Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-02-06
DIED IN TnE POoR MOUSE.
The Strange Dcnth-Bcd Confession
of AN Old Pfrnte

The SfrHngc Den h-Bcd Confession /
OF am Old Pirate.
A few weeks since we published II brief |
dispatch stating that an old sailor had |
made a confession on his death bead in the |
County Poor House at Cassopolis, Mich.
in which lac related the i'll fate of THEoDc.
STA, the only daughter Of AARON BrRR
We have since met with the subjoincd par.
ticulars OF the confession sent from Battle
Creek Icy II special correspondent Of the
Chicago ht,r Ocean;
The reader OF biographies will remem-
bcr that Thcodosa, the only datghlcr OF
Aaron Burr was never heard OF after her
voyage To visit her father in New York,
and that hitherto all speculatiOns as to her
death have been fruilless. james Parton,
in his latest revised life Of Burr. mentions
that no udings were ever received of the
vessel upon which she sailed. She was the
vile ot Joseph Aston, then Governor OF
South Carolina. After the death Of her
only son she languished, aud her health
fast failed her. With view OF improving
it, and again seeing her beloved father, she
set sail from Charleston IN the schooner
Patriot, Dec. 80, 1872, on n voyage to New
York. The vessel was commanded by an
experienced captain, and had for sailing
master an old pilot noted for his skill and
courage. The vessel was staunch ship
and noted for fast sailing, aud it was ex-
pected that they would reach their drsl
nation in about five DAYS TimOihv Green,
a retired lawyer Of New York, irivnd of
Col. Burr, went by land to accompany her,
aud the news OF her departure was commu-
nicated to Burr, who was looking forward
with great anticipation uf joy, ln the visit
Uf his daughter, after sO miny We, sepa-
ration. The full time for the arrival Of
the vessel was passed, anil sill it did not
come. Every possible means was reshrled
to 10 obtain information, but no tidings
were ever heard Of the vessel or passengers.
At last, when Burr came u realize that his
daughter WAS lost the blow nearly killed
him. Parton spys in his history that he
wrote to her husband, Governor Aston,
that the world was Il blank to him, and
he felt
SEVERED FRoMTHE WHOLE HUMAN RACE"
The generally accepted theory ci the
sad occurrence ut the time was til t
the vessel was wrecked of Cape lIa,teras,
and all had gone down.
While the Inter- Ocr representative was
at CIssopolis, Mich, recently, and in con
versalion with the keeper OF the County
Poor House, while speaking OF the occu.
pants who were and had been there, he re.
lated TO MS the strange death-bed confession
OF mn old sailor who had died there, and
was buried in the little cemetery attached
to the poor hous. The sailors name was
Benjamin f. Burdlck, and lie was II hard,
rough old salt. BY some naval accident he
had lost one leg, and could only huhhle
about, MS he was very old and inirtn. lie
was the Arabian Knights entertainment to
the poor unfortunate inmates with is won
derlul adventures OF his seafarihs life
Usually he was sullen and morose, Sitting
apart from the others and apparently med
itnting. Feeling that his end was near, he
one day called the wife OF the Methodist
minister, Mrs. Parks, to his bedside, and
in the hearing of three other reliable wit
nesses, gave the following
DEATH-BED CONFESSION.
lie told her that he knew his end was
near, that he had but Il short time to live,
and he had IL terrible secret which proved
so upon his mind that he felt he must con-
Tess it before his death. lie then told her
that he was the murderer of Mrs. Thco,lo-
sia Burr Aston. When very Young he
was ON a pirate ship, and on the 81 of jan
uarv, 1918, they came across the ship Pat
riot. Chase was Immediately given, the
vessel captured, and everything of value
taken ont and transferred to their vessel.
They then compelled the captain, crew and
every passenger on board to walk the plank
into the sea, and all persisted. lie s,id.
there WAS one lady on board who was
beautiiul-appcaring, intelligent and cuti-
waited, who gave her name as Mrs. TheodO-
ai' Aston. When her turn camn 10 vail
the latal plank she nsl:el fur lew AlUnlenls
time, which was grutfly granted her. She
then retired TO her berth and changed her
apparel, appearing on deck in lew mo-
ments clad in pure white garments, and,
with II bible in her hand, she announced
that she was ready. She appeared rs calm
and composed as il she was at home, aud
not Il lremOr crept over her frame, or pal
lor oversprcad her features MS she walked
toward her fate. Asshe was taking The fatal
steps, she folded her hands over her bosom
and raised her eyes to heaven. She fell
and sank without a murmur or sigh. 1t
was my unhappy lot" said the dying man.
to be deleg nted by my captain 10 pull the
plank beneath her. | would give my whole
life TO recall that one act. Hardened sim
ISI Nllhl L NdS tllSIl, hc'lll
against numbering the poor innocent wo-
man, but had refused death would have
been my lot. shall never forget the per-
feet conhding faith which her eyes express
sed as. she gazcd up into heaven when
about to take the fatal step. Her pnle face
has haunted me ever since and can see il
now as plainly as could see il on That ter
rible day" "i
Before he died, the old crippled salsr
repeated the same confession to other in
mates OF the house, SAYING that lie could
not die until he had made the confession.
The statement is regarded as reliable, and
furnishes the clue to II mystery which has
baflleh every attempt at solving for over
sixty five years. There is, therefore, but
little duubl that the lady's bones are now
at the bottom OF the ocean, where they
| will rest until the day when all secrets
shall be made known.
F.,I