Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-10-25
A Mississippi Romance.

Ihe arrest OF ArOn burr, at the
mouth of Coles Greek, by order OF
Cowles Meade, Acting Governor OF
Mississippi Territory, and his arragn.
mcnt in the old town of Washington
on the charge of treason, the selfpos.
session, ability and tact hc exhibited,
and the favorable impression he made
upon the community, arc all well re.
membered historical incidents. He
was discharged on giving bonds for
disappearance and his principal bonds.
man was Col. Benijah 0smun, native
of New Jersey, and the comrade of
Burr in the revolutionary war. lie
was an old bachelor of handsome for.
tune, a high toned Fcderalist in poll.
tics, retained his military habits, and
was held in high esteem. Col Osmun
was one Of the most practical and sue.
cessful planters in the territory--was
the first who commenced to improve
our breed of horses, and was renowned
for his table and his wines.
His beautiful estate extended to the
Half. Way Hill. His lands, on his
death, were purchased by the late Ger
ard Brandon, and were given TO his
sons.in law, Col. James Smith and
VIM. Stanton, two of our most valua
ble citizens, now deceased. Here Col.
Burr resided some two weeks after
his discharge, receiving the visits Of
influential sympathizers, but passing
his afternoons in the woods. The
Half Way Hill, then clothed with ma.
jestic trees, was his favorte resort
But its refreshing shade and charming
prospects were not the only attrac.
tion. There lived, at that time near
the summit of the hill, in little vine.
covered cottage, widow lady from
Virginia, whose small farm and two
or three slaves were the only remains
of largo fortune Her husband had
converted his property into money,
and on his way to this Territory had
been robbed and murdered by the no
torious Joseph Thompson Hare, a more
blood thirsty william even than the
celebrated Mason. She had but one
child, Madeline, who must still be ro.
membered by few of our oldest in.
habitants as q miracle Of beauty In
form and feature, in grace and modes.
ty, she was all that tho old masters
have pictured of the divine Madonna.
or that artists have dreamed of human
loveliness. Those that saw her loved
her, yet she was never conscious of the
sentiment until she listened to Aaron
Burr.
The family woro Catholics, and there
Colonel Burr went TO meet, by ap.
poinlmcnt, one of his numerous agents
aud correspondents, the Able Viel, a
Jesuit priest of remarkable ability
He was born in New Orleans in 1889,
studied at Paris, and became mem
Der of tho Congregation of Oratory.
AT the dissolution of that body by the
French Government he returned to
Louisiana, and exercised the priestly
function in the parish of Attackapas.
lIo subsequently returned to France.
IL is probable that Col. Burr, in his
projected invasion of Moxioo, contcm.
plated securing the influence Of the
religious orders, and for that purpose
had opened correspondence with
the Able, and met him by appoint
ment in this secluded place.
AT length, after canvassing his stu
alton, with Col. Osmun and six other
confidential friends, Col. Burr deter.
mined TO forfeit his bond and make
his way to Pensacola. Ono stormy
night in February, 1907, he set forth,
mounted on the iavortc horse of bis
host, and attended by Jerry, faith.
ful groom, who had orders to 20 as
far as Pearl river Urgent as the nc.
cessity for tho expedition, Colonel
Burr halted till daylight at tho wild.
ow's cottage pleading with tho beau.
tiful Madeline 10 be the compenioB of
his fight. lie promised marriage,
fortune, high position, and even hinted
at imperial bonors, not realizing even
then, fugitive and branded traitor,
the crushing downfall that impendcd
over him. The maiden had given him
her heart she had listened TO his
witchery night after night, and loved
him with all the tervor OF hor South.
orn nature. She would have followed