The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-03-10


on in gloomy silence, which was some
times broken by remark about the wealth.
er, the creeks or the horses, Col. Bur
was splendid rider, sitting firmly in The
saddle, and always on the alert. He was
always a hardy traveller. Although wet
Tor hours with cold and clammy rain, ri.
ding forty mil 5 a day, and at night sireleh>
ed upon the bare ground, upon thin pal.
let, yel in the whole distance to Richmond,
the lmpenetrable Aaron Burr, was never
heard to complain that he was sick or even
iaugued, At the Cattahochie was a eros
slug place, owned by an indian named Mar
shall, The effects df the expedition we're
carried over in canoes. and the horses
swan alongside. In this manner they
crossed the Flint and Ocmulgee, Arriving
at Fort Wilkinson, on the OcOnee, they
entered the first ferry-boat they had seen
on the whole route. A few miles farther
on, they were sheltered by the first civil.
ined roof--a house of entertainment, kept
one Beyin. While breakfast was prepar.
ing, and while the guard were seated around
a large fire, the host, like all publicans on
the highway, inquired from whence they
came. AS they were from the "Bigbee
settlements" he Immediately fell upon the
fruitful theme of the traitor AarOn Burr
l1e asked he had been taken, was he not
a very bad man, and want every body a.
iraid of him Perkins and his party were
very much annoyed and embarrassed, and
made no reply. Burr was sitting in cor
ner by the fire, with his head down; he
now raised it, and planting his fiery eyes
upon Bevin, said, 81 am Aaron Burr, what
is it YOU want with me ?' Bevin, struck
with his appearance--the keenness Of his
look, and the solemnity and dignity of his
manner, stood aghast, and trembIed like a
leaf. lie uttered not another word while
the guard remained at his house.
When Perkins reached the confines of
South Carolina, he watched Burr more
closely than ever. In this State lived Burr's
son-in-law, Col. Joseph Aston, a man of
talents, wealth and influence, and afterwards
Governor of the State. Perkins, upon
reaching the frontier of Georgia, endeayor,
ed to convey the prisoner in by-roads, and
to avoid the towns, lest he should be res
cued. The plan was attended with diff
Guilty; they were lost often, the march i'm
Peded, and the highway was again resumed.
Just before entering the town of Chester
Courthouse, in South Carolina, the party
halted, Two men were placed before
Burr-two on either side, and two behind
and in this manner they passed near
tavern in the street, where many persons
were standing, while music and dancing
We're heard in the house. Seeing thu as
scmbly of menso near him, Col. Burr sud-
deul y dlsmounted, and exclaimed in
loud voice. u am Aaron Burr, under mill
tary arrest, and claim the protection of the
civil authorities !" Perkins Immediately
dismounted with several of the guard, and
ordered him to re-mOunt, Burr said, 81
pW not" Not wishing to shoot him, Per.
kns threw down his pistols, and being a
man of prodigious strength, aud the prlso-
ncr small man, seized him round the
waist, and placed him in his saddle rs
though he was a child. Thomas Malone
seized the reins of the horse, slipped them
over his head, and led Burr rapidly on.--
The astonshed citizens of Chester Court
house had seen party enter with priso
ner, had heard him appeal to them for pro-
lection, had seen him forced on his horse a.
gain, and the party vanished before they had
time to recover from their confusion; for
when Burr got down from his horse, the
guard generally cooked their pistols, and
the people ran in the piazza to get out Of
danger. This feat proves that Perkins was
well fitted for the difficult task Gaines had
assigned him.
Burr was still 10 some extent popular in
South Carolina. ..and any wavering or TIM
idlty on the part Of Perkins would have lost
him his prisoner; but the Celery of his
movements gave no time Tor the people to
~ illll JNIDlC llC w do llT VII Ill lllt OWl-
skirts of the village. Here the guard hal
ted Col. Burr was in a high state ofexcite-
mcnt-he was in tears? The kind.heart.
ed Malone also wept al seeing the low con-
d!lion to which this man was brought 1t
was the frsttime any one had ever seen
Aaron Burr unnamed. The bold attempt
to escape, its failure that he received, pro-
duced these sudden emotions.
The guard were very much alarmed for
fear Burr would be rescued in South Car
oIina. Malone and Henry advised the pur-
chase of carriage. The former took
charge of,he guard and proceeded on while
Perkins returned to the village and pur-
chased a gig. The next day Burr was
placed in the vehicle and was driven with
out further incident to Fredericksburg, Va.
Here dispatches from President Jefferson
requiring Perkins to convey the prisoner
to Richmond, The guard took the stage
and soon reached that place. The ladies'
of Richmond We'd with each other in con-
Il n