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eit(rerejdtnrv at (tie Anchor I'lai-etJ In Hr Uottben f*un*ygj : A few week* ego The Cliftor ; 1to ' Forge Review print'd #n interest-, tel, ^ ing story on the anchor In Gosher ‘“^Fass, Thii article was read hy I Major Phil K. iirown, of Blue ‘ Co* Kidge Springe, who has added to *f h its interest 'ey the following facts tii published over hie eiguuture in the Richmond Times-DUpatcb:A few dayt ago 1 read In the Clifton Forge Review an article relative to the anchor that was placed in Gorhen Fate about the time it was supposed the remains of Commodore Matthew F. Maury would pssv. The article gave to “Unde BilIy”Williams of Goshen, ail the credit for having placed the anchor on the rocks overhanging the stage road.1 knew that my brother, Benjamin Brown, was the principal actor in erecting this first monument to the memory of Commode re Maury, and I wrote him at once for the particulars end herewith inclose them.In this connection 1 will remark that while Hon. John S. Wiee's family.were summering at the Baths, be was on the stage coach with,the driver and saw the an ehor suspended from the rock,end being told by the driver that i! was placed there by the proprietor of the Baths, Mr. Wise wrote an interesting article for the Richmond Whig, in which he gave me the credit, as I was then the proprietor of the Baths.The article was copied in other papers, and met utbe, eye of thelate Colonel Richard Maury.while in Paris, France.Colonel Maury wrote me a very a I appreciative letter of thanks, ac-| compacted by a pretty oxidir.ed I silver anchor as a present to Mrs. Brown and a souvenir of the event.On meeting Colonel Maury in Richmond some years later he feel-ingly referred to the incident, and re( said it wae the first monument p0 erected to his fether.J joiBelow is the stutement of Major fel Brown’s brother referred to above: “The anchor that 1 placed to the f„[ memory of Commodoro Matthew L.j. F. MRury 1 found in the middle of1 ral North James ltiver, fronting the uprer wing of Rockbridge Baths. I j I was informed that it formerly H[ held a pontnor. bridge, which war j placed there by a quartermaster of p)( Stonewall Jackson’s for transfer j;]l ration of proviaioos, and that ihi vJ( anchor came from Trederiekefcurg ;[j “With an leehook I lastcned » chain to the anchor, and with Hill Williams and several asr'’ (^ tants 1 got into a basement room , and planted it. I engaged a stag, driver to stop at *2 a.m., and with him, Bill Williams aud myself llt; lift it, the anchor was raised U ° the boct or the stage. It was tbei. fl( taken op to Goshen Fase.■‘1 selected the rack wind hangs over the stage road and was known as the 'Rock of Ages,’ oi 'Presidential Hock.' Under this rock is known cs •Devil's Kitchen.’ Above this I chose another rosk, in which 1 had a hole drilled and faetened in an iron ting and u chain from this to the anchor. We used block and tackle to lift th, anchor Into its pUce on tiie ■Rod of Ages,’ On the chain 1 fastened a basket filled with laurel and rhododendron, and attached to the basket a card,upon which 1 wrote : ■Ever keep fresh with the laurel and rbodendron be loved so well.'We haetened to finish as a storn gathered, making it dark as mid night. The wind howled up the pass, thunder vibrated from clitl to olitr, and lightning made it aweinspiring. We found shelter iu the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’ from the downpour of rain. Suddenly there was a calm, and tile sun burst through the clouds. We were in a 'pot of gold', a rainbow covered rocks, trees, river, our clothes, face, hands, and, In fact, every-thing, while millions of diamonds sparkled in drop* of rain, and shone against the reeks aud fron the trees. So deeply was i im-pressed that it rnado me more anxious for it not to be known who had placed it there. The anchor appears to te a ssquel to the cask et which was found below Lexington on an island in North River.“1 was the first to travel the stags road to Lexington immediately after the great flood of .September, Ib70. My mission was to procure a casket in which to piact the remains of the late Mrs.Jame*K. Uaskie of Richmond. It was an all night tug (only eleven miles.) I wae there by daylight.On eoterning the undertaker's office I found a handsome cnilin. 1 inquired the dimensions and found them to be identical with the dimensions I bad. I was surprised at this, as was the undertaker, hmthlt;foideTt
Newspaper Details
Lexington Gazette
Lexington, Virginia, US
Wed, Jun 30, 1909
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Elizabeth C.
USA 09 May 2025
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Lexington Gazette
