River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-02-19
AARON BURR.
An interesting Episode in His Remark
able Cnrepr.
jackson (MIss,) Clarion.

his own recognlzance to appear before
the supreme court of the territory. he
became the guest of Col. Benajah
Osmun, wealthy planter residing in
the vicinity. He was a bachelor. and
had been an officer in the New jersey
line, and intimate with Burr. In
politics he was high-strung federalist.
and had been strong partisan Of John
Adams, and had no confidence in Mr..
Jefferson. Near by Col. Osmun, an
other old military friend of similar
polHcal opinions, the veteran Maj.
Isaac Guion, and with these two, end
other influential gentlemen, he had
daily consultations. No sterner and
truer patriots lived than these two
veteran soldiers, and they reposed nm.
shat en- faith IL the friend whom they
had seen SO often tested in the "time
that tried mems souls; Col. Osmun
lived at the place now owned by Dr..
Stanton, and Maj. Guon resided at the
foot Of the Halfway Hill, and there was
a rural path between the two places
trelliSed with vines and shaded by ever.
green's. This was Burr's daily resort.
But its refreshing shade and charming
prospect were not the only attractions.
Lhh+S flNSA at NlIdt tlAlANf ~ NiuOh ldhN
froTn Virginia, whose small farm and
two or three slaves were the only re-
mains Of large fortune. Her husband
had converted his property into money,
and on his way to this territory had
been robbed and murdered by the
notorious Joseph Thompson, more
blC9d-thirsty william even than the
Mason. She had but one child, Mad
cline, who must still be remembered
by a few of our older citizens as
miracle Of beauty. In form and feature
in grace and modesty, she was all that
the old masters have painted the di-
vine Madonna, or that artist ever
dreamed of maiden loneliness.
These who saw her loved her,
yet she was never conscious of
the sentiment until she listened TO
Aaron Burr. The family were Catho-
lies, and there Col. Burr went to meet,
by appointment, one of his numerous
agents and correspondents, the Able
Wei, Jesuit Priest, of remarka BILE
ability. He was born in New Orleans
| in SAC, studied at Paris, and became n
member Of the Congregation of Oratory.
At the dissolution of that |. dy by the
French Government, he returned TO
Louisiana, and exercised the priestly
! function in the Parish of Attakapas. He
subsequently went to France. 1t is
probably that Col. Burr, in his project
ed Invasion Of Mexico, contemplated
securing the influence of the religious
orders, and for this purpose had opened
| correspondence with the Able, and
met him by appointment at his secluded
hom eRtead.
Al length, after canvassiDg his situa-
ton with Col. Osmun and six other
confidential friends, Col. Burr deter
mined TO forfeit his bond. One stormy
night in February, 1907, he set forth
mounted on the favOrite horse Of his
host, Urgent as was the necessity for
expedition, Col. Burr halted till daylight
at the Widows cottage, imploring the
beautiful Madeline to be the compan-
ion Of his flight He promised mar
riage, fortune, high position, and even
limiting at imperial honors, not realizing,
even then, fugitive and branded trait
or, tie crushing downfall that impended
over him. the maiden had given him
her heart; she had listened to his witch
cry night after night, and loved him
with all the fervor of 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 this most captivating man
for they looked on him as a demi-
Southern women, the principles of
religion, virtue and propriety
were stronger than prepossesslon and
passion, and the entreaties OF the ac-
complished libertine were firmly reject
ed. BSitied and disappointed he was
compelled to proceed, but promised to
return, and carried with him the COW
enant aud pledge of the beautiful Made
line. she was w0oed by many a lover.
The young and gallant masters of the
large plantations on Second Creek and
st. GATHERINGS strove in vain for her
hand. Fortunes and the homage OF de-
voted hearts we're laid at her feet; but
the Maid Of the Halfway Hill remained
true TO her absent lover-the more so
because OF the rumors that reached her
of his misfortune and his guilt. She
| lived on the recollection Of his manly
beauty, and the shades he had most af-
fectea were her constant haunts. At
| length, when he fled from the United
States, pursued by Mr.. Jefferson and
The remorseless agents that swarm
AROUSED power and authority-when he
| had been driven from England, and was
an outclst in Paris shivering with cold
and starving for bread-he seems TO
have felt for the first time the hopeless
ness Of his fortunes and then he wrote
10 Madeline, and in a few formal words
released her from her promise. Stating
that he would never return to the
| United States, he advised her to enter
convent, should she survive her
mother A year or two after,
this she went to Havana with Mrs.
W., highly respectable lady,
who then owned the roperty where the
Christian Brothers now reside, near
Natceoz Her extreme beauty, her
her grace and elegance pro-
duced the greatest enthusiasm. The
hotel where they put up at was beseig-
ed. II she appeared on the balcony n
dozen cavaliers were waiting to salute
her. When Ler uolante was seen on the
P0seo or the Plaza Ge ATD1dS, il was es-
corted hy the Grandees Of the Island.
She was feted by the Governor General;
seranades and balls followed in rapid
succession, and the daily homage TO
her beauty never ceased until the
evening bells sounded the Ange!ls.
Without surrendering her heart, or
being carried away by this universal ad-
miraticn, she returned TO the cottage
on the Halfway Hill. She was follow
ed there by Mr.. K, an English gentle
man, the head of the largest CONNER
cial house in Havana, and to MIN, on
his second visit she gave her hand.
The-vine- covered cottage, its trellises
and barders have crumbled into dust.
The ceurtly lover and innocent maiden
are loig since dead. But the old hill
still lifts its aged brow, wrinkled all over
with traditions. A favorite lookout OF
the Natcbez during the war-the scene
Of a daring conspiracy against the
Spanish authority--the rendezvous Of
lovers--the hiding place OF brigands,
and depot for their blood-stained
treasure mute, but faithful witness Of
the past.