Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-06-16

OF the mouse Delng an aruenI OouIeu-
crate, hoisted Confederate flag on
the tower of his hotel. Captain Els
worth ordered it taken down. The
proprietor refused stoutly. Ellsworth
started to remove the flag, but the
proprietor told him if he attempted to
take down that flag he would shoot
him. Ellsworth paid no regard to the
threat and started up the steps to re-
move the flag. He was instantly shot
by the proprietor, whose body in turn
was riddled by bullets from the Union
guns.
Seven miles on through "old Vir-
ginny" soil, and the electric cars land
us at the gate of
MOUNT VERNON.
About three miles from the entrance
to Mt. Vernon proper we enter upon
tn. original Washington estate, tract
of about 5000 acres. All, with the
exception of 200 acres, passed from
hand to hand, so that interest centers
only in Mt. Vernon mansion and 200
adjoining acres. So many things could
be written about Mt. Vernon, and so
much said that we will today mention
but little. Passing through the gates
we enter a magnificent, spacious park
with stately oaks and elms-on the
highest point of which stands the ma
iestic old Mt. Vernon mansion. The
house is of--wood, two stories and a.
half high, 90 feet long and about 40
feet wide, with large porch rising
to the entire height of the house sup
ported by heavy columns, the floor of
which is laid with square stones i'm
ported from the Isle of Wight. From
this porch we command a magnificent
view of the Potomac, which rolls on
lust beneath. In the mansion are most
of the articles of furniture and Wash
ington family relics, and gifts from
foreign powers to Washington while
Prenident. One can spend the day
looking at the many interesting relies
Of 100 years ago. The bed is still
standing in the room and spot where
Washington died. So also is the scene
of Martha Washington preserved. Just
outside are the servants quarters, the
old kitchen with its antique fireplace
and crane, the carriage-house with
Washington's coach, the stables (but
not the same horses) which Washing
ton used, the old spinning-room with
its fixtures, well, sun dial restored, the
old deer park, &c.
About 800 yards south of the man
sion, on the hill side, in full view of
the bosom Of the river, is the old fami-
ly vault where the body of Washing
ton first laid and remained till 1880,
when it was removed to new vault,
at no great distance, on the edge Of a
deep, wooded dell. 1t was Washing
tons request that after his death a
new mausoleum should be built Of
brick, and he selected the spot where
his remains and those of his family
should be reinterred. But it seems
very strange that the body of George
Washington, the "father of his coun-
try" and the hero of 1776-8l, and
the first President of the United States,
should have been allowed to remain
in little, half-decayed, unpretentious
vault for thirty years before his re-
quest for reinterment should be full
filed. 1t seems an objectionable neg
lect. The present burial place is un-
pretentious, containing in the first
room the bodies of George and Mar
tha Washington in marble collins.
In adjoining room are the remains Of
80 members of the family. When the
door was locked, the keyhole was
sealed and the key thrown into the
Potomac. John Washington, grand
nephew of George, ordered this done,
and excavated a site for a new mauso-
leum by the side of the old. But the
property passing from his hands, the
mausoleum was never built. The de-
scendants of this John Washington
live in Charlestown, our county seat.
Mt. Vernon mansion was built by
Lawrence Washington, elder brother
of George, who settled there in l743,
and named the estate in honor of Ad-
miral Vernon, under whom he served
in the West Indies. George occupied
it from 1853 until his death. He
added one story to the house, and two
wings, in l774 and 1885, and greatly
enlarged and embellished the estate.
he bequeathed it to Bushrod Wash
ington, from whom it passed to his
nephew, John A. Washington. By
II i Onn ..-...o