Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-01-25
POINT LOCKOUT.


The famous Point Lookout property,
located in 'his county. and on which
was established during the war prison
of Confederate soldiers, has history
since the war scarcely less interesting
than when it occupied such pron-
inent position in the minds OF both the
Northern and Southern people. An at
tempt was made shortly after the war
10 establish upon il home for Disabled
Soldiers, but from the time this scheme
was broached until now the estate has
been the subject of litigation in various
forms In the New York H.7qid we
find an Interesting sketch OF what seems
q to he one o. the most complicated suits
eon record. 1t is now on trial before the
New York courts, and will probably
continue in litigation some time to come.
The famous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarn-
dyce was scarcely more complicated
and II remains TO be seen whether the
Point Lookout suit will not attain as
grea; ase. The Ke~qH, after skctchiag
the history Of the property until IT came
TO be the subject Of dispute before the
Maryland courts in 1864, seeson 20 sav.
About this time there lived in Brook
lyn two personal friends well Stricken
in years-W,lliam Cornell and John
johnson. The former had long been
We'll known IN the Corn Exchange in
this city, while the latter, during for.y
years OK tbereabouts, had brewed ale
and sworn by jove al the coruas OF Jaw
and Front streets, Brcoklvn. But Mr..
johnson was man oflarge wealth, and
both he and Cornell were disposed TO
be Of speculative turn Of mind. The
project OF the purchase and future uses
Of Point Lookout were laid before them.
aud with the vision OF a future fashion
able watering place, ilanked on either
end by a soldiers home and Govern
ment lighthouse, their aged imagina-
tons became delighted aud charmed
Again they beheid the scft summer
waves bathe the glistenins shore. and
again aSctntcd the smoke Qr the excur-
sion steamers as they crowded the
wharf, once more there moved upon
the grounds throrg Of happv quests.
The snow white buildings rejecting the
rays OF the monday sun, ana a.. odcr
oi good cheer making hungrv the very
atmosphere. Ni'h the blended melody
of The band on the lawn. the cheerful
company on the balcony the builfr5gS
IN the swamp aud 'he katvdids IN he
tree falling sCotbinrly On their aged
cars, the old men sunkto peaceful s.um-
Der and dreamed OF untold additions 10
th-ir wealth.
They listened to the svren's song,
turned aside from the beaten path o;
their former commercial life and con-
Sented 80 invest their money H. the ac-
-gess,ttcn cs-the -PFcpertv.-I various
sums, wlthost aI,y defait~ ,sesaIity, hut
IN sthe~fa'A - trtle IN I>rnairsor.e "a
Colby, they advanced 500 600. This
was some time priar 20 The 2Gth 81 Nav.
lsoo, at winch time. i. seems 20 be con-
ceded. The property, the conflicting IL
ties tc Il andli,igations concerning those
tiles had cot into !, cop 5iion CT almost
complete chaos, a.d tho o'd men be-
came iEiga,en cd about the safety Of
their S2o 600.
While in this state Of mind it-was
represented to them thst their only hope
of getting back their FIRST investment
was to make second at the same
amount, for the purpose Of buyins up
first hens oa or lalerests in the proper
10, thereby cutting Of numerous subse-
queat liens or pFese AIDED liens, which
seemed 10 De rap:dly sccnmulaline. and
with saeh rsridity that il was a, one
time feared every male adult in the en-
tire State ct Maryland might carry in
has pocket some deed, contract of sale.
MORTGAGE or other cleign 20 the property.
The cid men consented TO make The in
vestmsnt and as ex-Judge Luciea Birds
eve, ef sh,s city, had Tor a considerable
time previously been familiar With the
property ss legal adviser to ether par
;ies claiming an interest N il, he v as
accepted rs trustee for Cornell and John.
son 20 aissarse their sscchd advance Of
s2o.Voe m scq',irinS Hrst liens or IN
tsSesis IN the property IN their iaror,
and 70 bold the property suhjec. u
firss. i,ea in their favor for the ar,onns
advsnced BY them.
Amer much negotiation in Ibis CITY,
legal manGnvrng in the courts Of Ma
iyiand, and through many win,e. perils
by land and sea, The trustee secured ,i-