The evening times., 1896-07-29

There is an uncanny relic OF Colonial bar
barity on exhibition at Colonial Beach,
winch may soon be added to the curiosities
In the National Museum. 1t is IN tent in
front OF woods Hotel, presided over by
William Henry Harrison Cawoods the dis
. coyerer and owner OF the Notwithstanding
object.
The relic in Gnestion is a human skeleton.
encased in an iron artnor or frame. The
metal is nearly eaten away with the rust
OF ages, and most OF the bones have fallen
from the rude easement. The skull and leg
bones remain In the cage, however and it
would require the services OF a blacksmith
to remove them.
Mir. cawood was road overseer in King
George county, Va, several months ago.
and while engaged with u gang Of laborers
In repairing roadway in tfiitthistorical old
bailiwick the skeleton, in arii:or. was I'M
earthed. The worknen were recrtting for dirt
with hoes In an old field. to I'LL up hole
in the highway. when one OF them struck
an iron substance short distance beEeath
the surface. When unearthed, it proved
to be the rusted arnor. or cage, containing
over six feet In height.
MAY HAvEBEEN AN OFFICER.
As soon as the air came in contact with
the skeleton some Of the bones fell away.
The skull, however, remained firm IN the
crown piece. Near the cage was found
four plain brass buttons, the size OF half
dollar This led some people to Relieve that
the skeleton was that OF an English or
Spanish officer of Colonial days, who was
welded into the iron frame, hung on
gibbet or tree and allowed to starve to
death in public.
Another theory is that it was pirate,
who, with his rakishcrart, iDfestedthe waters
OF the lower Potomac and Chesapeake Bay
and preyed upon incoming merchantmen.
Others believe that the skeleton was that
of an Indian chief named Passpatawnsie,
who massacred and robbed the early set
Tiers His blood thirsty disposition gained
for rim the appcllation Of ''thefieree chief
BY his cruel warfare he drove many of
the Virginia colonists into Maryland.
History records that Passp1tawnsie was
fought and finally conquered by Mason, of
GuDston, but there is no record OF the
Indians capture OF death.
Old settlers in King George believe Ca
woods find was the remains of 1.-The
fierce chief" They say the outraged Set
tiers seized the red man, and. while alive.
had biacksmiths build about him the rough
ly Constructed frame or cage He was then
hung to the limb of tree or gibbet and
allowed to perish by slow degrees
RECOGNIZED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
Another version is that the skeleton rep
resents a victim OF religious persecution
who was put to death in this most inhuman
manner By either the English or Spanish.
The Virginia legislature was impressed
with the Importance Of Mf. Cawood's
find, and passed this act, which was ap-
proved February 81, 1896:
whereas William Henry Harrison ca
wood of King George eointy discovered In
said county the skeleton of a man In an
tron encasement, AMI
whereas, such may be of historical
value If placed on exhibition in the CON-
mon eaIth as one of the curiosities of the
early Colonial period, and it appearing that
Cawood Is man OF extremely limited
means and unable pecuniariiy to exhibit
his valuable relic of the mode of punish
nent imposed by Colonial courts under
English laws, 1t is enacted that the said
Cawood is permitted to exhibit said curl
oslty in any county'or town In tie State.
without the pa yrnent Of Il license tax
The frame or cage in which the grim
skeleton is encased is composed of a series
Of wrought iron strips. its shape Indicating
that it was made TO closely fit the form
OF the unfortunate man who was doomed
TO die a lingering death in its iron Clasp.
At the bottom are two iron shoes on which
the feet OF the imprisoned wretch rested.
The ca Ge about the head Is also composed OF
strips of iron.
CAN FIND NO RECORD.
Just IN front OF this cage is suspended a
hook, on which food was placed TO increase
the dyingagoniesofthe starving victim. The
arms were encased and strapped to the en-
easement by welded strips of iron. Above
the headpiece and running through it is a
bolt, one inch in thickness and ahout ten
inches in length. The bolt is pivotal, and
was intended to pass through the tree limb
| or gihbet beam and allow the cage and its
prisoner TO slowly revoIve with the wind.
The records of all the counties in the
| northern neck of Virginia have been search
ed back into the sixteen hundreds to see il
| anything could be learned of this terrible
| instrument of torture, but nothing could be
| found that would throw any light upon it
| King George was taken from Richmond
! county, which is the oldest organized baili
| wick in the Northern Neck OF Virginia. Tht
| counties of Richmond, King George, West
moreland, Lancaster and Northumberland
| N ThN-- 10 ha
| tween the Potomac and Rappahannock
Rivers. They have been under both Span
ish and English rule. The records of all o
them were searched back to 1850 without
| avail.
| DROPPED TO DEATH.