The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-07-03

BRISToLiS HAUNTED HOUSE.
A Mansion at Which Joseph Bonaparte
aud Other Noted People pined.

0HIoIOl'S HAON ED HOUSE.
A Mansion at Which Joseph Bonaparte
aud Other Noted People Dined.
In this old town, which is teeming
over with interesting historical anec-
! dotes Of the time when Bristol was
one of tho most prominent summer
resorts of the country, it would be
an anomalous condition of affairs
not to have en- old house which tho
imagination of those inclined to su.
perstition has tenanted with eerie
inhabitants.
Upon the banks Of the Delaware
river, on Radcliffe street, above Dor.
rance, stands an old white mansion
that is dreaded by even the small
boy, and tho young people of the
town when out rowing on dark sum-
mer nights make a detour when
near the haunted house" and row
far out In the stream. Tradition has
it that tho building is thoroughly
furnished; that the table in the largo
dining room is always set ready for
q banquet, and that on certain nights
the shades Of those who once inhab.
tied the place again gather round the
once hospitable board and re-enact
the festivities that were held there
in the carly part of the century.
The old house was built in 1915 by
q Major Lenox, who, Squire William
Kinsey, the venerable authority on
local history, says, was United States
minister to the court of St. James
and was for number of years resid-
ed in by the diplomat and his accom-:
plished wife Many distinguished
people from Europe and America
were frequent visitors to the man.
sion, and the hospitality of Major
Lenox was proverbial. Among those
who frequently came to tho place
was the ex-king of Spain, Joseph
Bonaparte, who, the historian re-
lates, frequently came down the Del
aware from Bonaparte park at Bor-
dentown in the handsome barge pre-
sented to him by Stephen Girard,
with the American flag and the
French tricolor waving from the
mast. Ho was often accompanied by
the one time dashing cavalry COM
mandor, Prince Murat.
The brother of the Emperor Napo-
leon sometimes drove down by way
of Trenton, and 1t is said that while
making the journey one day he was
thrown from his carriage and injur-
ell about the head. DR.. Phillips at
tended him at tho old tavern of John
Bessonett, now the Delaware House,
corner of Mill and Randolph streets,
and received shortly afterward a
800 note and o fno steel engraving
of Napoleon.
At the death of Major Lenox the
mansion reverted to his niece, Miss
Sarah Lukens Keene, o woman Of
groat beauty and culture who had
attracted much attention at court in
London. Her aunt entertained great
hopes Of contracting marriage with
some Of the English nobility and in.
dignantly refused Miss Keene's hand
to o John II. Powell of Philadel-
phia, stating that her niece was in
tended for duke or lord and not
a brewers son. Miss Keene died as
she had lived, an old maid and with
a compassionate feeling for those
of her sex similarly situated devised
the mansion and several thousand
dollars to the bishop of the Protes-
tant Episcopal church of the diocese
of Pennsylvania in trust for the
maintenance of Five, six or more
aged gentlewomen, widows or single
women Of responsibility and decay
ed fortune who had become destitute
in old age. bristol pa Letter in
Philadelphia Times