The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-01-30

The generally accepted theory of the
sad occurrence at the time was that the
VESSEL was wrecked off Cape Hatteras,
and all had gone down.
While the Inter.Ocean representative
was at Cassopolis, Mich, recently, and
in conversation with the keeper Of the
county poor-house, while speaking of
the occupants who were and had been
there, he related to MS the strange death
bed confession Of an old sailor who had
died there and was buried in the little
cemetery attached to the poor-house.
The sailors name was Benjamin f. Bur
dick, and he was hard, rough, old salt,
In some naval fight he had lost one leg;
could hobble about. He was very old
and infrm. He was the Arabian Nights
entertainment to the poor unfortunate
inmates with bis wonderful adventures
and stories Of sea-faring life. Usually
he was sullen and morose, sitting apart
from the others for hours aud apparent
ly meditatiug. 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 re-
liable witnesses, gave the following
death-bed confession:
He told her that he knew his end was
near, that he had but a short'time to live,
and he had a terrible secret which preyed
so much upon his mind that he felt he
must confess it before bis death. He
then told her that he was the murderer
Of Mrs. Theodosin Burr Aston, When
] very yonng he was on board pirate ship,
and on The third Of January, 1913, they
came across the ship Patriot. Chase was
Immediately given, the vessel captured
and everything of value taken out and
transferred to their vessel. They then
compelled the captain, crew and every
passenger on board to walk the plank in
to the sea, and all persisted. He said
there was one lady on board who was
beautiful-appearng, interesting, intelli-
gent and cultivated, who gave her name
MS Mrs. Theodosia Aston. When her
turn came to walk the fatal plank she
asked for few moments time, which
was gruffly granted her. She then re.
tired to her berth and changed her ap.
parel, appearing on deck in few mo-
ments clad in pure white garments, and,
with Bible in her hand, she announced
that she was ready. Sne appeared al
calm and composed MS if she was a
home, and not tremor crept over hel
frame or pallor overspread her feat
ures as she walked towards her fate
AS she was taking the fatal step, sh'
folded her hands over her bosom. raiset
her eyes to heaven. She fell and sanl
without n murmur or sigh. "It was n.
unhappy lot, said the dying man, "t
be delegated by tie captain tn Tnll III
plank from beneath he. / would giv
my whole life to recall that one net
i Hardened sinner that I was then, M.
iitdEb ltDtlltQ uShlliNts liulAAtliHb VI
poor woman, but had I refused dealt
j would have been my lot. / shall noye
! forget the perfect confi1iug faith whic
her eyes expressed rs she gazed mp int
heaven when about to take the fato
step. Her pale face has haunted me ey
er since, and ! can see her now as plain
$ ly ms I could on that terrible day"
Before he died the old crippled sailC
repeated this same confession TO othe
: inmates of the house, saying tllet h
IL, could not die until lie had made tli
:, confession The statement is regarde
:. as reliable, and furnishes the clew to
> mystery which has baffled every attemT
at solving for over sixty-fvs year
There is, therefore, but little doubt thu
. the lamented lady's bones are now Mt IL
bottom Of the ocean, where they will re-
> until the day when all its secrets shall
made knowp.