The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-07-18
A STRANGE STORY.

SKELETON FOUND IN NEw YoaK-RoMAscE or
OLoRs TIMEs.-The N. Y. Sunday Atlas Of the
"a INST, gives Us the following:
year "agone''-we quote the phraseology Of
one Of the Gold nasters''-Major Jonas Bartlett
ofthe New York Dragons, took possession ofthe
venerable mansion which stands at the corner Of
Broadway and Battery Place, and which had been,
for five anterior years, the residence Of Mayor
and ex- Mayor Mickle. The property, canon-
lied az il was, by events connected with the war
Of The Revolution, was then the property Of Mr..
Joseph Palmer, but it has since passed into the
hands of Mr.. James Raymond, the proprietor Of
the Broadway Theatre, and one Of the wealthest
property and the spot on which it stands; and,
50 he purchased it for fify-fonr thousand dollars,
and leased it to Major Jonas Bartlett, Of the New
York Dragons, who now occupies it, and will.
very speedily, make it one oi the most magnif-
cent hotels in the city.
two first acts and the prologue Of the drama
Since the first Of April last, Major Bartlett has
been busly engaged in changing the condition
and character Of La Mansion de la Rero,uGon-
in common parlance the Washington-and, whilst
thus engaged, the day before yesterday, excavated
from beneath a subierranean vault, the bones Of
a human being. The excavators were at once
paralyzed; and the most intense excitement per-
vaded the locality. till the following ecaircisse-
nacnt was made by the venerable Jean de La Cr,ir.
one of the 'dest inhabitants Of our city, who is
now in the ninety-seventh year Of his age.
Monsieur Jean de La Cruir says that be we'll
recolects the time when the 'human form divine,'
TO which these bones belonged, were deposited
where they laid when found They belong to
the .March;oaess des .Ma,seanr celebrated French
beanty. who, in the latter d ,ys Of Louis XIV, was
the pride and boast Of the court OF Versailles.--
In consequence of hason with the young Duke
de Berrie, she was obliged to fly from Paris; and
reaching London, placed herself under the guar
dianship of Major General RurgCyne. and accom-
panied him to America. Not long after her are
rival in the then colony o. New Yo,k she attract
ed the attention of eminent officer in the
American army, the bearer of flag of truce TO
the British camp, who seduced her ON her lealty
Ato her lord, and led captive her affections. In
Eonsequence OF this unhappy state Of affairs, one
|ofthe aids Of General Bnrgoyne was sent 10 New
York, with directions to challenge be seducer to
mortal combat The challenge accepted;
and the parties met and fought on The eeplanade
Of a rampant that then stood where the mansion
Of Mr. Stephen Whitner now stands. A, the first
| fire. the British officer fell mortaly wounded.
/ The result OF the affair had such an effect on
/ the sensitive mind of the beautiful .Narehioness
des .Mmseaur, that she committed suicide by
swallowing large dose OF Prussic acid. What
/ is now the Washington, or In Mansion de la
Perolat,on, was then the headquarters OF Major
General Putnam; and, to avoid the indignation Of
that heroic and gallant soldier, who, it was we'll
known, would vent righteous Indignation, il he
were appraised Of The tragical fate Of the March,
ione=s des .Mnsseaur, he was made to believe that
she had made clandestine escape to the army Of
General Burgoyne, when, in fact, her rem ,ins
were deposiied beneath secret vault under what
| is now the "Washington"-now ownsd by Mr..
Raymond, and occupied BY Major Bartlett. One
of the bones Of the ill-fated Marchiohes. is now
before us; it is the bone that united the elbow
Wi fho shOui1pr. and. az cOnfpmDIate IL.
are reminded of the language OF the immortal
poet, when he exclaimed,
ssTo what base must come at last.'
The entire skeleton, il is expected, will be re-
covered, and may be seen for a few days at the
"Washington."