New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-31
IN THE OLD DOMINION.
NOTES OF A HURRIED VISIT TO NORFOLK
AND RICHMOND


other day when landed In Norfolk after voyage py
steamer from New-York. One was that the streets
crowded with colored people, and the o'her was
that gerry OF them seemed TO be eating wafer
melon. Here you the typical life OF tue ooioie"
race-Rappy contented and lazy. Yet there was an
unexpected he about the streets and the weather "S
not hot. y wsicrmelons abounded. Every shaded
place. every stand under every tree watermeions
were being eaten and IL rare sight to see d
negro without under his arm or carried proudly ou
the top OF his head. In fact. watermelon PAIR vi
short and ragged trousers and hall torn SHIRT con"
pete the summer outfit Of the ordinary Virginia dsrkeN
AS the Atlantic Hotel crowded with an excursion
party from the South. concluded TO take the h'.i0
steamer Louise, go over to Newport News pass tue
night at the Hotel Warwick and return the following
morning in order to take the steamship WyanOke ana
make the round trip up the James River to Richmond
and back TO Ncw-York. Newport News is row nan
deserted city, The streets grassgrown the Doaiu
walks are rotten and the huge elevator-the largest
in this country-unused. But the hotel is as clean
as well maintained and del ghtul AZ when II was hs'
opened. Returning TO Norfolk the following fore
mon foupd nv way TO Saint Pauls Church. high'
wide brick wall along the street thichly covefen VIII"
masses OF Ivy, hides from view the OLD cemetery
I passed within the iron gates and there had no use
for nv umbrella, which had carried IN the e'Nc''
High venerable from about the little chufcn'
and tangled creepers and vines and Towering shrubs
the brick walls and noisy streets. The church IS pun.
in the shape of a Gross and in the south wall lhiau
in brick are the figures 1899 indicating the da'e VI
erection Near the nOrheastcorner. half emoeoueu III
the wall is a solid nine pound shot which was nreu
and lodged IN the church during the Revolution Inc
grounds are beautiful. and among the trees nouceu
the scotch yew the cedar of Lebanon, and iar sur
passing all else In beauty the Grape myrtle whose
huge red bunches OF flowers crowned the tree WIN
their brilliant color. ~
wandered long among the widowed tombs. hi'ed
the ivy and traced the curious inscriptions Among
them found this:
in memory Of Nancy Cunningham, wife oil Gap
tain Cunningham, who departed this lie 'he IAN VI
June 1906 age thirty three years.
Z" Bic jacet the loss that sustain;
We hope in heaven 10 meet again.
Here is another:
asacrcd ,o the memory of Mrs Sarah singleton.
"Tbe cypress and the yew-tIe have gloom,
And the willow does sadness express.
But Jesus arose from the tomb
And enlighiens the painful egress'
A thiId reads
Z" Here lies the body of Mary, the wife Of captain
Edward Archer born April 3. IVA. died June y,
1T57 and buried here the 10Th by his three sons anu
two daughters.
Remember me as you pass Dye
that as yon are once was j,
Whilst you are in health prepared be
That whes, death calls TO follow me-
Ahout tbe most unsympathetc and worldly IN
tcription to be found IS this
"I, memory of Edward owens. who died ON the
cod day of July 1885. aged thirty four yesrs' his
marble is erected BY his affectiona'e WIDOW
by a steady course OF industry
He acquired ample fortune.
And his death misfortune
Not only to his family,
But to his friends his neghbors and his country.
But as absorbing as The exterior oil tn's oia PiAoo
was It was nothing compared to what iou'o "no"
entered the building There at the END OF an asie
,ooa one NJ the most interesting of American relics
7, was the chair in which John Hancock SAT when
he signed the Declaration of independence IL Is
plain mahogany arm chair On the ngh' arm Is d
silver plate with tho following This char was
oceuped by John Hancock when he signed tine Deeara
ton of Independence. 1t was bought by Coionei
Thomas NJ Bagley, Of Accomac county, va Az
bis death IL became the property Of his daughter
Ann who subsequently, intermarrled with the keV'
BENJAMIN NJ Miller once rector OF st. Pauis church
Norfolk Va. who presented it 10 the parish
II was late in tho afternoon when got Dack 10
the hotel and having ascertsoed that the WyanoNe
rr.s IA start for Richmond 1 went board The
,cene on the wharf was another picture OF life anu
hustle The darkeys. as they work, chant sort VI
doggerel incaEatiOn-half musical. hait weho-a"o
as they run and laugh and haul upon the ropes 'hes
seem TO be the persOniHcaiiOn OF good ha'ure' rs
,he sun goes down We bid aAen TO old Norfolk anu
passing BY the oid lo't a ioi'S"' ~ F
James - $500,
I; WAS many years since ! had seen Richmond ana
first drove over Church Hin and into The NstohaI
Cemetery where legend of the rescue OF captain
Smith still points out the stone on which MS heao
was laid when Pocahontas saved his life visited
tbs former residence Of Jefferson DAVIS, now useu
as a public school Opposite is the house where
Vice President stephens lived The hill, which was
durpg the Confederacy unoccupied except by these
bouscs..is now built upon and thlchiy covered -
little further on a corner looking dark ana sOhOe III
duh brown paint, is the house where Ohlei JUSTICE
Marshall lived II looks as If It has been forgotten
In the midst OF new dwellings, and paved streets
Tbc,e is another interesting house not mentioned III
the gudebooks and unknown 10 most people, where
Edgar Allan Poe once lived. ii now LOOKS lorioih
The old stone house known as Washington heau-
ouarters' is undoubtedly one OF the Oldest houses III
Richmond. Many interesting stories are toid apou'
IL. One is that in the west room Sir Walter Raleigh
was tried by court martial and proof Of this You
ar shown an old long letter embedded IN The
outside homework opposite the room. Two cuIiousy
shared iron hooks. now almost entirely covered by
bark are to be seen in the trunk OF large uee III
the rear of the house. They are said to have beeh
used as hching post for officers during the Revou-
ton and also TO faSten slaves 10 when hogged
A visit 10 Saint Johns Cemetery was highly IN
terestIng II was there that the old court house
or hall STOOD aud where the convention in l713 IL
That portion of Tie building still remains and forms
the ain section of the church. In one place the spot
Is still pointed out where Patrick Henry stood when
he uttered his immortal words: Give me liberty or
give me death The bowl Of the font is OF gray
marble aud from the ruins Of Curtis Church.
Curtis Neck. on the james. having been presented to
that church from England two centuries ago.
In the cemetery of Saint Johns many old graves
The stone over that OF Daniel DenoOn shows singular
importance minnie details.
Here lies the body Of MI. Daniel Denoon. gun
maker. of this city. who was shot BY James Me
Naught o7th of February. 1926, after being in his
employ eight year,. three months and fifteen DAYS.
age twenty two years, two months and fifteen days.
Lament. o. re hts friends. your loss deplore,
For virtuous Daniel is alas no more
Another eptaph was
Sacred 10 the memory OF dear departed Henry.
youngest son Of John J. Werth, who was snatched
vember 1915 al the tender age OF nine years. seven