Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-03-28
STRANGE FIND IN PENNSYLVANIA
Remarkable Story of Skeleton And
Manuscript Found In a Cave.

a Manuscript Found In a Cave.
Editor Huffman of the Chester
Valley Union and W. W. Potts Of
Warwick, superintendent of one OF
the extensive granite quarries at Falls
of French Creek, furnished recently
one of the strangest stories on record
and vouch for its entire authenticity.
Recently while new quarry was
being opened at Falls of French
Creek, in mild section of country, a
cave was discovered with skeleton
in it. A green-glass bottle was found
alongside the skeleton and Mr.. Potts
took possession of it, In the evening
at his home he opened it and found a
manuscript, faded and disclored by
time. The manuscript is addressed
to Miss Virginia Randolph of Rich
mond, Va.
The writer signs himself Arthur L..
Darlington of the same place and
states that he was with Washington
at Valley Forge in 177S. He goes on
to say that he was sent out ON for
aging expedition to the neighborhood
of French Creek when he received
word that the British force had cut
him off. The writer says his men
took refuge with friends while he
made his way to the cave where he
had hidden before. 1t was marked
by a rock just over the entrance, so
nicely balanced that man could
move it slightly with one hand.
The fleeing patriot took shelter in
side, and had hardly done SO when
the enemy came near and fired three
shot after retreating men. The con-
cussion must have destroyed the bal
ance of the stone above the entrance.
for it fell and held the writer pris-
oner. A ray of sunlight alone
streamed through the top. The
manuscript proceeds to say that after
many weary hours the writer became
convinced that he would have to per-
ish there. He feels the fever coming
ON and, with reason almost dethroned
indicts this letter-having writing
materials in his pocket-with the
hope that the world may some day
know of his fate. He speaks patheti-
cally to the memory and love Of his
betrothed and concludes as follows
"God is good; God is merciful to let
YOU seem so near me. You are pray
ing for me now, at this moment, /
feel it. / know it is 50 my beloved.
1t is not farewell; cannot say fare
well; there is no farewell to love like
ours. This agony will soon be over,
and | will be free. will be waiting
for you in the land of the hereafter.
Virginia, my best loved, | am almost
there, and something tells me | will
not have to wait long for your COM
ing" 90
The date of manuscript is May 20,
1778. Mr.. Potts says that he wrote
to an old friend in Richmond. This
friend sent him word that her grand
mothers name was Randolph and
that in an old family burying-ground
near her house was monument with
this inscription
"Died Of broken heart on the LIST
of March, 1880. Virginia Randolph
aged q years and 8 days. Faithful
unto DEATH"
This friend also sends Mr.. Potts
two old letters written one hundred
and ten years ago, to Alice Peyton by
Rachel Randolph in which the disap-
pearance of the young man is referred
to and the approaching end of the
young girl. The bones of Darlington
will be sent to Richmond for final
interment beside those of his loved
ono