Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-08-13
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lamenied death Of NH AIsrox, over which
horrii mystery has hung for many years,
has lately again been the subject Of newspa-
per discussion, in Consequence Of n reported
eoafessioa Of one who had been n pirate
These publications have drawn forth tae fol-
lowing apparently authentic statement, which
We copy from the Mobile Commercial Regis
ter.-t.Nsf. Int.
THE FATE or MRS. ASTON.
have for some time observed an
article going the rounds of the news
papers in relation 60 the mysterious
death of Mrs. .7iston. the daughter of
COL .fsroa Barr, taken from the Ala
bama Journal.
This article, although true in many
particulars, nevertheless contains sew
cral errors. l suppose il grew out OF
casual conversation I held in Mr..
Smiths Book Store IN Mobile, some
six months since, and as Mr.. SaiM
was very busy at the moment, sever
ii gentlemen being in the store, he
probably misunderstood me in my state
mcnt,-lst as to time, and 2ndly rs
tn The receiving the confessions of the
pirate, either personally or as physi-
cian. The article was also wrong in
many points. as the statement Itself viii
show. do not charge any one with
,ciJul exaggcration or mistltcment, for
nothing is more liable 10 occur. than
for story TO undergo TRIVIAL modifi-
cations, BY frequent rcpeG.ioas from
one individual TO another.
II is well known under what circum-
stances Mrs. .1isfon left South Caroli-
ma. Whether she was the only daugh-
ter OF Col. Bur-, know not: but ono
thing was evident, never did father
love daughter or daughter a pa
rent, with more fervor and devotion
than they did. She quit Carolina and
embarked at Charleston, with all her
effects consisting principally Of plate,
10 JOIN him in New York. She sailed
and was heard Of no more for years.
Ii is said, her loss afflicted her father
moro severely than all his political
troubles and advcrsi.ics. For as be-
fore remarked, he loved his daughter.
In his last letter to Gen. Wilkinson,
written at the most important crisis of
his life, says he, al shall be on in
such time and my daughter will
soon follow
The first indication Of the nature Of
Mrs. Alston's death, which had for a
long time excited the painful and anx-
ious feelings Of her friends and the
community, il is said, was communi-
Gated in the confessions Of pirate in
the neighborhood Of Norfolk, Va. ma
ny years since. who stated, that the
vessel in which she embarked, was
seized off the coast Of North Carolina,
and that Mrs. Alston's plate being con-
sidercd valuable. caused the murder OF
all on board, and the robbery Of the
vessel.
! do not know what degree OF cred
il the report obtained.
Some years after this, another man
died in South Alabama I think it
was said 20 be in Marcngo county, who
also alluded to the death Of Mrs. AL
ston, in the same manner, and under
the same circumstanccs.-stat that
he had been a pirate. and concerned in
the transactions, and that after the
vessel was robbed she was scuttled.
More recently another has died not
very far from Mobile, bearing still
stronger testimony in favor of the same
horrible transaction.
What do all these statements lead
TO, if they do not all point TO the same
tragical evcnt9 II il possible that
these men were each attached To the
same piraiical crew, and were con-
cerned in fhe same deed-haying sub
sequenily separated and died at dif!c-
rent placeS-sugering tormcnts under
the lashingS of guilty consciences, and
fears, and pains incident TO natural
deaths, more awful than deaths infflic;-
ed BY the halter
Col. Burr may doubt, and treat
with ridicule these statements. with
regard 10 the lamentcd fate of his anna
bic and highly accomplished daughter;
and his friends and the community no
doubt would cheerfully join him in
wishing the death Of ono so much adj
mired and distinguished, could have
been prevented,-or, if death was
inevitable. that II could have happened
by milder means.
But, presume, with the evidence
before tho community. as To the nature
Of her fate, however defective it may
be. yet in the absence Of all other IN
formation OF that point, must strongly
favor the opinion, that she came "a
her death b. the hands Of PIRATES.
BE this a. il may the painful event
has passed, and no notice taken Of II
now, can do any good. And I. there
fore. consider any newspaper notorie-
~ about IL at the present day, as un-
necessary, II was for this reason
when requested by friend, 20 give
him the facts IN my possession foi
publication, declined dong So allcg.
ing that their appearance could answer
no useful purpose. But the subject