Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-08-19
A MISSISSIPPI ROMANCE.
A "Reminiscences of Aaron Burr.

part:
The arrest of Aaron Burr, at the mouth
of Coles creek, by order of Cowles Mead,
| Acting Governor of Mississippi Territory,
and his Arrangement in the old town of
| Washington on the charge of treason,
hibited and the favorable impression he
made on the community, are all well re-
membered historical incidents. He was
| discharged on giving bond for his appear
ance, and his principal bondsman was Co
| lionel Benijah Osmun, a native of New Jer-
Sey, and the cOmrafe of Burr in the Rev
dictionary war. He was an old bachelor,
of handsome fortune, a heightened Fed
eralist in politics, retained his military
habits, and was held in great esteem. Col
Onel Osmun was one of the most practi-
cal and successful planters in the Terrific
| ry-waS the first who commenced to i'm
| prove our breed of horses, and was re-
nOwned for his table and his wines. His
beautiful estate extended to the Half Way
| Hill. His lands, on his detah, were pur-
1 chased by the late Gerand Brandon, and
were given to his sOns-in-law, Colonel
James Smith and William Stanton, two
| of our most valuable citizens, now deceased.
| Here Colonel Burr resided some weeks af-
| ter his discharge, received the visits of in
| tluential sympathizers, but Tassed his af-
| ternOOns in the woods. This Halt Way
| Hill then clothed with majestic trees, was
| his favUrite resort. But it's refreshing shade
and charming prospects were not the only
| attraction. There lived, at that time,
near the summit of the hill in a little vine
covered cottage, widow lady from Vir-
| gnia, whose small farm and two or three
slaves were the only remains of large
| fortune. Her husband had converted his
| prope ty into money, and on his way to
| Ibis Territory had been robbed and MUIR
| iered by the notorious Joseph Thompson
| Hare, more bloOd-thirsty villain even
han the celebrated Mason. She had but
lad but one child, Madeline, who must
still be remembered by few of our older
| citizens as a miracle of beauty. In form
| nd feature. in grace and modesty, she was
| ali that the old masters have pictured OF
| he divine Madonna, or that artists have
| lreamed of human loveliness. Those who
| aw her loved her, yet she was never con-
sciOus OF the sentiment until she listened
Aaron Burr. The family were Catho-
ics, aud there Colonel Burr went to meet,
ny appointment, one of his NUMEROUS
SCENTS and correspondents, the Able Wei,
jesuit priest of remarkable ability. He
vas born in New Orleans in 1876, studied
1t Paris, and became member of the
Congregation of the OrOtary. At the dis
solution of that body by the French Gov
arnmeDt he returned 10 louisiana, and
exercised the priestly function in the par
i>h of Attackapass. He subsequently re-
turned to France. 1t is probable that Col
mel Burr, in his projected invasion of
Mexico, contemplated securing the infu-
ence of the religious orders, and for this
purpose had opened correspondence with
the Able, and met him by appointment
It this secluded place.
At length, after can wasting his situation.
with Colonel Osmun andseveral other con-
,idential friends, Colonel Burr detrrined
o forfeit his bond and make his way to
Pensacola. One stormy night in Februa- !
Y. 1907, he set forth, mounted on the IA |
vorite horse of his host, and attended by |
Jerry, a faithful groom, who had orders to |
20 as far as Pearl river. Urgent as the |
necessity for expedition, Colonel BUR half |
81 till daylight at the widows cottage, |
pleading with the beautiful Madeline TO be |
The companion of his flight. He promised |
marriage, fortune, high position. and even |
linted at imperial hOnOrs, not realizing, |
wen then, fugitive and branded traitor,
he crushing downfall then impended |
over him. The maiden had given him
her heart; she had listened to his witch
cry night after night, and loved him with
Ill the rervOr Of her Southern nature. She
would have followed him to the end of the
earth, and to the scaffold, and her aged
mother would freely have given her to
his most captivating man-for they looked
IN him as demi-god-but as with most
Of our Southern women, virtue and pro-
priety, were stronger than prepossession
.lud passion, and the entreaties of the &C
compished libertine were firmly rejected.
Baffied and disappointed he was cOmpell-
ed to proceed, but promised to return, and
carried with him the covenant and pledge
of the beautiful Madeline. She was
wooed by many lover. The young and
gallant masters of the large plantations on
second creek and St. Catherini's strove in
vain for her hand. Fortunes and the hon.
age of devoted hearts were laid at her
feet but the maid of the Half Way Hill
remained tue to her absent lover the
more because OF the runners that reached
her of his misfOrtunes and guilt. She
lived on the recollection of his manly
beauty, and the shades he had most affec-
ted were her constant haqpts. At length,
when he fled from the United States, pur-
sued by Mr.. Jefferson and the remOrseless
agents that swarm around power and au
hority-when he had been driven from
England-and an Outcast in Paris, shiver-
ering with cold and starving for bread
he seems to have felt. for the first time,
the utter hopelessness of his fortunes. !
AMI when he wrote to Madaline, and ]
in a few formal words, released
her from her promise, stating
that he would never return to the Uni {
ted states, he advised her to enter a con-
vent, should she survive her mother. A
year or two after this she went to Havana
with Mrs. W., a highly respectable lady,
who then owned the property where Mrs.
st. John Elliott now resides. Her extreme
beauty, her grace and elegance, produced
the greatest enthusiasm. The hotel where
they put up was besieged. If she appeared
on the balcony dozen cavaliers were wait i
ing to salute her. When her UOldnte was 2
seen on the PLdsco or the Plaza de Armas {
it was escorted by the grandees of the is
land. She was feted by the Governor Gan :
eral, serenades and balls followed in rapid
succession, and the daily homage to iaer {
beauty never ceased until the evening bells
sounded the AngeluS.
Without suFrendering herheart, or being !
90 rried aWaY by universal adnli ration che