Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-10-15
BLENNERHASSETT ISLAND.
This Historic Bit OF Ground IL Gradually
Disappearing In the River.

S1NlNO
This Historic Bit OF Ground IL Gradual,
Disappearing In the River.
History that has recorded the no
mances and intrigues of Blennerhasset
island will soon have to devote another
page to the disappearance Of the cele-
brated isle itself. For many years the
sandy soil has been succumbing slowly,
but surely, TO the waters, and every
Successive rise in the Ohio has reduced
the size of the plot more and more; bu,
very lately it has met with its worst
disaster. Running south into about
the center the river has cut a chan
mel which has now caused an immense
washout almost directly in the middle
of the island. A great excavation has
been created, and there are signs OF
similar holes appearing in other parts
of the farm. One of the three grangers
residing there is trying hard to sell his
property. He is about frightened off.
Steamboat captains tell their passen-
gers of the fate with which other isl
ands have met, and in pointing out the
sites of lost land, predict the entire
swallowing up Of Blennerhassett's be-
fore many years have passed away.
Only the other day a vessel steaming
toward Pittsburgh caught on the
branches of a tree, which had been un-
dermined at the edge of the island, and
had a hard tussle to get away unin-
iured. AS il prophetic of its doom, the
crops of the island grow poorer each
year; and it has always been regarded
as among the most valuable agricult-
ural property in West Virginia.
Perhaps no spot along the Ohio has
such IN interesting history as Blenner.
hassett's island. It's lore is that OF the
nation itself. 1t was here that Aaron
Burr's treachery was practically
checked, and the triumph of that event
is mellowed by the sadness Of the fall
OF poor old man Blennerhassett-the
dupe Of Burr. Over a century ago this
gentleman settled on the island, build.
ing himself a delightful residence, and
ever afterward dispensing most elegant
hospitality. Hartman Blennerhassett
was born in 1869 in England. He was
bred to the law in Ireland. but sold his
estate in that country for more than
one hundred thousand dollars, and
came to the United States. After re.
naming in New York a short time he
emigrated to the west and took up the
island which is just a few miles below
Petersburg, w. Va
Here it was that Aaron Burr inter.
ested him in his scheme for Selling
Mexico, where, in case Of success. Burr
was TO be emperor. Theodosia Aston.
Burr's daughter, was 10 be empress, and
Blennerhassett was to receive the title
of duke and appointment as ambassa.
dor to England. Blennerhassett ex.
pended large sums in fitting out an en-
petition, and, though discouraged when
he learned of Burr's real designs, the
intriguer had such influence with Blen.
nerhassett's wife that the old mar still
adhered to him. After becoming thor
oughly interested in Burr's visionary
enterprise, Blennerhassett took him
over TO the town Of Marietta. O.. for
the purpose of purchasing supplies for
the voyage.
At the counting house of Dudley,
Woodbridge & Co. he left a mora
DUN Of such provisions as he wanted
They included pork, -four, whisky. ba-
o and kiln-dried meal. They also
made a contract with this firm for the
building Of fifteen boats. They were to
he on the Schenectady model, such as
were then used on the Mohawk river.
Only eleven of the boats were COM
pleted. These were built on the Mus
kingum river about seven miles above
Marietta, to be delivered on December
., 1906. At that date further work was
interrupted by the militia, who, discov-
ering Burr's plans, took possession Of
the boats. The days following were
lively times on Blennerhassett's island.
Burr and Blennerhassett both having
80 go heavily armed to protect them
selves against suspicious citizens.
When, later on, they fled TO Cincinnati
and the south, Mrs. Blennerhassett
showed her loyalty to her husband by
sending her trustworthy servant. Peter
Taylor, after the old gentleman TO
bring him back,
Blennerhassett was arrested in 1907
and held for trial as q traitor, hut Burr's