Evening star., 1932-04-10


Potomac River the evening OF
September 10, 1855, enshrouded one
of the strangest events ever to take
place upon the banks Of that his
toric stream
A small group of persons came TO an old
wharf. They approached with great soiemnity,
moving almost like spectral beings rs they
descended the steepness Of ground neighboring
the river.
Upon arrival at the wharf, one man stepped
forward from the group. Summoning the
strength Of his 35-year-old body, he threw
large iron key as far into the waters OF the
river rs he could Then, silently as it had
come the rather eerie delegation retraced It's
course and went over the top Of the tall bank
More than 20 years after this happened
small boy was digging his toes into sand near
the old wharf, seeking TO turn up the small
mussels which there embedded themselves. So
doing he uncovered q key which seemed TO
him Of prespo6terouS size. He and his play
mates took the heavily rusted piece OF iron to
his home, four or five miles up the river from
Mount Vernon.
The key was placed among the fanny
archives. That done late in the decade
which began with the year 1870.
A few days ago the key now looking greatly
like an antiquity. was carried from the house
where it has remained during almost six dec
ades to the mansion of Mount Vernon, from
which the delegation that moved in darkness
down hill had set foot in 1855.
Looking at the relic of other days. Harrison
Howell Dodge who had been superintendent
of the historic estate since 1885, recalled the
key-throwing incident 1t had been described
to him many years ago.
Members of the Washington family and
friends of the family came to Mount Vernon
in September 1855, to attend the funeral OF
Jane G. Washington, wife OF John Augustine
Washington the granddaughter of George
Washington" Mr. Dodge said, the while he
moved the key from one hand to the other
Some of them came by boat from Alexan-
dria aboard the steamer Thomas Collyer, In
accordance with arrangements which had been
made public in the Alexandria Gazette. Others
journeyed from considerable distances over
roads which permitted little more than leisure
ly travel AS they congregated at Mount
Vernon they formed quite large group, which
included Mrs. Washington's eldest son, Jonn
Augustine Washington, last private owner OF
Mount Vernon and Richard B. Washington,
a younger son.
s'The services were held and Mrs. Washing
tons remains were placed within the vault
which forms portion Of George Washington's
tomb In that place more than Is members OF
the Washington family previously had come TO
their final rest.
"In keeping with the custom Of the time, and
also because facilities for travel were not en-
tirely of the best, virtually all who ATTENDED
the services remained at the estate and spent
the night there.
During the evening one of the Washingtons
brought something Of a climax to the groups
conversings with this question:
(Which one in our family will be the next TO
be laid at rest in the tomb?'
There will be one else; the tomb Is
filled. an elder member of the family declared"
With that fact developed, the gathering
reached the conclusion that the inner door of
the tomb should be sealed, never again to be
opened.
1t then was suggested that lots be drawn to
determine who should dispose Of the key
according to the account received by Mr.. Dodge
who knew Richard B. Washington in the days
which prefaced the custodianship of Mount
Vernon he now holds.
The lot fell to Richard Washington Mr.
Dodge continued in the telling of the story
Then it was decided the key should be
thrown into the Potomac River, with the key
hole in the iron door of the vault later to be
sealed.
Richard Washington desiring that the re-
sponsibity of making away with the key be
shared, suggested a committee of members of
the family accompany him The committee