New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
A RELIC OF COLONIAL DAYS.
EFFORTS TO PRESERVE THE OLD WILL
IANiSBURG MAGAZINE.

Ia.NSBU RG MAGAZINE.
Fortress Monroe. Va. May % tspcoIaD.-An ssso-
citation has recently been started called the Assoeie
lion for the Preservation OF Virginia Antiquities, in
which Mrs. Toe, wife Of the Governor Of tho state,
Mrs. Roger A. Pryor and Mrs. Burton n. Harrison
are Interested TIE object is TO rescue and preserve
outdoor objects Of Colonial interests in the stats.
ard the old magazine or Powder Horn,s as 10 Ia
commonly called, AZ Williamsburg is 10 be the nrst
one taken In hand. II built by Governor Spots
wood In liza. Governor spotswood wa the deputy
or lieutenant Of George Hamilton, Earl OF Orkney.
the Governor and commander chief OF the colony.
There had been great rejoicing In the colony when
Governor Spotswood arrived because he brought with
him the habeas corpus act This act had been TO
fused by the Governors az times, whom their deputies
had taken on themselves 20 exercise II their
authority SO was matter Of rejoicing when Q
deputy came bringing II In his own name. However
It was not long before there open between
SpOtswood and the House OF Burgesses because they
would not grsnt certain money that he asked for
necessary defence. Two years later, having gained
the confidence OF the people by his wise measures.
the Assembly granted him all he asked and In I7ix
the statute was passed ordering the building of tho
magazine.
The quaint wording Is interesting: "Thers shsu
be built in the city Of Williamsburg one good sub
stantial house Of brick. which shall be called tbs
Magazine, in such place as the Lieutenant Governor
shall think proper In which all the arms, gnpowdei
and ammunition IN the colony belonging to the King
which shall at any time belong 10 His Majesty,
his heirs in this colony, may be lod@d
kept For the building and finishing which maya
zine there shall be laid out and expended any sum
or sums of money not exceeding 200 pounds. to be
levied and paid out Of the monies arising by the duty
on liquors and slaves
The old Powder Horn" Is IN appearance Ike the
MartcO towers at Quebec except that II is octsgoud
instead OF round. Around the magazine was built
h,f.t, .lo A,,oE oot oh H.
now surrounding the old ehurchyard in Williamsburg
Back Of tho magazine a hundred two yards in .
little ravlDe was the Colonial pillory. As one gzes
on the old Powder Iiorn,' now almost ruin, the
quotation comes 10 mind To what base uses must
come at last First q magazine, after 1912 the
old building was used a baptist Church. Later
second story put IN and the first story or
ground door, was used for a market ard the second
for public han and dancing school. Recently the
building has been used for a stable.
The city OF Williamsburg had gotten 20 be gay
little city when the gszlne built The artstoc-
racy Of tide water Virginia assumed an extravaganza
and display almost cqualng that of their relatives
IN England. In the winter many planters and their
families lived In Williamsburg. The ColsSe Of
william and Mary nourshed and the city was filed
With visitors. Life there with many q round Of
gayety. In 177o Lord DurmOre came-the last Royal
Governor. Although by tho time bis fsniily-ths
Countess, three and three daughters-arrycd,
IN 1874, he hal made himself extremely unpopular,
tho Assembly resolved TO show them every courtesy
The city Illuminated and grand ball gwen
them at The Capitol The clouds Of the Revolution
verc now gathering thick and fast There had been
scenes of great excitement In the Capitol tho protest
against the stamp Act, the denunoistson OF the
Port bin. the meetnss of the Bugesses IN the
Apollo Rooms Of tho Raleigh Tavern, proposing .
General Congress Of the Colonies at the same tine
Massachusetts, WIS making the same proposition
uya. MIA 90
the Colonies bat this not dreamed OF by the Virgin
ians yet On the night OF April 90 a number OF
marines who had been concealed In the palace moved
the powder from the magazine To the Hagialcn. Q
manof-war on tho James River. The removl II tho
powder discovered by the others early In the
morning. Gloucester-st crowded AZ once and
threats were made. A deputston was sent TO tho
palace demanding the return OF the powder They
found the place in state of defence, many arms lying
around. The Governor gave some untruthful excuse
and pledged his honor that II the powder was needed
Williamsburg It should be returned in half an hour
The Of the removal OF the powder spread Ike
wildnre. Patrick Henry raised goo or 300 men,
" Hanover Volunteers" and marched toward Williams.
burg. their numbers Increasing they went bun
more was obliged To go to meet them and to COM
promise the matter by paying for tho powder
The House OF Burgcsscs assembled on June /. ITS.
lord Dunmolo made polite address, and presented
mttoe was appointed to report upon II, and Mr.. JET
fersnh the ono to write the report Suddenly.
from q most unex peCtcd quarter. on Juno came Q
sound that ended all discussion. On that night
young men went % the magazine 10 procure arms
Lord Dunmore had before this delivered the keys OF
the magazine. They unlocked he door. and Is they
pushed II open It pulled concealed cord that dis
charged spring gun. Three OF the young men were
wounded. The Assembly was aroused 20 iniense ex-
element. Persons were officially appointed BY II 20
Aaminc the magazine. II was done cautiously. and
under the moor everal barrels Of powder wore found
buried. GlOucester-st. was again crowded oy the OK
crcd and outraged citizens and ssain threats we've
made. Before the day dswIed, Lord Dunmore and
family had fed 10 the Fowcy, at Yorktown. never
more TO return 10 Williamsburg.
On the twenty fourth OF the same month. twenty.
four gentlemen took 10 themselves, a. their own cx
pcnse u move the nom the palace bsck b. tho
magazine One OF those gentlemen . tan, blond
youth James Monroe aferward the nth President OF
the Unli~d States. Two OF them were appointed to
have Immediate supervision Of tho moving. One OF
them. George Nicholas, was 70 be the counter. The
others John Archer, Thomas Smith, Patrick Calf
and Benjamin Harrison, jr Dr. Patrick Gait was The
brother ~ DR. John NJ Gait first supernten OF the
nrSt asylum. for q insa. 10 america, and aferward
sun gcon Gencral OF the Virginia forces during the Rev
0lu.lon benjamin Harrison. IT,, was The brother OF
william Henry Harrison, ninth President Of the Unitd
States, and great-uncle to President Benjamin Har
rison
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