Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-06-30
TO MAURY,S MEMORY
Story of the Anchor Placed in
Goshen Pass

rOTRt hCFic" piiht'u Oh 'p'S'N0N
ing story on the anchor In Goshen
Pass. This article was read by
Major Phil F. Brown, of Blue
Ridge Springs, who has added to
It's interest by the following facts
published over his signature in the
Richmond Times. Dispatch:
A few days ago L read in the
Clifton Forge Review an article
relative TO the anchor that was
placed in Goshen Pass about the
time it was supposed the remains
of Commodore Matthew F. Maury
would psss. The article gave to
"Uncle Billy"Williams of Goshen,
all the credit for having placed
the anchor on the rocks overhang-
ing the stage road.
l knew that my brother, Benja-
min Brown, was the principal ac-
tor in erecting this first monu-
ment to the memory of Commo-
dcre Maury, and l wrote him at
once for the particulars and bere-
with inclose them.
In this connection l will remark
that while Hon. John S. Wise's
family were summering at the
Baths, be was on the stage coach
with, the driver and saw the an
Choir suspended from the rock, and
being told by the driver that it
was placed there by the proprietor
of the Baths, Mr.. Wise wrote an
interesting article for the Rich
mond Wing, in which he gave
me the credit, as was then the
proprietor of the Baths.
The article was copied in other
papers, and met uthes eye of the
late Colonel Richard Maury. while
in Paris, France.
Colonel Maury wrote me a very
appreciative letter of thanks, ac-
companled by a pretty oxidized
silver anchor as present TO Mrs..
Brown and q souvenir of the event.
On meeting Colonel Maury In
Richmond some years later ne feel
ingly referred to the incident, and
said it was the first monument
erected to ais father.ii
Below is the statement of Major
Browns brother referred to above !;
"The anchor that | placed to the
memory of Commodore Matthew
f. Meury 1 found in the middle Of
North James River, fronting the
upper wing of Rockbridge Baths.
| was informed that it formerly
held a pontoon bridge, which was
placed there by quartermaster OF
Stonewall Jackson's for transpor'
tation of provisions, and that the
anchor came from Fredericksburg.
with an textbook | fastened a
chain to the anchor, and with
| Bill Williams and several assls'
tants got into a basement room
and planted it. | engaged a stage
driver to stop at 2 am. and with
him, Bill Williams and myself to
lift it, the anchor was raised to
the boot of the stage. 1t was theI'
taken up to Goshen Pass.
II selected the rock which
hang. over the stage road and was
known as the Rock of Ages OF
Presidential Rock Under this
rock is known cs Devils Kitchen.
Above this l chose another rock,
in which | had hole drilled and
fastened in an iron ring and u
chain from this to the anchor. We
used block and tackle to lift the
anchor into its place Cd the 'Rocl
of Ages On the chaiu l fastened
a basket filled with laurel and rho,
dodendron, and attached to the
basket a card, upon which wrote
Ever keep fresh with the laure!
and rhodendron he loved so well.
We fastened to finish as storm
gathered, making it dark as mid
night. The wind howled up the
pass, thunder vibrated from cliff
to cliff, and lightning made it awe
inspiring. We found shelter In
the Devils Kitchen from the
downpour of rain. Suddenly there
was a calm. and the sun burst
through the clouds. We were In
pot of gold, a rainbow covered
rocks, trees, river, our clothes,
face, hands, and, in fact. every
thing, while millions of diamonds
sparkled in drops of rain, and
shore against the rocks and from
the trees. So deeply was i'm
pressed that it made me more
anxious for it not to be known who
had placed 1t there. Tie anchor
appears to he a sequel to the cask-
ct which was found below Lexing-
ton on an island in North River.
81 was the first TO travel the
stage road to Lexington immedi-
ately after the great flood OF Sep
TEN Der, 1870. My mission was to
procure a casket in which to place
the remains of the late Mrs.James
X. Caskie of Richmond. 1t was
an all night tug (only eleven
miles.) 1 was there by daylight.
On enterning the rndertaker's OF,
fee found handsome coffin.
inquired the dimensions and found
them to be identical with the di'
n ensions 1 had. / was surprised