Connecticut western news., 1880-01-14
P6Or TheOdOsia Burro
HER FATE AS THE STORY IS TOLD BY AN OLD SAILOR IN A MICHIGAN PAUPERs HOME

HER FATE AS THE STORY IS TOLD BY AN
 OLD SAILOR IN MICHIGAN PAUPERS
 HOME.
 The fate of Tneodosia, Aaron Burr's daughter has ever been mystery. She was the wife of Joseph Aston, then Governor of South Carolina. After the death of her only son she languished, and her health fast failed her. Withssa view of improving it and again seeing her beloved father, she set sail from Charles ton in the schooner Patriot. Dec. 30, 1872, on a voyage to New York. The vessel was commanded by an expert enced captain, and had for sailing-master an old pilot noted for his skill and cour- age. The vessel never was heard from after sailing, and was believed to have been captured and burned by pirates.
 While Chicago Inter Ocean repre- sentative was at ,Cassopolis, Michigan, recently, and in conversation with the keeper of the county poorhouse, while speaking of the occupants who were and had been there, he related to us the strange death-bed confession of an old sailor who had died there, and was buried in the little cemetery attached to the poorhouse. The sailors name was Benjamin F. Burdick, and he was hard, rough old salt. By some naval accident he had lost one leg, and could only hob- ble about, as he was very old and infrm. He was the "Arabian Nights'" enter tainment to the poor unfortunate in- mates with his wonderful adventures and stories of 8 sea-faring life. Usually he was sullen and morose, sitting apart from the others for hours, and apparent ly medltating. 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 witnesses, gave the follow ing death-bed confession He told her that he knew his end was near that be had but a short time to live, and he had a terrible secret, which prayed so much upon his mind that he felt he must con- fess it before his death. He then told her that he was the murderer of Mrs. Theodosia Burr Alston.
 When very young he was on board pirate ship, and on the 3d of January, 1913, they came across the ship Patriot. Chase was immediately given, the ves- sel captured, and everything of value taken out and transferred to their ves- sel. They then compelled the captain, crew, and every passenger on board to walk the plank into the sea, and all per- ished. He said there was one lady on board who was beautiful-appearing, in- telligent, and cultivated, who gave her name as Mrs. Theodosia Alston. When her turn came to walk the fatal plank she asked for few moments time, which was grufay granted her. She then retired 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. She appeared as calm and composed as if she were at home, and not a tremor crept over her frame, or 8 pallor overspread her fea- lures, as she walked towards her fate. As she was taking the fatal steps, she folded her hand over her bosom and raised her eyes to heaven. She fell and was my unhappy lot," said the dying man, to be delegated by my captain to pull the plank from beneath her. ] would give my whole life to recall that one act. Hardened sinner that l was then, my heart rebelled against murder. ing the poor innocent woman, but had refused, death would have been my lot I shall never forget the perfect confid. ing faith which her eyes expressed st she gazed up into heaven when about te take the fatal step. Her pale face hal haunted me ever since, and I can see il now as plainly as I could on that terri ble day."
 Before he died the old crippled sailo1 repeated this same confession to othe inmates of the house, saying that he coult not die until he had made the comics sion. The statement is regarded a reliable, and furnishes clue to mystery which has baf1ed every attemp at solving for over 65 years. There is therefore, but little doubt that the la mented lady's bones are now at the bot tom of the ocean, where they will res until the day when all the secrets shal be made known.
 A ShreWd Organ Grinder.