The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-15
WASTHIS HER FATE?
BURR'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER
THEODOSIA.

The Old Story That She Was
Made to Walk The Plank Re-
told---Further Evidence on The
Subject of This Woman's Mys-
terious Fate--Testimony Of Dy-
ing Men on the Subject---A
z Bette F. Poole, in WOrthingtOn'S
Magazine.
When Burr was tried in Richmond
for treason, the peerless Theodosia ac-
companled him, bravely and proudly
sharing his Imprisonment, encouraging
and supporting him in his darkest
hours, and believing implicitly in his
innocence TO the last. She was
equally devoted to her husband, and
to her only son, young Aaron Burr
Aston, who died in his nth year,
just before his grandfather returned to
New York from his long exile. Aaron
Burr pined for his daughters COM
panlonship she was almost crushed
by the death of her darling son SO it
was arranged that she should visit her
father in New York. She accordingly
set sail from Georgetown, S. c., in the
Pahlot, small pilot boat, on
December 80, 1872.
1t was pretty generally supposed
that the Patriot was wrecked off Cape
Hatteras during a storm, which oc
CURED soon after it set sail subsequent
events, however, have thrown new
light on the catastrophe and the fate
OF 'Theodosla Burr seems at last emerg
ing from the clouds which nave so
long wrapt it in obsCurity. A picture
has been found on the North Carolina
coast, which there is strong reason to
suppose is portrait of this unfortunate
woman and the story connected with
it is romantic and intensely interest
ing.
The late DR.. w. &. Pool found what
is supposed to be portrait OF Mrs.
Aston at Nags Head, N. c., in 1869.
The woman who owned it told the
shortly after her marriage to her
first husband, Mr. Tillctt, one winter
morning " when we were fighting the
EngIish," Il pilot boat was discovered
near Kitty Hawk, two miles below
Nays Head. The boat, which had all
sails set and the rudder lashed, seemed
to be turned adrift. Upon boarding
II la TO ho
in good condition, but entirely deserted.
There was no sign Of blood or violence
of any kind, and table was set for
some meal. The supposition of the
wreckers was that the boat had been
boarded by pirates, and all the passen-
gers and crew made to "walk the
plank In the cabin among other
things not of great value were several
handsome silk dresses, vase of
beautiful wax flowers, with a glass
covering, and a shell resembling the
nautilus, e1 luisitely carved. Hanging
on the wall OF the cabin was the
portrait of a beautiful woman, which,
with the other things mentioned, Mr..
Tillett received as his share of the
spoils, presenting them all to his futnre
wife, afterward Mrs Mann.
The pilot boat to which Mrs. Mann
referred came ashore two miles below
Nag's Head cone winter morning
when we were fighting the Engligh. "
This must have been during the war
of 1912, since Mrs. Manns age would
preclude her remembrance of any
other war OF the United States with
| Great Britain. The Patriot, a small
pilot boat, which was to convey Mrs.
Aston to her father in New York, set
sail from Georgetown, S. c., DeCcm
Der goth, 1919, and was never after
ward heard of. In making the voyage
the Patriot must necessarily have
passed the North Carolina coast. The
sea at this time was infested by
/ pirates. 1t is not improbable that a
| band of these bold buccaneers boarded
the little vessel in the hope of securing
valuable booty, and after compelling
everyone on board to walk the
plank were alarmed by the sudden
appearance Of some United States
cruiser, and from motives of prudence
abandoned their prize. .
Some years ago two criminals
executed at Norfolk, Va, confessed
having participated in the murder of
Theodosia Burr. They rrofessed to
have belonged to a piratical crew who
boarded the Paai0t and compelled
every soul on board to walk the
plank" Two sailors, one dying in
Texas and the other in a Michigan
poor house, made death-bed con-
LESSONS to the same effect Both pro-
fessed to remember Theodosia we'll,
and the mendicant said he could never
forget her face as she begged for her
life; that it had haunted him ever
since and had given him no rest. She
told the pirates that she was the
daughter of Aaron Burr and the wife
of Governor Aston, of South Carolina,
and would promise them pardon and
a liberal reward if they would spare
her life But they were relentless, and
the waters hid her beautiful face for
ever. She was the last TO step over
the ships sides, refused to be blind
fold d and met her doom with calm
and fearless demeanor 1t is I'M
possible to vouch for the truth Of these
confessions. which have appeared from
time TO time in print. | only introduce
them as collateral in support of Mrs.
| Mans assertions. In order to prove
more fully that the picture in bis
possession was a likeness of Aaron
Burr's daughter, DIR. Pool opened a
/ CORRESPONDENCE with several members