The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-07-12
MIS- CE L L A n e o U S
Arrest .of -Aaron Burr in Alabama.

Il
taken from Mr.. Pickett's forthcoming his
tory of Alabama. The relations OF the
arrest carry upon its face the appearance
of so much truthfulness, that we readily
8 give it to our readers. 1t will be seen that
3 Major General Gaines, then a lieutenant
arrested Col. Burr, and directed his con-
yevance to Richmond, Virginia, where his
{ trial took place.
The court house Of Washington county,
in the present State OF Alabama, then
known as part of the Mississippi terrific
rv. was in a small village called Wakefield,
few miles west of Tombigbee river.
Here. late at night, in the month of Feb
ruary, 1907, Col. Nicholas Perkins, law
yer, and Thomas Malone, clerk OF the
board, were engaged at a game OF back
CANNON beside their cabin fire. Present
Iy the sound of horses feet attracted their
attention. The game suddenly stopped,
and the players wondered who were the
riders at such a late hour of nlght.-Ihls
little cabin stood Immediately on the high
way. and the two travellers rode near the
!, door, and inquired if the village contained
a tavern. Being answered III the a1hrma'
tive. one of them asked if Col. Hllson
lived in the neighborhood. lie was IN
formed that his house was seven miles dis
tant-the road obscure, and that difficult
creek Law in the route, Nothing daunted,
the rider eagerly sought information as to
the forks and how to cross the creek. by
this time the fire, replenished with wood,
threw a blaze in the face of the traveller
nearest the door. His countenance was
highly interesting. His eyes sParkled
like diamonds; he rode splendid horse
with fine saddle and holsters. HIS dress
was that of very plain countryman, bui
beneath his coarse pantaloons protrudea
pair of fashionable boots. His striking
countenance, together with the strange
mixture of apparel and equippage, produ-
ced i'm the mind of Perkins, vivid and per-
manent suspicious, and as the rode oil he
remarked to Malone, 'thatis Aaron Burr.
How do YOU kaow2' 4 have read descrip
tions of him in proclamations, and l an
certain it is he. He must be apprehend
ed. Let us follow him TO Hinson's ano
take measures for his arrest MALONE
demonstrated on the folly of such an eX
pedition at so late an hour of the night
and declined accompanying him. Ih'
impulsive Perkins now walked up 1heo
dore Brightwell, the sheriff, then asleep IL
an adjoining house. Both mounting theI
!, horses they took the road to Col. Hlnson'
The night vas bitter cold, and the PM
forest moaned and moaned again the mos
lonesome and melancholy sighs.
The two strangers reached Col. HIN
sons in safety, about l l O'Clock at night
and hailed at the gate. The moon wa
up, and Mrs. Hnson rising from her bed
saw. through the window, their saddle
bags and tin cups, and knew they wer
travellers. She made no answer, becaus
her husband was not at home. In
strangers went into the kitchen, where );
large fire was still blazing. Perkins ant
8 Brightwen shortly hove in sight OF TIT
dwelling. The former recollechng tha
q the travellers had seen him at the cabin
q declined going into the house, but sen
Brightwell, whom he requested to return
y to him at a certain spot Ill the woods, afte
he had ascertained whether the person wa
Burr or not. Mrs. Hinson recognizin!
the voice of the sheriff, who was her rela
ton, rose and opened the door, saying how
glad she was to see him, as two person
had stopped at the house, and her HUSBAND
being absent, she felt alarmed. Brightwel
repaired to the kitchen, found the mysterl
Gus stranger sitting by the fire with hi
head down, and handkerchief partly con
cealing his face. His companion had gone
to attend TO the horses. A hastv suppe
was prepared in main building, which wa
double log house, and the strangers sa
down to it. The eldergentleman thanke,
the lady in the most courteous terms 70
her kindness, and apologised Tor tn
trouble they had imposed on her Iii