From the Richmond Times, 10/8/1900, p. 5, c. 3

MISS VAN LEW’S PROPERTY.
Many Valuable War-Time Curios to Be Disposed of.

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 8. – J. Philips Reynolds, of Boston, who has qualified as one of the executors of the will of Miss Elizabeth L. Van Lew, will look after the sale of the personal property of that famous woman. This probably comprises the most interesting part of the estate.

Not only did Miss Van Lew own some rare old furniture and bric-a-brac, which must prove salable, but she possessed many letters from General Grant, Benjamin Butler, Lincoln, and other leading men.

Of course the most unique of the belongings of Miss Van Lew is the manuscript which she left to Mr. Reynolds. This not only contains a full and interesting account of the life of Miss Van Lew, but gives possibly the only inside account of the manner in which the Federal officers who effected their escape from Libby Prison got through the Confederate lines. This was during the latter part of the war, a dangerous and difficult undertaking, and no body of men could ever have accomplished it without the aid of some person well acquainted with all of the roads leading out of Richmond, and what is more important, it may be with the influence of some of the secret officers of the Confederate Government.

All these and many other interesting details, it is expected, Miss Van Lew has told in the manuscript she bequeathed to her friend, Mr. Reynolds. It is expected that the latter will publish these papers.

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