Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-25
EILEEN STRATHMORE.
Early History OF Analostan Island.

GEORGETOWN, that friends have parjuadei me
10 give the readers OF your valuable paper
chapter OF IT'S early history. as related to my
grandfather. by the R3g. RItus X HARDWOOD
for many years resident OF this city. An
author 10 dOuo5 could with the material betor @
mean old diary left to Us By Mr.. H.-wrlte a
very thrilling and romantic story; but having
had no experience In that profession, I shall
simply state the facts, leaving readers to draw
upon their I'm 1gination for all that IL necessary
10 make IL Interesting. Towards the close OF
The last century there arrived In George
town. per schooner "Ainarross" from
Liverpool. an English gentleman accom-
he was unknown here, and from his reticent
manner, IL was evident be did not care about
ioimi3g new aequaintances. Arrivals from
abroad We're not as frequent then as now and
peope OF an inquis:tive nature were consider
ably disappointed at not being abe TO learn
something OF his history. To De sure, there
= a. MS lame ana resiiSnc registered at the
TO el-'Maryi1 StTatGm2re and family, Lon
con, E2g an1'-bUt that was NOT sum lent;
by wanted To know all about him, and how
10 &c tbs inforr alton was tne subject OF daily
nv rStioa- AtouJ IN nth after bis arrival
d. pure ssei the property now known as Ana
o3an Island, aud during rhe six months thai
'ofowei, Il vas the scene o. wond arfu trans
20 ma7i5Es he5se 8 were DISPATCHED for lum
be-. upon tn ar iva OF watch Building CON
mCLc-d a. oncs Men were put to Wor,
e.c~riag the ID groEth OF timber, layin
oas walk, walks ana ives, digging q we'll
Q 3. ard SUCH Other I'm ?royem ents So tne
owl er O sired. The latter part OF November.
hx. "a hm2re and family took possessloa o.
ther o. altiiui home The dweliing-a two
story 1fame-WaS sitUa ed In the center OF the
Island, facing Georgetown. 1t contained four
zen IaIge rooms; quite a number of which
and works OF art imported from England. sew
frai outhouses were scattered about the prem
isesi large barn, unlike anything ever before
hundred yards Ia the rear of the main build
lng, while directly III front OF the dwelling. at
the waters edge, was fine boat-hOuse OF
course tnis sudden and seemingly extravaganza
expenditure OF 80 much money was the topic
OF general comment. Some called him crazy:
others remarked with very wise EXPRESSION
lnat tneIe was something wrong; he undoubtedly
vas fugitive from justice, perhaps forger.
defaulter or 81 tnder; and when he gave orders
10 the carpenter TO build close board fance
twelve feet high, around the entirs Island, with
only one gate near the boat landing the m aioritY
OF those who had been In doubt regarding his
character decided at once that he was q crimi-
Ial OF some kind. Occasionally Mr.. s.. accom-
panied by some OF bis family, would drive 10
Virginia, but never this side or the river, That
he was wealthy no one could contradict, HIS
horses and yacht were the fastest In the coun-
Try, and mis- retinue OF servants most OF whom
he sent TO England for superior to any ever
introduced here; in fact, he seemed to posssss
every thing heart could wish for or, at least.
that money could command. Judging from his
OF age. tall and well proportional, with fine
features. straight hair and full beard, Slightly
gray. HIS wife was probably not over fifty;
handsome. matronly brunette, upon whom
time and the cares Of life evidently had rested
lightly. Their youngest child, a girl of perhaps
nfteen, very pretty little blonde. seemed to De
me pet OF the family, and great favorite In the
household. Eileen. the oldest daughter. twenty
I'VE years OF age, was, PROFESSIONALLY, the
most beautiful woman that b I'd ever visited this
part OF our land. Were to- quote every thing
h hnd In,
famous beauties as Helen, or Troy. Zenobia or
Cleopatra, It would fail TO portray all the love
hness and cnarms Of this Queen of the Isle,"
In after years, very truthfully described her as:
zone who would change the worship OF ali
climates. and make new religion whereer she
comes; unite the differing faiths OF all the world,
10 idolize her face. Her form was fresher than
the morning rose when the dew vets its leaves;
uBsta1n'd, and pure. as Is the lily, or the
mountain snow. Her eyes. her lips, her
own hand. Grace was In all her steps, heav'n
ia ner smile; In every gesture. dignity and love:
IN intellect, by far superior to us all Venus her
self, might well have envied her, for she had
charms no other woman e'er possessed
one evening In the early part OF December
crowd OF men were sitting In the little tavern
10 georgetown awaiting the arrival OF the
Was confined TO the current suolect-.he
Strathmores. Each one IN his turn had some
startling piece OF news as 10 what had trans
4ating what Mrs. Soand so had heard from
somebody's negro, who was well acquainted
with the nan who helped build Mr.. Strath-
mores ferry boat. When the coach arrived
lhe.e was out one passenger. man not more
1Gan thirty, OF fair complexion, golden curly
nair, heavy mu>tache. merry blue eyes with
lopg dark lashes, exquiSitiyely curved eye
DroWs. and In statue above the medium height
erect as an Indian. with every indication of
herculean strength. The people stepped aside
SIS he walked up 10 the register and wrote In a
plain bold hand-"CaTloS savoy, TWickenham
Park, England"
after supper he remarked TO the landlord:
81 understand gentleman by the nam3 OF
Stratnmore has purchased property In your
situated, and the nearest road by which 1 can
reach it,"
The landlord answered his question, de-
lighted at the thought that at last he had met
some one who could and would give him re.
liable Information regarding the owner OF the
Isle; but much to his disgust Mr.. Savoy, after
thanking him, merely asked that he be called
early. and went TO his room. The folio wing
morning he proceeded to the Island, where he
remained until nearly dark. After the guests
had all retired that night he inquired OF the
the Indian language. as spoken by tribe
called the AnaloStans, and upon being
informed that he had half breed In his
employ who often acted as interpreter, Mr..
Savoy continued
Can / see him to night?e
"Sartlnly you kin; I'll go and call him. and
Win that the proprietor bowed himself out OF
the door.
Upon his return rnere came with him the
naf-bTeSd, who, ar MI. SavOy'S request. fol-
lowed him 10 his room. What took place there
during the two hours they were In converse
ton, The LANDLORD tried In vain to fad out. All
his servant would tell him, was, that the white
man made him promise to keep his mouth
closed for one week, and that II he did as he
was told, he would get "big money-p,enty
geld Before sunrise the next morning the
Interpreter and the stranger drove to the camp
CT the AnalOStanS-about q mile vest OF
Georgetown. on the banks Of the Potomac.
Here they remained several hours talking with
the chief OF the tribe.
During the ten days that followed Mr.. Savoy
remained at the hotel, talking with no one and
exhibiting no interest IN any thing or any per-
son except the interpreter. In company with
Elm he would drive 10 the Indian camp every
light, often not returning until nearly day
break. The afternoon OF The eleventh day an
indian sauntered into the hotel and inquired
Tor The half breed, who, after few words with
him, took him TO the Engllshman's apart
mSHts.
That night was one probably never forgotten
py the old residents OF Georgetown. Soon after
dark servant informed the landlord that Mr.
Savoy wished 10 see him In his room TDon
entering he was requested TO take a seat near
the fireplace, while his guest, after locking the
6oor, drew chair close 70 us and In q loT
tone inquired: ''Can you Keep secret"
H'n II / choose
:. snrSose was " io~r Sou one hundred
rounds without security. for an indefinite
feriOd. would that strengthen your resolution
10 keep my secTet?"