The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-08

cravings or other valuables, but there
was no other parlor In that place ina
had what ours had-a ghost-and a plooo.
stained floor! The first I ever hear OF
il was from the ex-slave ''Uucle Ed
1uird," who was known to his free col
cred brothers as Dr.. Jackson. lie was
one of the slaves my father brought from
mis- Alabama, plantation with MN. anu ne
was full of love as any mlnstrel WHO
sang OF his race wars. AS slave ne
had been almost incorrigible. be Claimed
to have been of princely blood OF Africa
and was always a. rebelliou5 slave. AS
a free man he remained with my Ia1lliS,
serving faithfully when needed.
One time some years after the wal
closed he was asked to rewaX and pollSn
the parlor floor, which had grown rough
from lack of his strong arm. sa"
him come In with his brush and l 1oi-
lowed and looked on with interest.
There was a dark spot. which he point
ed out and which he SHE'D around till
the last moment Then he told me the
story, and I give it here for what it IS
worth: He had picked i up on the stree,
perhaps or from some older resident OF
the place He said that part of the old
house had once been a tavern; that from
the bedroom adjoining there had been
a door and steps leading down to what
was then our dinng-room. l proved
THIS Dy dt lliC Sshii'SSeAA'o ~
found that a door had once been Where
a window was at present.
1t was the source Of water supply for
over hundred years, just as 1t now
| flows 'it~i Q at!ss'ti
There was once stone house over it,
built in 1911, now removed and beng
| lowered to a small close aqueduct. IN
| 1911 a law was enacted by Virginia Leg
! islature concerning water company or
in
| Botetourt. The president and managers
| of the Fincastle Water Company !ncor-
porated," for Fincastle was first calico:
Monroe. This spring is also mentioned
IN the first accounts of the village, lalo
| out in the 'Wolf Hills on the lan~s
of Israel Christian, in ITO.
A LAA1ENTABLE FIRE.
Every person almost owned his own
| property in Fincastle and his parents had
n many instances owned it before. !
aayer heard Of movincs or settings OF
/ Exchanges of property in whole decades.
/ RE burnt district was rebuilt, mostly
| N modern styles in brick Many ne"
and modern houses have built up the
western part of the town OF recent
years.
There is now new JAIL with improve
| mants The Jail was also burned IN
| 1870 The churches of Fincastle are al
| fne huildings-the Methodist and Epsco-
! nalian. the old Presbyterian and the
! I.ntist-the latter a beautiful modern
| structure in gray stone and granlte
/ There are also good colored churches siho
| y prosperous law-abiding and useful col
| ored population.
But the most precious thing in my mem
ory of the old town is the big spring
of limestone water.
| One person, who had been at school II
| Fincastle as early as 1925. had heard o.
| the murder in what was then called tht
..Woodviile House School chlinfer
rassed it in GREATNESS awe, as quiet, un
eyentful lives are awed by tragedies.
This party said the murder had oc
curreG in the Public House.. kept p1
one man named Hamilton, and was To-
a ..trunkful of money
Then Uncle Edmund said, "once upol
time some men were in this OLE
tavern gambling; that there hal bee
q cheating. then a knife thrust ana Oh
law dead on the floor. There At -li;,
dark, irregular spot was the pto"t {
It." And the murderer? Why he 1v.
the school mawstah, an Ole PaWsiici
Henry lad come all the way from Rich
4 mon to speak for him. Mains. Pawtricl
Henry had looked on that same bloc
spot and had let loose his voice III till
very room.
TOWN AND COUNTY OFFICERS.
Judge George w. Breckenridge is tn
present County Judge; his elder brother