Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
Narrow Margin by Which Washing
ton Became Commander.
CHAPTER OF FORGOTTEN HISTORY
The Proofs in Possession of a
Former Washingtonian.
OLD SWE EFT SPRINGS

OLD SWEET SPRINGS, Monroe County.
w. Va, June q, 1885,
Within five minutes walk Of the spot
where stood the cottsge occupied by Gen.
George Washington curing his annual WIS.,
its to the Oh Sweet hundred and twenty
| five or more yesrs ago lie the remains of
one who. it is claimed by his descendants,
came very near being the father of his
&C, ntry."
| 1t is related a chapter of early but
| forgotten history. The proof is contained
In records preser, ed ty Mrs. Susan Fred
| er1ck, formerly resident Of Washington,
D. c., but whose home is now at this place,
| that when the election Of a COMMANDMENTS
chief Of the continental armies was held
the candidates were George Washington
and Andrew Lewis. Both were regarded
as famous fighters. and the vote by the
| convention was a tie. The able but eccen-
trio John Randolph Ct Roanoke, a bitter
enemy of Gen. Lewis. vas the chairman of
| the body, and consequently had the decid-
| ing vote, and this he cast for Washington.
| Ihe region in which the Old Sweet
Springs are located Is rich In interesting
| historical incidents. The cottage which
| washington occupied when here disappear
| ed many years ago to make room for an
| elegant bath house. containing appurte-
| nances which are to be found only in
| southern mountain resorts. and the prom
| erty has passed from the ownership of most
| OF the descendants of those who came into
| IT'S possession after tie Indians were driven
west of the Ohio.
Magnificent Estate.
| The Old Sweet Springs property is a mag
| nificent estate of 1900 acres, a large part
of which is under the highest state of Gull
| tivation. More than ITO acres are in wheat
over lo0 acres In corn. an equal number in
I q ND
| on correspondingiy large scale Some
idea of the extent Of the Old Sweet Springs
| may be CLEANED from the fact that 500 or
mere guests are readily entertained at a
! time. and at the height of the season it
resembles city in miniature The springs
| themselves flow from a valley of surpa ssiIly
| icVeiiness and fertility, surrounded by
q andeur.
The water Of the springs has no I'M
| peasant taste, but the high temperature
G9 deerees) renders 1t rather warm for
drinking purposes. For bathing ii is very
| agreeable. There are two fine pools-ona
Tor gentlemen and the other for ladies'
| Each is seventy-five feet long, forty feet
VIDE and from three to five feet deep, and
SO pure mat the ncSS-covered stones on
the bottom are distinctly visible In addi-
| ton to the Sweet Springs, for drinking
purposes. there is an abundant supply of
cool, refreshing freestone water
! The List of Visitors.
Among the visitors now here or who
heve engaged accommodations for the sell
sor are: DR.. c. r. Collins Lieut. A. W.
| Yates and party. Mrs. A NJ Barnett.
| Washington, d. c.; Judge Morris and
family, DR.. r. B. Thomas, Mrs H. B.
| Lockwood. Baltimore, Nd: Mrs w. w.
Buckmore, Miss Brewer, Boston; Dr.
Christopher Tompkins and family, Rev.
DR.. Hartley Carmichael and family, Mrs.
Austin A. Smith end family, Richmond.
| Va; Mrs. Elizabeth West, Alexandria:
Gen. William Porcher Miles and family
New Orleans: Mrs. w. r. Tucker, Miss
Henrietta McVea; Raleigh. N. c.: Mrs. W.
Jackson, Mr. Raymond L. Ward, Mrs. E.
w. Hillyer. Mrs. z. Nelson, New YORK:
Mrs J. Morrison Fuller. Miss Margrete
| Roudin: Brockton. Mass: Mrs. NJ. A. Car
men. ST. Louis: Prof. John Patterson,
| Judge w. o. Harris. Dr. Grubbs and fam
lily, Briscoe Hineman and family Mrs g.
p; Semple and family. Louisville. KY;
b. Dunbar and family. Cincinnati, Ohio.
Granted by King James.
The estate itself is a part of a gift of
100000 acres granted by King James I TO
John Lewis. the son of French Husuenot-
Count Lewis-who was an intimate friend
| of the English king. With his family ne
| vas forced to leave France by reason of
the terms of the revocation of the edict
| of Nantes and found homes in other lands
The Gen. Andrew Lewis above mentioned
vas a grandson of the count.
Those who have seen a splendid monu-
ment erected in Capitol Square, Richmond.
Va, have doubtless noticed the four fig,
ures. heroic size, grouped around the base
and 1t has occurred to many that it was
strange that one. that of Gen. Andrew
Lewis, should have been sculptured in his
hunting shirt. The generally accepted rea-
son for this Is that Gen. Lewis was one
Of the most famous hunters of his day. as
well as a soldier. He was an intimate
friend of Washington, the Washington md
Lewis families being related