The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-03
THE CORNER STONE.
Unearthing an Interesting
Relic of Early Days.
FOUNDATION OF UNIVERSITY
Preparing 10 Lay the Old Cornerstone
ut the Site OF the New University
"A Scarcity of Coins.

Many people have attended and enjoyed
the ceremonies of laying the corner-stores
of important buildings. but not many
have witnessed the opening OF these COR
ner-stones years afterwards TO revive the
memories or history of the contents of
such stones. This exceptional opportun-
ity was given TO a few Seattle pioneers
yesterday. Chancellor James r. Hayden
and Regents William ID. Wood and David
Kellogg and Secretary Edmond 5. Meany.
OF the University of Washington, invited
Rev. David BagIeY and Hon. Arthur A
Denny. two old pioneer university friends
to proceed to the old university building
and help search out the memorial corner
stone, as they wished to relay il in the
corner OF the new building. The old Or
iginal cornerstone was laid with pomp
and proper ceremonies on May 20, 1861.
The rest of the party who participated IN
this search consisted OF Prof Marx Bailey,
jr., Engineer Fred G. Plummer. Janitor l..
~. Larsen. Armorer John Ham. b. A.
S.arkey and few others. The search was
begun. naturally, in the northeast corner
of the buildings foundation.
do you think it is in here, grand
father ?" was asked of Mr.. Bagley, who
was master of ceremonies on that oc-
casion.
Yes, / believe so. Some of the boys
tell me it was in the southeast corner. but
I've been Mason for forty-five years, and
/ think you'll find il in the northeast cor
ner."
So they set to digging in earnest,
and one stone after another was
tumbled out and examined, but nothing
like a regulation cornerstone appeared.
In the meantime Mr.. Bagley and Mr..
Denny entertained the work ers with
"reminiscences of the old days. How they
fought to locate the university here; how
they struggled TO build it, and how they
struggled harder than ever afterward to
keep 1t going. The workers had hard
work TO dislodge the foundation stones,
which gave Mr.. Bagiey great satisfaction.
you see" remarked he, I'VE aid that
work well, If We did have obstacles 10
overcome"
i've been talking to David I. Denny
and some of the other pioneers" con-
tinued Mr.. Bagley. land they all say we
made quite deposit of coins, papers and
other relics in this cornerstone"
The workers dug in faster and faster,
spurred on by the interesting talk of the
siIver-haired pioneers.
my wife and |, said Mr.. Denny. "have
gotten on together all these years without
any disputes until last night, and hope
this cornerstone, when we find it, will
settle last nights dispute. | have all
along maintained that this cornerstone
was laid on May n, 1861, the day my boy
Charles was born. You see / wanted to
attend the ceremonies. There were no
doctors here then, and had some cermo-
MES at home to attend to on that day, and
didn't go TO the cornerstone laying. Ny
wife says the cornerstone was laid on
May 20 and my boy Charles was born
shortly after midnight of the same day,
making his birthday on May 81. | have
always made 1t point in recording pio-
neer recollections never TO dispate with a
mothers calendar. So. dig on boys;
Wen lind out soon."
Dig they did, and soon their work was
rewarded. Up near the top of the ma
sonry, just below the sill. a small copper
box was found imbedded in the mortar.
1t was 5x7x2I1 inches in size.
There now the story will soon be told"
said all hands.
Secretary Meany and Engineer Plum
mer were sent off TO ID. j. Fritz's black
smith shop nearby to have the box
opened. 1t was no easy task for the box
had been most carefully closed. They re-
turned, however IN a few NON ents and
inside the copper box was found another
tin box sealed as before and inside that
another Tin cover bright as new tin.
Inside the deposit was finally found. 1t
consisted OF well-preserved Bible, over
the leather cover of which was stretched
carefully bright green mosquito netting
unfaded after third of a century's burial.
The Bible was not complete. The first
four pages of Genesis were gone and all
after the beginning of John iii. was also
missing.
Whose Bible was THAR" was asked
well, as was the only clergyman for
thirty miles around" replied the veneer
able Mr.. Bagley, III suppose it was mine.
But Bibles were mighty scarce here then,
and, suppose, that was the best one we
could get for the cornerstone"
There was no writing and no papers
were printed here then. so Chancellor
Hayden turned TO Pioneer Denny and re-
marked: "You will have 10 compromise
that dispute with Mrs. Denny"
Besides the Bible the box contained an
interesting little pamphlet that was evil
IDENTIFY bound for the occasion. Il con-
tanned the Declaration Of Independence,
the Constitution of the United States,
with the amendments down 10 and includ-
ing Article the Twelfth" and an extract
of the General Laws Of Washington Ter
ritory." The first law permanently" To-
Gates the seat OF government of the terri
tory Of Washington at Vancouver, Clarke
county. and the second law locates the
University Of Washington at Seattle,
King county. provided, good and sufii-
cieRt deed 10 ten acres OF land. eligibly
situated in the vicinity OF Seattle. be first
executed 10 the territory Of Washington
for university purposes"
Right here Is when Mr.. Denny earned
bis ;itle Of father of the university. He
gave the ten acres aud the institution was
promptly fixed.
Another Of the laws appointed Daniel
BAEiey. John Webster and Edmund Carr
a board OF commissioners 20 select and sell
the granted lands and TO build the aniyer-
silly. Mr.. Bag.ey Is the only survivor Of
that beard, snd he Will participates in the
laying Of the cornerstone of the new uni
veEsity building Oh Ja,y T. These laws
we're passed OF January IL, IS6l, and we're
signed by Lyman Shaifer, speaker OF the
house OF representatives, and Paul X.
Habhs, president Of the council The
pages 81 the pamphlet are glued together.
and the back OF the li,t.s book is a sirsp Of
common ordinary legislative red tape.
tbu the ton at the TN hoy rs a. uras -. ~.