Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-06-13
WILL TRAVEL
HISTORIC ROUTE
Glidden Tourists Will Find
Much of Interest to At
tract their Attetion
in Kentucky.

Cincinnati, o.. Juno 13.-Whcn the
Glidden tourists leave Cincinnati two
days hence ana hit the highways"
of old Kentucky, they will find much
that is of historic interest to attract
their attention. One OF these places is
Bardstown, The county seat of Nelson
county, famed the world over for its
whiskey, for its cathedral filled with
priceless works OF art presented by
King Francis /. OF Sicily, and as the
last resting place OF the man who is
alleged to have invented the first
steamboat Few people outside of
Kentucky know that there lies the
body of Lieutenant John Fitch of the
New Jersey Volunteers in the Con.
tinental Army. That does not signify
much. but when you add that Fitch
had steamboat plying the waters of
the Delaware river seventeen years
before Fulton started up the Hudson
in the Clermont one takes notice.
II was in little pool over the pres
ent bridge over the bridge which sepa-
rates Bardstown from Federal Hill
that Fitch tried the model of his steam
engine. The ore and a half storied
brick house where he lived. stones
throw from the pool, is still standing
and occupied by large negro family.
His grave is unkept, in a cemetery
where the pigs and cattle roam. i'm the
rear of the Hotel Newman, which was
built III years ago. About a year ago
the Daughters Of the Confederacy
placed a simple marker at the head
of the grave. They are now trying to
raise money for a suitable monument.
The grave of Fitch was discovered
In a peculiar manner. Some indi-
yidual was delying through the old
records Of the court house and found
transfer OF Fitch's realty to the land
lord OF the hotel in consideration of
his keep for the balance Of his life. a
pint Of corn liquor day and a burial
lot, which was specified as so many
feet from the Jail north and south
fro mthe corner stone. The Jail. by
the way, is still in use.
But the glories of Bardstone are not
yet ended In 1896, the then Louis
Philippe. later to become Louis Xxx,
of France, spent a day in Bardstown.
He wanted TO see the West. and
George Washington mapped out his
itinery for him The future King OF
Franco, being a dcvout Catholic. at
tended mass. and was named to see
Indians taking part in the service.
When he returned to Europe to
marry the daughter of Francis I. the
| first king OF the two Siciles, he told
/ his prospective father-in-law Of the
work Of the church in the wilderness
Of the new republic. This so impress
ed Francis that he sent the Struggling
| chapel, now St Joseph's cathedral
"The Crucifixion," by Van Bree. over
the altar. In the chancei are two Vau
/ Dykes. one of St. Peter. the other OF
| st. Mark Next the former painting is
"The Coronation by Murillo. on the
| opposite wall hangs "Thc Nartyrdom
OF ST. Bartholomew" by Rubens
There are other great works Of the
mostors in this white wooden cathe
dral nesting i'm the Kentucky hills
but those mentioned are the best.
When Louis Philippe became Kinr
Of France as Louis Xxx, he rcmem
bercd the work Of the good fathers
and sent a huge cathedral clock
which to this day still marks tn,
flight Of time i'm the tall white spire.
Will, OPERATE