New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-19

causeway has emplacements for three cannon; the
second in the center of the island, is about four
hundred feet square surrounded by deep rnoat and
with empacements for eight cannon and a large
brick magazine covered with earth which also served
shelter for the gateway; the third water battery
on the south side of the island built narrow strip
of woods with empacements for two guns. the fourth
at the northeast corner of the island.
This fort by far the strongest with er1rIace-
mentS for SIX heavy guns, which commanded Gotham
Bay, the James River, and the entrance To College
Creek. which leads TO williamsburg The outer face
OF this fort is being washed away rapidly hv the
action OF the river. 1t certainly should be preserved
it the walls of this fort that the iron rls
which afterward used the famous Merrirrac
were tested 10 ind their ability 70 turn or defect
round shot.
Almost directly opposite this fort stretching across
the mouth OF Back River, which is the name given to
the river which separates jamestown from the main
land, Is line OF piles, which supported immense
IRON cham, which intended to prevent the Union
gunboatS from slipping past the of these forts
Midway between the fort at the center OF the island
and the at the northeast corner there IS an old
graveyard where some OF the bestpreserved tomb
stones on the island The graveyard
doubtedly private one and used only by the Travis
Jacquelin and Amber families. One perfect stone.
that OF Edward Champion Travis, 1-S7. has chSeled
on It's face grinning skull crowned with. laurel
wreath; and the lettering in old English script. Is
easily deCIphcrabe, while the of the sculptor of
the stone and his address in London given in the
lower right-hand corner.
mere Il stllolHcr graveyard a beautiful grove on
locust trees; but unfortunately some vandaS have
removed or destroyed the headstoneS. and there Is
no way OF discovering whose ashes lie so peacefully
under these spreading trees
On the north side of the island there is thick
fringe of woods, through which road still we'll
defined, known in the early DAYS as 'BaCk-st -" and
fronting this road of the most important
houses IN the colony we'll as the famous Pitch and
Tar blockhouSe. which protected the island at the
swamp of that name.
There are only few bricks scattered here and there
under these great oak and walnut trees which show
where once stood the homes in which lived and died
some OF the people who made the United States what
II is TODAY.
When realizes that this crumbling church tower
and these few foundations represent all that is left 10
mark the place where the American nation was born
and received its first the road TO freedom
and equality, II almost a saCrilege that the
present great nation should pay little heed to its
neglected birthplace. The fact that FIVE thousand
English people have died at Jamestown giving their
lives IN brave and apparently hopeless struggle to
found a permanent colony in this great new world
makes 1t an even serious obligation on the part
of all reverent and self-respectng citizens of the
United States that this monument To- patriotism
and perseverance is properly cared for by the National
Government