The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-15

~ sAan seat me Is Thy guest.-UhIoHd.
-Ths story Of Blsnnerhasset.
Two miles below PaFkersburg, on the
Ohio. is. Rlennerhasset's Island, with
= which is connected veritable romance
Of real life.
Herman BlennerhaSset was born in
Hampshire, England, about 1869, of Irish
parents. He was called to the Irish bar
but beeowing discontented With the posi-.
tiOu Of Ireland, and INDUCING in no hopes
Of her emancipation, he resolved on emf
grating to America. He married Miss
Adeline Agenew, a lady of remarkable
beauty and accomplishments, sold his
Irish estates, aud sailed for New York in
1897. There he remained for several
months, engaged in the study Of the ro-
Biography Of the New World; at length,
attracted by what he heard Of the region
Of Ohio, then almost wilderness, he re-
solved to emigrate thithcr.
He was a man Of handsome fortune,
49,. = = ......=1:s;: taSsZ 20 h~T,tS>"-
Of 1898, having spent the previous winter
at Marietta, be purchased a small island
in the Ohio river, containing 10 acres,
called Backus Island This spot he pro-
ceeded to clear, and call after his own
name. lie then erected noble mansion
upon it, which he filled with rich furni-
ture, while the grounds were deliberately
cultivated and adorned. In the course of
few years, he spent not less than sixty
thousand dollars in embellishments; and
being man of letters, Of elegant manners
and genial tastes, his home became one
Of the most attractive places in America.
The stranger who was so fortunate as to
be properly introduced, found, to his sur
prise, that amid the rugged wilds of Ohio,
he was surrounded by comforts and ele-
gance. He discovered in his hostess one
whose commanding bcanty Of person was
enhanced by the charms of elegant cul-
ture. In her husband, he saw q man Of
refined mind, surrounded by books and
philosophical apparatus, who had volun-
tarily sought his romantic seclusion.
In 1906, during BleunerhasSet's absence
from home, Aaron Burr came to theiSland
in company with female companion
ostensibly to crafty his curiosity. Mrs.
Blennerhasset, discovering whom be was,
invited him into the house, and an ac-
-qunintnncc thus commenced which in.
GOlved the family in ruin.
Burr having the following year engaged
Blenncrhasset in his Mexican schemes, he
invested his means largely in boats, pro-
visions, arms and ammunition. \ proc
lamAHon having been issued against him
by President Jefferson, be fled from the
island aad Joined Burr's hotila at the
mouth Of the Cumberland. The compa-
ny sent to arrest him found the island
deserted, and while their commander, Col.
Phelps, was temporarily absent at Point
Pleasant, committed the most wanton out
rages, burning the fences, destroying the
shrubbery, and hacking the furniture.
Burr's schemes resulting in failure,
he surrendered himself to the United
States authorities. BlennerhaSSet having
been arrested, was discharged, ard think
ing he had no more to fear from the Gov
eminent, left Natchez, in 1907. with the
intention of revisiting his island, and ex-
aiming into his shattered fOrtuHAs On
his way thither, h. stopped at Lexington,
KY, and, while there, was arrested and
thrown into prison. Having secured the
legal services Of Henry Clay, he endeavor-
ed to get his discharge Ivy the Court
But this was not granted, and he was
forced to proceed to Richmond, TO take
his trial for treason.
Burr having been declared not guilty,
Blennerhasset was set at liberty, and re-
turned to Natchez bankrupt in fortune
His island had been seized by creditors,
everything upon it which could be con
Verted into money had been sold at ruin.
Gus sacrifice. and the beautiful grounds
were used for the culture Of hemp.
Coming into possession of sum ct
money, by what means it is not certainly
known, he now bought a thousand acres
Of land near Gibson's Port Mississippi,
for cotton plantation. While settled at
this place, he heard Of the destruction OF
his former splendid mansion arthc island,
the house, used aS a storehouSe for hemp,
having been accidentally Cred by some
careless negroes.
The war Of 1912 having prostrated all
commercial enterprises, becoming poorer
and poorer, in 1919 he removed with his
family to Montreal, but there again met
with i'll fortune. In 1922 he sailed for
Ireland, to prosecute a reverSiOnary claim
still existing there. In this he failed
nor did he meet with any success in his
application to the Marquis of AngleSey,
whom he had formerly known. Pursued
by i'll fortune. he died on the Island OF
. Guernsy in 1881.
In the year 1912, Mrs. BiennerhasSet
returned to America, and memorialized
Congress for grant of money for the spo-
liation of her former home. The petition
would, doubtless, have been successful,
but before it could be acted upon, she
died, in New York, in the most abjecl
poverty, and was buried by strangers.
The island is now uninhabited, and fast
returning to its former wild condition. -
Little .xOuld the .Yotager passing by il
imagine that it had so roesaa4ie 4 history