Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-04-29
FAlRFAx'S STRONG BOX.


The Story of an Interesting Relic Of the
Early Days of Virginia.
In one of the apartments of the Ho-
tel Raleigh, now occupied by Mr.. Philip
W. Avirett, is a remarkable relic,
which has history of great interest.
1t is nothing more or less than the iron
strong box of Thomas, Lord Fairfax,
first lord proprietary of Virginia. The
box or chest is made of heavy wrought
iron, into which have been welded iron
straps, crossing each other at right an
qles The slight nrnameDt-s.zon On the
front of the box shows it to be of Ital-
ian workmanship. The box is in q state
of remarkable preservation. The key
hole ia in the center of the massive lid,
and n large, heavy key, black wasaa
turns easily in it. wonderful thing
about the lock is that the key in turn
ing sends sliding bolts out from all
sides of the lid to cling beneath heavy
extensions of the four sides of the box
itself. upon precisely the same principle
as that upon which the modern bank
lock in universal use today is managed.
The history of the relic is romantic.
The strong box was buried by Lord
Fairfax at his home, Greenway Court
near Winchester, Va, where he died.
The reason that Fairfax buried 1t was
that he had filled it with money collect
ed by him in the shape of revenues fol
| the crown, but he died before he had al
| opportunity to take 1t up and enjoy tbs
| treasure. The only person who knew
| about the burial of the box was Dr
| Thomas Woodcock of Winchester. Aftel
| the death of Lord Fairfax, DIR. Wood
| cock dug it up and took it to Philadel
| pnia, where be gave it to the agents o
| the Bank of England, who sent 1t t.
| England, still filled with money ant
muniments of title. When the content
had been removed, the box was givel
to the Fairfax heirs in England.
The Fairfax heirs sent it back to DR.
| Woodcock filled with silver plate, an
the strong box eventually passed iron
DR.. Woodcock to Mrs. Hannah Dunba
of Winchester. At Mrs. Dunbar's deaf
| she willed the box to her daughter, Mrs
Philip Williams of Virginia, during he
lifetime, and provided that it shoul
then descend to Mrs. Williams heirs
among whom was Mrs. Avirett, wife c
the Rev. James b. Avirett. formerly c
Silver Springs and now OF North Care
lima.
During the late war the chest wa
again buried by those who had 1t
| possession at Winchester. and lare
quantity Of valuable silver plate Wa
placed in it in order to protect it frol
possible seizure by the soldiers. Sewers
years ago the box was dug up again, i
whereabouts having been discovere
through information received from
former slave named Granderson, VII
had helped to bury it. but who preser'
| ed the secret of its location until
found death was near, when he divulge
/ it to the proper party. The heirs OF Mr.
Philip Williams gave the strong box
, Mr.. Philip Williams Avirett, who no
has it in his possession
Among the treasures which were col
tanned in the strong box at the time
was buried during the late war was
miniature portrait of the late Phil
Williams. painted on ivory by Rer
| brandt Peale. The miniature is incas'
in a quaint oval silver locket, and
| also in the possession OF Mr.. AviTe'
D Authorities on such matters have
I pressed the opinion that the minlatu
I is as fine specimen of Peaie's maryt
r ous art in miniature portrait palntil
d as there is extant. Washington Star
gl In this country the Itaiian IS Il
e typical "dago" because he is Il
only familiar representative of I
dark skinned nations of LatIn
lrope. 1t Is the Spaniard, howeve
; whose language furnished this slal
uame for the men of the Medite
ranean countries who come TO I
d United States
dI One of the most familiar nam
e borne by Spsniards is Diego
It serves nearly az well as John IN II
country as typical name for b
or man English sailors long a
came to know Spanisrds as "dagoe
"a because 'dago'i was about as ne
as they could handily come
"Diego. --Cleveland Leader