patriot
army were cast.
YES, SIR.-A subscriber tells us that he