St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1866-01-04
LETTERS FROM The SOUTH,
ELANNEEHAss ISLAND.

's''s pAREERsBUre, VA, Dec. 7,h, 1866. !
DEAR DEMocn AT Nearly half mile
down the river from Parkersburg, and a
little below the mouth Of the little Kenawa
river, is Dlannerhassett's Island. On The
Virginia shore, are long ranges Of precipi-
| tous blrffs-with here and there dwelling
IN the gorge, or upon the SUBMITS: with
ine Indications 3ofiimproyementb between.'
or of thtift in the Inhabitants. The coun-
try. from point FIVE miles below, is un-
usually mountainous, rocky and Wild, up
|;to the kanawa, where is Situated the hand !
.soE,o .;,Gd Aourisl, ing town Of Parkersbnrs.
Gn ;he other side st the: Island issa leyel!
country as FAR as the eye can see-fertlie
and highly cultivated, bearing a striking 8;
resembianoc'to the2rch and far famed val
| ley of the Mohawk. Stately country seats
eHbo cred il various shrubhe:y, and guard
ed by stately alder trees and cotton wood !,
glimmers out from tue distance rs far as Oh
jects: can reach the eye.E 80 So SD stsII
AS our gallant little steamer, the .Kenton.
neared the foot Of the Island, you can
scarcely imagine the Intense curiosity man
Tested by tie passengers, who, like myself.
hut heard $50 much of the early roman sc
connectcd with the history of this Island,
but who were now to behold it for the first
| time.I NE had. seen the picture Of theac-
copp1ished but unfortunate iBlannerhas-
set, and his charming and romantic wife.
We had readsi,, early lifal Wirt's 4descsip:
| tion of her--feryid in eloquencer and lofty
in sentiment We hadtseen her insinng;n-
! atioll5 walking. under the s}ade ofi these
lofty sycamores, radiant in her smiles and
in: her, golden hair. We had pictured in
our, hearts, long ago, this retreat, as the
abode Of romance and poetry With affiu
ances and distinction. youth, beauty and evz
cry scholarly attainment that gives lustre
to eminence- and glory to wealth, we had
seen them cross the sea aud fi1, lhet: sho,se
here Freeze rccollect ions aiiEs came up
afresh as we took our places on the hurri-
cane deck, from which to have hetter
view of The place, as the boat slowly as
| cended the river close by the shore. 49,.
| The island contains one thousand acres
| in the shape Of as,riangle, and is nearly a
mile long. Wat .cfs this island. how part.
ly cultivated, and having uponit only three.
in different houses, Two of them logs over
grown with fm:ss?.z History tells us i: is
celebrated as having ;been tlieresl 'ence of.
| Herman BlannerLassett, az Irish emigrant
of distinction, who, in the year. 1198, COM
menced nl,rovng it and b:ilt splendid
mansion. Fl is. wife was an accom- plislled
and surprisingly beautiful woman, and his
house the resort Of lhe most literary aud
refined society. .
Wher Aaron Burr was projecting his. fa>
nous expedition to- accomplish the estab-
lishment Of y Southern Enlpirc with New
Orleans as its Capital, he called on Glan-
fnerbassett, induced him TO join in the con-
spicacy, and embark his wealth Ii IN the haz-
zardous enterprise Tie unsuspecting
Blannerhassett overpowered by the silvery
eloqucnce of Burr. nus became q conspir-
ator without u knowledge Of either the dan
ger or the crime. They were detected, ar
rested and triest for treason. 4lthough.n not
convicted, Blannerhassett was ruined. His
splendid mansion was deserted, aud went
to decay His pleasure grounds once
suprly, dre now overrun with brush and
weeds. Precisely where the mansion
stood are slight mounds indicating its
foundation, covered with tall. lank grass
fallen .dowusand dead from the recent frost.
Near By; are several pear and apple trees
in u state of almost total decay. At the
corner o the square: is, tall. wide branch
ing sycamore whose limbs shaded the man
sion in its day, embracing nearly, as is sup=.
rosed, !, the entire front Of the. mansion.-
The house stood at the upper end Of the
Island, and the shores on both sides are
lined with the original forest trees, leaving
within the extensive grounds belonging to
the place Some old grape vines remain s
and here and there are arbor vitae trees and
the tree of paradise.
At the period mentioned, Burr was in ths
zenith of his popularity; the first politician
Of his day had been the companion OF
Washington !. was yice-P President Of the Uni
ted States, md a. cotnpeer anil rival of
HaYlton. As Istand FOR the first time on
the spet where once, stood the old mansion
when look about me and see the relics