Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-26
A OF THE WEST


az is the belief of most people that when
DIR. Jameson crossed the Transvaal from
tier at the head of a band of eight ham
dred freebooterS. it was with the tac1t alr
proval of the British South African Com
pany: that if the British South African
Company found that Jameson and his eX-
pedition were successful. they would back
him up with their wealth and their MA
chine guns: that if the British Govern
ment found the South African Company
was successful. they would back up the
company with the forces of the British
Empire. and that another country would
be gobbled mp 10y Great Britain All of
these hopes have been bafhed 10y the de
feat of the Jameson expedition 10y the
Beers. This recalls another expedition
projected on similar lines in our own coun-
Try about Il hundred years agO. when
Aaron Burr went into the West. and.
making Hartman BlennerhaSsetts beauil-
full home his headquarters. began enlist
ing men for an expedition against the
Spanish possessions on the Gulf of Mex
ico. lie. too, led his men 10 believe that
ii was with the tacit approval OF the
United States Government. and. if their
expedition succeeded. the United States
would back them UP and make il Il part
of its territory. As Il matter of fact. Burr
designed To make himself dictator of the
conquered territory. But there. TOO.
events initiated against the adveuturcr.
and the Burr Blcnnc-hasSett expedition
failed. But ii was n picturesque and most
changeful time in American history. and
Il viii not he embarrassing To recall II
DOW.-EdS.)
In the Ohio River. near the mouth of
the Little kanawia and about fourteen
miles below the old town of Marietta.
lies Blennerhasset Island. Perhaps no
other spot along La Belle liivierc has
such an interesting history.
II was almost 100 years since IIar-
man BlenncrlasSett and his bride went
20 live in the great wilderness of the
West. Blennerhassctt was the son 81
an Irish gentleman. though his birth
place was at Hampshire. England. He
was born in 1861. when his parents
were ON a visit to Hampshire. Ills fam
ily WAS among the most distinguished
of the Irish gentry. ana Hartman en-
ioyed excellent educational advan-
tagcs. After Il preliminary schooling
in England. he entered Trinity Col
lege, Dublin. where lie graduated in
due time with high hOnorS. lie then
read law in the Inns of Court. and was
admitted To the bar in 1890. vt the
death of his father. soon after. Blen-
neriassett received a large accession
10 his fortune.
With wealth. rank. and intellectual
power of Il high order. richly cultivated.
lie seemed 10 he upon the threshold al
ii brilliant career. His friends desired
aim 10 enter politics. hut that was not
10 his taste. His inclinationS were for
The quieter paths of literature. The eN-
element aroused by the oppression al
royalty vas in the very air in Ireland.
and he turned 10 the United States rs
q haven of refuge. He sold all Of his
landed estates and went 10 England.
where he married Miss Agncw. n
daughter of the governor Of the Isle Of
Man. before leaving London. he pur-
chased a large and valuable library and
an extensive chemical and philosophi-
cal apparatus. Through letters which
he brought. he aud his wife became ac-
quainted with many of the leading fam
sfAtS II NEW 10TH. ana tntt were tie. re-
cipients Of fiattcring attention.
Hearing Of the Edcn-like islands in
the Ohio River. he determined To visit
that part of the country. Mr.. and Mrs.
BlennerhasSctt arrived i'm PittSbnrg in
the autumn of 1891. and floatcG down
the river as far as Marietta in one of
the iat-bottomcd boats then in I~,. He
cnnnf n Ill af fl.n nnxs .,ipt., -. -, e,nf.;n.
the topography Of the country and the
habits of the people. The following
spring he bought what was then called
Backus Island. and ever since il has
borne his name. This island contained
about three hundred acres. and 1T the
upper end Il few acres were free from
trees. presenting "a natural lawn. The
dropping branches of the willows lavci
by the river. and gigantic elms and
sycamores. gave beauty and grandeur
10 h scenery.
The rev owner of this enchaniin"
spot began ~cncrgetically 10 erect Il
home. Slaves were bought. and the uI;-
per part of the island was laid nj and
ornamcntcd with exquisite taste. There
were craveled walks. and carriage
ways. and Il beautiful view Of the river
through an opening among the trees.
and n flower garden of about two acres
filed with Towering shrubs. both exotic
and native. ArbOrS and grotto"S cover
ed with vines were scattered here and
there. and on the south side of the isl
and WAS a kitchen garden. stocked WITH
choicest fruits. Spacious outbuildings
were erected and boat-landingS con
sfriIcted for communication with the
Ohio and Virginia shores. The house
was like II palace. with two wings
stretching out in either direction. and
its inside finish was luxurious. When
the house was completed. together with
the adOrnmcnt of the grounds. the sum
of sixty thousand dollars in gold had
been expended.
The mistress of this romantic HON,
was n very beautiful roman Her fig
ure. tall and commanding. was nodded
in perfect propnrtiopS IIer mauparS