Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-09-02


TO settle Washita lands. MIR Blannerhas-
set said IL chose to go with him to the
Washita Country, he would give me lands.
Mr.. Hay. Were the persons who went
from the island, young active men! A. Yes
Mr. Barr. What kind of looking men were
they 4. They looked like gentlemen;
such as live upon their own property. ..
Did they look like men used to work! A.
They did not.--Q. Did you see MIR Wood
: bridge and Gent Topper there A.
saw Mr. Woodbridge but don't recollect
Genl. Topper. did not see the men form
ed in circle. The witness added, that
Mrs. Biannerhasset was at the boats when
they started; aud that the night was raj
ny'and freezing.
Eramfnusion of Dudly Wood6ridge.
Mr. Hay. Were you on the island, when
= Blannerhasset's party left it A. / slept
there on that night. Mr. Wirt. Whatpar-
~ loyou mean? A. allude to the boats,
with Mr. Israel Smith, Comfort Tyler and
others. Q. Were you ut the boats! A.
j passed them about dusk. .. Did you
see any of the men! A. l saw S or 6
about the the boats, and about IS or 20
men together in enc of the rooms OF the
house. Q. What doyou conceive was the
whole number? A. About so. Q. Was
il about dusk when you arrived there! a.
1t was. Q. Had they any arms in their
hands when you saw them A. No: re-
collhct no arms, but . pair of pistols on the
bureau of the room where l slept: which
were gone in the morning. Mr. Hay.
VIII you inform us of what you know on
this subject!
Mr.. Hood6riGgc. About the beginning
of September or last of August, Mr. Blan-
perhasset in company with Col. Burr cal.
1al
had been injected in commercial business
with Mr. Blannerhasset for or 8 years past,
under the firm of Dudley Woodbridge and
Co. Mr. Blannerhasset observed, that Col.
Burr wished US to purchase a quantity of
prov sions. Col. Burr went into the en-
quiry about the price of different kinds of
Provisions, and the expence OF boats best
calculated to carry these provisions up and
down the river. After his making num-
ber of enquiries and my giving him all the
information | could, he left memorandum
or such provisions as he wanted and of the
boats that he wished to have built. They
were to be on the Schenectady model; 10
feet wide ard so feet long. tt smemoran-
dun ordered Is of them but 10 only were
completed. Q. What provisions were or
dered F? A. Pork, Flour, Whiskey, Bacon
and kiln-dried meal were wanted but no
'NS+NS ''NiS ~ ~HSNPS viz
Pork, unless they came under certain pri-
ces. NeXtday | made contracts with Col.
Barker for building the boats, and proceed
cd to make arrangements for purchasing
provisions. The boats were built up the
Muskingum about miles above Marietta,
and were to be brought down by the 9th
at December. On the morning of the h,
! saw six or eight armed men going to take
possession of the boats. / went down to
B!annerhasset's island but met Banner
hasset, Comfort Tyler, Smith and num-
Der of men from Bel-Pre going up to take
the boats; told tn I'M what had happened,
and that they would not be permitted TO
take the boats. They held consultation
and returned to the island. returned to
Maristta to get some necessary papers, and
in the evening returned to the island.
Mr.. Hay On what terms was the con-
tract for the boats made? A. made the
contract for the boats with Col. Burr. He
wished to give me draft on Ogcen in New
York, for payment. With this arrange
ment had expressed myself dissatisfit d,
b Blanncrhasset asked with some warmth,
whether doubted Col. Burr's honor. At
ter some alteration, he consented to qua.
rantee the draft and to have it charged
20 himself, If Ogden did not pay it. The
draftpresented by Blannerhasset to me was
payable on the tenth Of December. TWAS
finally paid by Mr. Ogden. Q. BY the te-
nor of your contract, where were the boats
to be delivered! At the island? A. At
no particular place. But when Col Bar
ker was bringing them down TO Marietta,
from about seven miles mp the Muskingum
they were taken by Gen. Buel as UNDER
stood, by the order of the Governor Of Ohio.
Q. Was the contract for the boats Sc
parate or partnership business A. 1t
was on behalf of the partnership that /
made the bargain with Col. Burr. O..
What occurrences took place on the island
A. 1 arrived at the island about dusk
saw FIVE or six men at the landing; and
fifteen OF twenty men in the rooms en-
CURED for MIR. Blanncrhasset and rcques-
ted him TO be told, that had Come to set
Tie our accounts. After our accounts werel
adjusted, i wished to leave the island on
that night but Mr. Bellnap turned me back.
About eight or nine o'clock retired to
bed, where l remained; and as to what
the witness says about seeing me ont
afterwards, he is mistaken. ] was AT
the shore about 8 O'clock but AZ Mr. Bel
maps request, returned. Mr. EfYf. In
having these boats built, did you UNDER
stand that they were built for Burr, or for
Burr and BIannerhasset? A. II was not
particularly specified Thought there was
very little distinction in the case, as Mr.
BlannerhRSset had secured the payment of