The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-08-09
A HISTORIC HOUSE.
MOUNT PlEAsANT, ONCE THE HOME
OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.

Il Was nuilt by John Mcpherson of Clunie,
VINO Was Himself an Interesting Man.
A Little of the Domestic story of Arnold,
The House Now Belongs TO Philadelphia.
Mount Pleasant, the home at ono time
VI Benedict Arnold, is one of the few his.
torc mansions in Paramount park, Phil
ndclphin and through some strange fatu-
| ity it has not been allowed either to fall
/ into hopeless decay or to have such radical
modern improvements made to it as effcc-
tually to obliteratc its old time quaintncss
and simplicity of architecture
! John Mcpherson of the MCPhcrsons of
| Clunc was the builder of Mount Pleas
/ ant This fearless Scutchman was n
mighty fighter in his day He commanded
the priyatccr ship Britannia in 1857, when
war wps raging with France, and, al
| though cut all to pieces in terrific en-.
gagemCnt with SO gun French cruiser
! In l75S, 10 Of his crow being killed or
wounded aud 27O shot imbcdded in the
larbonrd side of his vessel, he managed TO
bring her into Jamaica and So back to
Philadelphia, where she was repaired and
| renamed.
This seems to have been the first and
last Of his rcvcrscs, for during the follow
ing years Of 1859 and 1850 and the first
! part of 1861 he played havoc with the
! French commercial marine and secured
prizes worth $780, 900. The scenes of his
operations were the West indies, near Mar
Unique, and from there down to Laguayra.
On the strength of this prize money the
clansman retired from sea life. In 1901 he
bought from benjamin Mnlin 81 acres on
. II Ip
positc Belmont. lie aftcrward added Is
acres moro and built thereon substan-
tlal stone house. The detached buildings
on each side Of the main house were used
for kitchens, etc MCPHERSON called the
spot "Clunic." John Adams, who visited
him and took dinner at the house in 17T5
said that he had the most elegant coun-
try scat in Pennsylvania, clever wife
and two pretty daughters.
| John Mcpherson made various efforts
to secure command in the continental
army, but without success. His son, John
Mcpherson, entered tho service early in
the Revolution and fell under General
Montgomery in the assault upon Quebec
The other son, William, held commits
sion under Sir Henry Clinton, but sur
! rendered 1t as soon rs hostilitics were de
clared and became brigadicr general Of
the Pennsylvania militia, Mcpherson ;
Blues.
After the death of his son John the old
| scIltlclllan lnluc up MS hllhu 10 part VII"
'Cunie." The property which now con
Sl'teu Oh l.o acrea, anu Which COST H'o'uuu'
was offered for 500, 600, including some
mineral rights. Not finding any immc-
diatc purchaser the mansion was leased
until 1910 to Don Juan de Merailles, the
| spanish embassador 10 the Chlt'd states.
In 100 Benedict Arnold bought the prop
"r'y ana lhalc IL over ia WCuulhg pres
eht TO ms WE, MISS IcSgy Shlppeh' AT.
hold at tins tlme hcid no public Once.
his plrth had peen OBSCURE ana ms carry
euucatioh very uelectlNe' Mr.. LuWAru
ohiPpch' INC lather' never iahcleu Ar
holu' accorulng 10 some authorities al
1hough MS ie'terS arc neutral put th'
u"uBhler secihs 10 nave lullF RETURNED AT
holu love ohe was tne peautlIui Mar
gaTtC InlPpeh, one oi the laulea Oh 'h'
MIS- chiah2a IN whose honor the bllt.
lSh oIiIcerS OF the Thllauelphia arm! OF
occupation titeu' Among the paItlcl'
pHhts III one oi thcse carhiNais WIS zap.
IAN 'oHh AHure'
from reuter- written ny huWafd Emp
pch |" ms lI'"'t az 'h,a 'iil'e- Co
seems 'hat ,he iaShloianie requirements
VI MS uauEh'or were running MS yearly
e@PeHIS' up 20 [i"'uoo'
oh r,o' o. I'''' the charges 10 tio con.
'lhehtal congress against Arnold were
hl"uc PUBIC I'Hectlls On ms character as
an olHcer ana a gentleman, hut inc prop
"rl'ioh' i"r MS marriage went on IN
/ sPIte OF thi7 ohtroteihps' IN N"rch' ~
nv oorI"N'I n.oItE from member ol the
rt'Iei ho..l'' "iu p .i', 'ile NC,