Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-30
VISIT TO JAMESTOWN
Party From the Capital Guests
of Representative Mckinley.
WENT DOWN BY STEAMER
Viewing Ruins on the Historic
Island.
THE GROUND RICH IN RELICS
Movement on Foot to Have the Gov
eminent Get Control Of
the Land.
THE GROUND RICH IN RELICS

An expedition. headed by Representative
William B. Mckinley OF Illinois, and COM
posed OF members Of the House Of Represen-
tatives and members OF the Capitol press
gallery. left Washington Saturday evening
and visited Jamestown Island, the site of
the first English settlement in America. the
site OF the Jamestown exposition, Fort Mon
roe and Newport News Mr. Mckinley was
the host and his guests Included Jewell A.
Auoere. st. Louis Globe-Democrat: Allen D.
Albert, Washington Times; R. o. Bailey,
Associated Press: c. K Bergman. Wash
ington Post: Edward B. Clark, Chicago
Evening Post: Representative Pleasant T.
chapman OF Illinois: A. A. Erly, Scripps-
McRea Association: John c. Eversman. Sec
Rotary to Representative Mckinley; Repre-
sentative Newton w. Gilbert Of Indiana.
James r. Hornaday. Indianapolis News:
Robert r. Jones' Chicago Inter Ocean: Rem
lesentative Henry c. Loudenslager of New
Jersey Jersey; frank M1i B: Lord. New York Sun;
sentative Harry L. Maynard of Virginia.
representative James Mckinney of illinois,
representative William B. Mckinley OF I'LL
Pens Ranre Irving c. Norwood Washington Star;
I,,Tpresentatlve William A. Rodenberp of
tIlnois: Col. D. w. Ross isthmian canal
commission John T. Suter, Chicago Record
Hferald: Leroy T. Vernon, Chicago Daily
news. and Frank L Whitehead. Wasbin1,
ton Post. "oShihs
Nominated by Acclamation.
Inc party left on the steamer Norfolk OF
Tue Nor1oik and Washington Steamboat
Companys fleet. and journeyed to Fort
Inohroe. where breakfast was served at the
.t1,ei Chamoeriin The meal had a deep
pohucal significance, aside from its more
material Importance, for 1t was then that
representative Mckinney Of IlJinois 90
I.epresentative Maynard of Virginia were
nominated by reclamation as Candidates for
on The p ann wee PRESIDENT respectively
accepted the responsibility rendered him
ana remarked that English civilization
starting at jamestown. had spread through
boom ,ii ss. vas, country He hoped that his
i oooiii started at the same point would fol-
low along the same lines. The force of thfs
remark was somewhat spoiled nv Mr. Mo
NJ hiniey .., VINO suggested that as it had taken
the civilization in question nearly 400 vaars
10 reach its present height he didn,t tbtni
inuch or Mr.. McKinney's chances in 1onS
unless the boom rnoyaS III ioVo
idly. he more rap
Following the impromptu convention the
party boarded the steamer New Vel, ~, &c
, the guest OF Superintendent Rogers of the
line and journeyed to jamestown Island
wbare 's nar,o Gag miles up the James river,
Where several hours were spent in viewing
the recently excavated ruins of the f,rst
people. speaking
0round Rich in Relics
Ahe WISH TO the island was a most IN
teresting one, for although the surface IN.
dcations OF ancient jamestown are com.
paraovely few. it was very apparent that
the ground is rich treasury of relics or
the past, for jamestown is a veritabIe
buried city. and the plow and spade I'm.
earth memorials which recall with start
ling Yividness the days of John smith ana
Iliz
armor, a halberd, sword hits, spiked balls
gold, silver and copper coins a. pewter
basin and other domestic utensils, small
white and red clay pipes in which tobacco
was first enjoyed by the white men glass
bottles beautifully iridescent from long
burial In the earth, glass beads striped
like gooseberries, fragments of stained
glass from the old church windows and
bits OF charcoal, recalling Jamestowns fiery
trials, are a few of the articles that have
already been exhumed.
1t Is probable that a large proportion Of
visitors to the jamestown exposition which
Will be held up on the promontory at New
port News, will undoubtedly journey to
jamestown Island, which is, in fact, the
main point of interest connected with the
proposed exposition.
Ownership Of the Property.
The island has passed through the hands
of many owners, some of whom have mani
tested little regard for its associations. In
1892, however 1t was purchased by the
late Edward Everett Barney and his wife.
Mrs. Louise ]. Barney. The latter had the
island cleared up, took measures to pre-
serve the ruins and made many improve
ments and, finally in 1893, donated twenty
two and one-half acres at the western end
to the association for the preservation of
Virginia antiquities. movement is under
way to have the government gain control
of the entire island, in connection with the
exposition appropriation and hold 1t In per-
net,1ity as a national park under federal
supervision.
After spending some time on the island
the party returned to Norfolk and came
up the river to Washington arriving mere
this morning at o'clock.