Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-11-06
biographical sketch.
d L A N z HASSET

The following article, copied from the Louisville Reg.
lister, was " written by a gentleman, !" says that paper,
T" Of high responsibility, }" who had an opportunity Of he.
coming acquainted with the facts related in his commu.
nicaiions:
Who was Blannerhasset7 and what has become Of
him. Having lately seen in the New York and Phila.
delphia papers, several fictitious notices of this celelra.
ted parsonage. Is the apology which the writer of this
article offers Tor giving what he believes 20 be the true
history OF this mans career, and final exit from the
troubles OF this world which will be much easier to do
than highly colored picture OF things which never exist
ed except in the fancy of some novel reader. The au.
thority for the facts herein disclosed uy the writer is be.
lleved to be authentic, md of the highest char acter. In
the hrst place., who was Blannerhassetf In answer to
this question, our information is, that il was an assumed
name by an individual whose true mann was Lewis Carr
who was born in Ireland. as has always been stated. His
family were highly respectable, and an elder brother FILL
ed the station Of secretary to the Governor of Calcutta,
in the East Indies, 10 which place young Louis went rs
an ensign in the engineer department, where he remain
ed about two years. In which time be was engaged In
several scrapcs and intriGues, which finally compelled
him 20 resign his commission. and seek a place Of refuge
in the city of Kingston, in the Island Of Jamaica, where
he read law and commenced the practice, and also en-.
gagged in merchandising, by which means. and a secret
connection with the buccaneers and pirates ~ho lowered
round the West India islands and on the coast of Mexi.
CO. he amassed a splendid fortune, which he spent with
equal profusion.
While employed in this business, he frequently visited
Mexico, and became acquainted with many OF the lead
ing men who were preparing the way for a revolution,
With SuIl Y Utdrl ihCdh JUL lu n <Aot bituC anu
being n bold. unprincipled foreigner. he was perpetnaly
engaged in difficulties Of one kind or another, until
shortly before he came TO the United States. an intrigue
with the wife of one Of the wealthy citizens Of Kingston
made that place too hat for him. aid he sold out his
property and came to the United States. He landed at
New o leans. and went thence to Louisville. Kentucky.
where, or in the section, he purchased some properly,
and finally located himself on the celebrated island in
the Ohio river, near Marietta. This move took place
about the year 1903 or 1904. When lie reached New
Orleans he assumed the name of Blanncrhasset. The
/ heautiful and accommodated lady who accomDanied and
lived with him was not his wife. She was Young, and
had many fascinating accomplishments. which made her
more worthy Of Blannerhassct than he was of her.
Colonel Burr first saw Blannerhasset carly In the year
1905, and instead Of Burr srducing him. there can he no
douh' that Col. Burr received from him such an account
Of Mexico. its wealth and disposition for revolution. as
scdnced him into the project Of nr1ding it; and the
question as to whom should he the great man was one
reserved hv Lewis Carr (Biannerhassei) until future
events shonld develop themselves. as Carr always declar-
ed tn his friends thar he intended Col. Burr ms the chief
of tho military which was to advance him to the SUI
preme command ia Mexico.
The movements Of Col. Burr and Blannerhasset in tho
United States, during the year 1905 and 6. are already
known, and of course need not be detailed in this state.
tneht.
Ansr their projected invasion Of Mexico had failed.
and Blannerhassrt had broken mp at This island. he re.
turned IN New Orleans. where he left the lady who had
been his comrznior. and he embarked for the island Of
New Providence, one the Bahamas in the West Indies.
and settled ~ Nassna, its capital. and recommended The
practice of law. In n short time he obtained n lucrative
practice. and married n lady of one Of the most rcspec-
table families of that place, and was soon after disturbed
hv a visit from his Blannerhasset Island companion, who
gave him much trouble before he could get her tn retire
in peace. which she did. and soon after returned 10 the
United States. and is now believed 10 he n resident OF
the Southern States. When settled in N1s,ua, he re-
sumed his true name Of Lewis Carr, asd soon acquired
a handsome living; but his restless spirit and intriguing
disposition kept him constantly involved in difficulties,
and his treatment Of his wife was cruel in tie extreme;
yet, by taking sides with the government, he was elec-
ted 10 the assembly OF the Bahamas. and was chosen its
sneaker ah0uf 1927 This uaS his last elevation IN n n
tce by his treatment Of his wife and his continual de-
b~ancherias and seductions-as no money which he could
command ever stopped his progress-during the v ar
1881 and 2 he became SO embarrassed that he WIS ohlie-
ed 10 leave the island. and once more return 10 Kingston.
Jamaica. from which place, in 1893. he Gree more came
to the United States. and landed at Philadelphia under
his true name, Lewis Carr. where il is believed that he
for the last time visited Col. Burr and soon after was
taken sick and died in ohscurity in Philadelphia. At
least, this is the belief Of his wife and friends nj Nassau.
Thus ended the life Of this hold and restless spirit.
which. from his entrance on public life until his death.
was one continual scene Of adventures. The years he
lived at Nassau were filed up with intrigue of a personal
character. bur from the time he left the United States in
1907, until 1923. he never resided in any other place
than the island Of New Providence.
Our informant was the vice consul nf the United States,
who lives on one Of the Saltkey. Bahama Islands, who
read law with Blsnncrhasset. and was afterwards his
partner for near twenty wears, where he passed nnder
his true nam Of Lewis Carr. and often told this history
Of his life and connection With Col. Burr-so that the
writer of this article. who was at Kingston. Jamaica,
and at Salrkey Island last simmer. one week. has no
donbt Of the truth of the foregoing narrative. The facts
and circumstances OF his connection with Colonel Burr.
were fully detailed. 81 that there was no room TO doubt
that Mr.. Blanncrhassct was truly Lewis Carr. He is
not now in France. neither did he ever live in Montreal.
The Power of Kindness.