Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-21
PAST YEAR EvENTFUL ONE
FOR COLONIAL DANES
Report Shows Record Of Sew
eral Important Accom-
plishmcnts.
uNvEIL SHAFT AT SWIFT RUN
Uncertainty nv To Exact Point mt
which Famous HorrcHhoe ExpedI-
tion Crossed Mountains First Dif-
hcu1ty Encountered.

tion Crossed Mountains First Dif-
hculty Encountered.
The report for the past year. soon
to be submitted by tho historian OF
the Colonial Danes in Virginia. Mrs.
c. G. Valentine. will show a record
OF several OF the most important
pieces OF work ever accomplished by
the society. On September 5, 1921, at
swift Run Gap. Va. a monument was
unveiled to the memory OF Governor
Alexander Spotswood and the knights
or tho horseshoe. who from the sum
nit OF that mountain, exactly POS
Years before. had first seen and
claimed the country beyond for Eng
land. Mrs. Charles r.. Robins the
chairman OF the Spotswood commit
tee. In giving an account OF the ercc-
zion OF the monument. has stated that
there were many difficulties TO be
overcome In making the memorial
possible.
The first difficulty was the unccr-
tainty rs to tn" exact point at which
the Horseshoe Expedition crossed the
mountains. After much study and re
search work. and after consultation
with various eminent students OF
NirEinia's Colonial history. IL was
found that FOntainc's Journal IL alb
solutely tho only written record ri
that famous adventure. John Fon-
taine was secretary OF tho company.
and kept diary which gave us much
valuable data E-nd general outline
or tho route pursued. This route led
through what is now Orange County.
by way OF Somerset TO Swift
Run Gap and here. at IN.
summit OF this pass. VIC decided TO
erect the monument
Claiborne Comes 10 Aid.
Il do not know how we would ever
have accomplished this erection n
I Herbert Claiborne. tho son Of our
honored president. Mrs. William Ruff
I'm Cox, had not come t. our aid. Tic
offered To send mon from his corps
OF engineers To put UP the monu-
mcnt. II We would first select the cx-
act site and ind an abiding place
for his men during the time they
would be at work. So. as chairman
OF the committee. |. accompanied by
w. ". Scott State Law Librarian.
and author OF Scotrs History Of
| Orange County and also by
my husand. went up by motor from
| Richmond To Swift Run in order to
select proper site FOR the monu-
rnent
/ IL was very strenuous and rough
F! trip, but most interesting one We
went almost step for step over the
/ route described by Fontaiuc. and ".
, felt thoroughly lmDucd with ne
/ spirit Of that gallant band OF gcn;l.-
/ men we selected SPOT right on the
top az tho pass. Just before on" he
gins the descent on the other side.
! and here MIR. Claiborne sent his men
/ 10 build our memorial.
! The monument is on a pyramidal
/ shape ten feet high. II Is composed
entirely of the rough stones col
lected from the mountain pass IN
which II stands. !, Is close - the
road which is now being built into n
/ highway. and bears upon It's face a
marble slab with the inScrip-
| ton"
Difficulty Encountered.
Again great difficulty was cncoun-
tered in determining the exact names
OF the men who composed tho Horse
shoe Expeditions. Mrs. Robins. M-s
/ Cox. and many eminent historians.
after much consultation and study.
came to the conclusion that the only
record to be found was the lis, In
! Fontaines journal Therefore. they
used tho names mentioned by hIm.
| bm, added the clause. and others"
TO tho inscription.
! Mrs. Robins report goes on to say
/ that the time OF the unvciling Sep
tcmbcr ;. 1921 was "a beautiful day
| by 1890 a. NJ the mountain PASS
was fun OF people. There were :,
! few in attendance from Richmond n
number from Staunton. Harrisonhurg
/ Gordonsvlile, Orange, and even Wash
1 lngton. But by far the greater num-
! Der were from the surrounding val
! Icy and mountains. | suppose there
were 500 people assembled in that
remote mountain pass.
"A o'clock, Mr.. Taylor, OF the
nearby mountain mission. opened
the ceremonies with prayer. after
which tho monument was presented
| by the chairman OF the Spo,swood
/ committee to the president of the
| Colonial Danes. Mrs. Cox, and was
unveiled by two small descendants
! Of Governor Spotswood. Alexander
I Spotswood Robins and Wyndham
/ Boiling Blanton. Jr.
Introduce Days Orator.
Mrs. Cox received the monument
in very charming little speech.
aud presented II. in turn. 10 the
/ state Of Virginia through j. Aston
/ Cabeil. who received II in Governor
Davis place. After Mr.. Cabcii's
well chosen speech OF acceptance,
the orator Of the day, Armistcad g.
. Gordon. OF Staunton. was introduced.
OF Mr.. Gordon's address | cannot
speak too highly 1t was mastery
I study or inc perlON or virginia <
| history covering the Spotswood ex-
! petition"
In addition to the SpotswOod
/ monument. the Colonial DANES have
| distributed. through n committee
headed by Mrs. Granville q. Nalcn.
/ tine. LOCO pageant posters, given TO
/ the schools of the state, and nifty
posters 10 tie schools OF the city.
DAUGHTERS To +