Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-14
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 "a history of great interest.
1t is nothing more or less than the iron
strong box of Thomas, Lord Fairfax,
frst 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
gles The slight ornamentation on the
front of the box shows it to be Of Ital
ian workmanship. The box is in o state
Of remarkable preservatic1- The key
hole is in tie center of the massive lid,
and large, heavy key, black with age.
turns easily in it. A 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 rouson that Fairfax buried IL was
sn-s he h.d niisa lied S as Nth 1.S.sy So,a-cs- s-
the crown, but he died before he had an
opportunity to take it up and enjoy the
treasure. The only person who knew
about the burial of the box was DIR.
Thomas Woodcock Of Winchester. After
the death of Lord Fairfax. DR.. Wood
cock dug it up and took 1t to Philadel-
phia. where he gave it to the agents OF
the Bank of England. who sent it to
England, still filled with money and
muniments of title. When the contents
had been removed, the box was given
to the Fairfax heirs in England.
The Fairfax heirs sent it back to DR..
Woodcock filed with silver plate, and
the strong box eventually passed from
DR.. Woodcock to Mrs. Hannah Dunbar
of Winchester. At Mrs. Dunbar's death
she willed the box To her daughter, Mrs.
Philip Williams of Virginia. during her
lifetime, and provided that it should
then descend to Mrs Williams heirs,
among whom was Mrs. Avirett, wife OF
the Rev. James b. Avirett, formerly OF
Silver Springs and now of North Caro-
lima.
During the late war the chest was
again buried by those who had 1t IN
possession at Winchester, and a large
quantity of valuable silver plate we.
placed in it in order to protect it from
possible seizure by the soldiers. Several
years ago the box was dug up again, its
whereabouts having been discovered
| through information received from {
| former slave named Granderson, whs
had helped to bury it, but who preserv
| ed the secret of its location until ht
| found death was near. when he divulgee
| it to the proper party. The heirs of Mrs
Philip Williams gave the strong box t.
Mr. Philip Williams Avirett, who nov
| has it in his possession.
Among the treasures which We're con
tanned in the strong box at the time i
/ was buried during the late war was I
| miniature portrait of the late Philil
| Williams, painted on ivory by Rem
| brandt Peale. The miniature is incase,
| in q quaint oval silver locket, and !
also in the possession of Mr.. Avirett
| Authorities on such matters have ex
pressed the opinion that the miniatur
Is as fine specimen of Peale's marvel
i ous art in miniature portrait palntln
as there is extant. Washington Star.