Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-10
LORD FAIRFAX'S STRONG BOX.
Romantic History of Remarkable
Relic

In one of the apartments of the Ho-
tel Raleigh, now occupied by Philip
w. Avirett, is a remarkable relic,
which has history OF great interest
It is nothing more or less than the
iron strong box of Thomas, Lord
Fairfax, first lord proprietary of Viz
ginia. The box or chest is made of
heavy wrought iron, into which have
been welded iron straps crossing each
other at right angles. The slight
ornamentation on the front of the
box shows it to be of Italian work
manship. The box is in state of
remarkable preservation. The key
hole is in the 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 turning sends sliding bolts out
from all sides of the lid to cling be-
meath heavy extensions of the four
sides of the box itself, upon precisely
the same principle as that upon
which the modern bank vault 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, Greenaway
court, near Winchester, Va, where he
died. The reason that Fairfax buried
it was that he had filed it with
money collected by him in the shape
of revenues for 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
Woodcock of Winchester. After the
death of Lord Fairfax, DR.. Wood
cock dug it up and took it to Phila-
delphia, where he gave it to the
agents of the bank of England, who
sent it to England, still filed 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.
DuuUdI uOdCu SIG W411CO LAC IVA W
her daughter, Mrs. Philip Williams of
Virginia, during her lifetime, and
provided that it should then descend
to Mrs. Williams's heirs, among
whom was Mrs. Avirett, wife of Rev.
James B. Avirett, formerly of Silver
Springs and now of North Carolina.
During the late war the chest was
again buried by those who had it
in possession at Winchester, and a
large quantity of valuable silver
plate was placed in it in order to pro-
tect it from possible seizure by the
soldiers. Several years ago the box
was dug up again, it's whereabouts
having been discovered through in
formation received from a former
slave named Granderson, who had
helped to bury it, but who preserved
the secret of it's location until he
found dead was near, when he di-
vulged it to the proper party. The
heirs of Mrs. Philip Williams gave
the strong box to Philip Williams
Avirett, who now has it in his pos
session.
Among the treasures which were
contained in the strong box at the
time it was buried during the late
war was a miniature portrait OF the
late Philip Williams, painted on
ivory by Rembrandt Peal. The min
iature is incased in quaint oval
silver locket, and is also in the pos
session of Mr.. Avirett. Authorities
on such matters have expressed the
opinion that the miniature is as fine
specimen of Peale's marvellous art
there is extant. Washington Even
ing Star.