Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-05-11

ton ind wns about ID return III Men
/ York With her guns toVed below Shc
VIVA commanded by ia experienced cup
tain I ia lor zHl|ine-maalar al oId
ns!sa = ~
The vessel was famous for her saiiing
qualities, and it was confidently expected
that she would perform the voyage to
New York in Eve or six days. She
sailed from Charleston with fair Wind
on tho last day but one Of tho year 1872,
Thcodosia, her physician and her maid
occupying the principal cabin. The
Patriot was never seen again.
The agonics Of suspense endured by
the husband and the father. the eager
letters written by each to tell the other
that she bad not been heard from, the
daily hspe Of her arrival and the daily
despair---all can be better imagined than
described. For months the sgonized
father frequented the Battery. still cher
ishing hope that the missing vessel
might appear. lie wrote to his sou.in-
law "When I realized the truth Of her
death, tho world became blank to sme
and life has lost all its value---Iy feel
severed from the whole human race. :"
It was the generally accepted theory
at the time of the sad occurrence that
the vessel was wrecked Of Cape Hatterss
in storm. and that oil on board were
lost but although nothing has aver
appeared To contradict this till the
discovery made at tho Cassopolis poor
house, and published in the local news
papers some months ago, subsequent in
vcstigation has shown that the proba-
bilties point to the truth Of the last
story;
In little cemetery attached to the
county-house at .Cassopolis is plain
stone bearing the name of Benjamin #.
Burdck, an old onc-legged sailor, who
died and was buried there, Bya naval
accident he had lost one leg and could
only hobble about. He was a typical
old salt, rough and hard looking. Usual
| ly he was very sullen and morose, sit
/ ting apart from the other inmates Of the
house, apparently meditating. A short
time before bis death, feeling that he
had not long to live, he called to his
bedside the wife Of the Methodist minis.
ter, Mrs Parks, Of Cassopolis, and In
the presence of three other witnesses,
gave the following death-bed confession,
which to make the story complete we
give entire, as il was related by the poor
house keeper:
lie stated that he knew his end was
near that he had but short time to
live, aud he had terrible secret which
so preyed upon his mind that he felt he
must relate it before his death. When
young he was on board a pirate ship.
and on the Bird day Of January, 1913,
they came across the Patriot. Chase
was Immediately given, and the vessel
captured, and everything of value taken
out and transferred to their vessel. They
then compelled the captain and every
passenger on board 10 walk the plank
into the sea and all persisted. The ves-
sci was then scuttled and sunk. He
said that there was ono lady on board
who was beautiful appearing, intelli-
gent and cultivated person, who gave her
name M Mrs. Theodosia Burr Aston.
When her turn came TO walk the fatal
plank she asked for few moments time,
which was grufly granted her. She ap-
pcared pale, yet beautiful, as she retired
to her berth and changed her apparel,
appearing again 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 IL she were at
home, and not trcmor crept over her
frame nor did any pallor over-spread
her features as she walked toward her
fate. As she was taking the fatal steps
she folded her hands over her bosom
and raised her eyes to heaven She fell
and sank without murmur or sigh
1T was my unhappy lot" said the
dying man, "to be delegated BY the cap
tain to pull the plank from beneath her,
would give my whole life 10 recall that
one act. Hardened sinner that was
then, my heart rebclled against murder
ing the poor, innocent woman, but had !
refused death would have been my lot.
shall never forget the perfect, conid-
ing faith which her eyes expressed as she
gazed up into heaven when about TO take
tho fatal step Her pale face has haunt
cd me ever since, and | see II now as
plainly as did on chat terrible day."
Before Burdick died the old crippled
and diseased sailor repeated this same
confession 10 other inmates Of the house.
saying that be could not die until be had
freed his soul by making this confession.
His grave may now DO seen near the
place where he spent bis last days.
The above facts were narrated 10 me
by the keeper Of the poor-house, and
there are now living witnesses to the
sailors death-bed confession.
NJ. 4. b.
Now is it possible, Mr.. Editor, that
Christian, Jew or Gentle, can read the
sad fate Of this remarkable woman with
out shedding a sympathetic tears What
subject for the poet, the painter, the
artist Mr.. Editor. | propose that a
marble monument and statue be erected
in one Of the most prominent parks in
Washington city to the memory Of this
lovely Christian woman, and that Hon.
Judge Vinson, Ex-Judge Bouic, Ex-
Senator Peter. County Clork II. b. Pref.
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