The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-05

James McWilliams. whose home near
he head of St Clements Bay, is one of
the oldest and most historically interest
ng in southern Maryland. possesses,
among other ancient documents, letter
written by ancestor 102 years ago,
which gives a realistic glimpse into the
vault Of an old colonial governor and his
lame
The letter, as brown as a tobacco leaf,
md time-eaten in the folds. is as follows:
August l, 1897.
Dear Relation-The Oldest people now
living have for many years past spoken OF
Walt that was at Saint Mary's Church, ia
which was one OF the first American Gov
errors and his lady, who were in leaden
collins and embalmed for the purpose OF
being sent and Inferred in England. but
being disappointed in a passage it was de
IeTmined walt should be erected and they
nclOsed therein, the door locked and key
thrown in the river. This was the ac-
count which was handed US from the old
est people now living who had been in
formed by their fathers and they got il
rom their fathers. and SofoTtH, but none
81 them remembered their names. Into
his curious affair Doctr Tabs and James
3iscoe were determined to search but
l.
posed 10 Mr. George Campbell to accom-
'any me there and open it, which request
lie willingly agreed TO.
Our intention was communicated TO Mr..
James BiscOe, Basil Biscoe, and Doctr.
Tabbs, all OF whom was pleased with il
md promised to join US agreeable to ap-
1Ointment- The 9th instant all except
Ooctr Tabs were there by o'clock and
lear twenty others. although we were as
luiet as We could be or thought neces-
lary. We first bess9 20 Gig down as low
5 the -- but the & 5vad being hard pre-
rented us. The @.. as then made on
he top. which va. below the surface Of
he earth. However, after four hours OF
excessive hard labor We opened a small
lole, and heayed the bits OF bricks down
ID the collins. I peeped il and saw two
Ongside Of each other.
The hole being made larger. Mr.. Camp
9eIl with rope was let down, and l fol-
owed him. To our establishment, We saw
The collins were -, the planks OF which
we're easily separated. which We did, and
behold fl contained two most elegant cof-
ins, the smallest of which was. by rope,
With difficulty got out and conveyed to a
shore close by. where waited the specta-
tors anxious to behold the contents. We
removed the lid, and 10 our surprise. saw
within il another coffin Of wood.
The lid of this being knocked of, We
saw the winding sheet. perfect and sound,
as was every other piece Of garment When
the face OF the corps was uncovered IL
was CHASTITY to see. II was woman. Her
face was perfect as was the rest Of her
body, but as black as the blacklist negro.
Her eyes were sunk deep in her head. and
every other part retained its perfect
shape. The loss Of three or four of her
upper teeth was supplied with a piece of
wood between them Her hair was short.
plated and turned up on her head. Her
dress was white muslin gownd, with an
apron that was loose in the body and
drawn at the bosom nearly as is now the
fashion, only not so low. with short
sleaves, and a pair Of hip 90 gloves, but
much discolored by time. Her stockings
were Gotten and coarse, darned much at
the feet. the clocks of which were large
and figured with half diamonds worked
Her gownd was short and gave a view
OF all her ankles; her cap. with long cares
and pinned under the chin. a piece of mus
lin two inches bread extended across the
top Of her head as low as the breast: the
end was square and trimed with half-inch
lace, as was the cap.
In the coffin OF the man vas only homes
which were large. His head was saved
through. the brain removed and filed with
embaimeDt, but he was not 50 we'll done
as the other or had been there much lony-
Ct, as he was much gone. The wild NJ
sheet of the lady was marked ia such e -
tiers as these Iillegiblel and on the lid " as
such as these A. Lal.'
The Walt was nearly ten feet square.
nearly archcd, with a brick floor. We saw
where the door was. but il was bIi ksd up.
The air was cool and impregEated with
sweet. balmy smell. originating from the
collins. tut / thought proper TO sprinkle
with rum. The length Of lime that h Sc
bodies here must have been nearly 200
years ana more. aSswe have not the snail
est account who they were more than u hat
! have mentioned.
Since writing the above I have heard a
man say who IS fifty years Of age tat
was one CCpely He got his inforrra ion
from his father. who was eighty years 4
sge when he died. and this was Ia. led
aim by his great-g aId-cther who built the
Walt and came in as a servant u n
Copsly. This seems TO be tie best account
oS;aiHcbie and most probable
After spending the day in hard work
we replaced them, as before and r tn he
nome. all acknowledging themselves per
!ectly satisfied and abundaatly Iewa ed
Tor tlC.r trouble. Numbers since regre ed
their hot knowing it: others wishes
AGAIN opened. and some One-Sisplea- d
81 its being opened at all. l have been
very particular IN c:der 10 sIi fy your
curiosity, rs FER q mine You mus ex-
case the length OF my letter also its u-any
lmperieotioas, as 1t was only intended /.
q copy"
The missive +hen closes with messages
TO ne family e. IS signed
''Gcur AGectiGnate Relation. Alex. Nc
Williams"