St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-03-07
A BIT OF HISTORY,
BY ALBERT CLAxPoo1 WHITE.

1T Is the belief of many people that wher
| DR.. Jameson crossed the TransyaaI from
tier at the head of a band of 800 freebooters
1t was with the tacit approval of the British
south African company; that il the Brit
lSh South African company found tha
Il jameson and his expedition were success
ful. they would back him up with thefl
i wealth and their machine guns; that if tn,
i British government found the South Afri
/ can company was successful they Woult
| PACK up the company with the forces of tn,
British empire, and that another country
| would be gobbled up by Great Britain AL
| of these hopes have been baffled by the de-
! feat of the Jameson expedition by the
/ Beers. This recalls another expedition
| projected on similar lines in our own coun.
| try about 100 years ago, when Aaron Burr
went into the west, and, making HaBmaI
/ Blennerhassett's beautiful home his head
quarters, began enlisting men for an expe-
d1tlon against the Spanish possessions on
| the Gulf of Mexico. He, too, led his men to
| believe that it was with the taeit approval
| of the United States government, and, il
their expedition succeeded, the United
! States would back them up and make it a
nalt Of its territory. AS matter of fact,
Burr designed to make himself dictator of
the conquered territory. But there, too,
events initiated against the adventurer,
and the Burr-Blennerhassett expedition
failed. But it was picturesque and most
changeful time in American history, and it
Will not be uninteresting to recall it now.l
In the Ohio river, near the mouth of
ts1e Little Kanawha and about IA miles
below the old town of Marietta, lies
Blennerhassett island. Perhaps no
other spot along la Belle Riviere"
has sucn an interesting history.
1t is almost 100 years since Harman
3lennerhassett and his bride went to
i've in the great wilderness of The west.
blennerhassett was the son of an Irish
gentleman, though his birthplace was
1T Hampshire, England. He was born
in 1767, when his parents were on a
visit to Hampshire. His family was
among the most distinguished of the
Irish gentry, and Harman enjoyed ex-
cellent educational advantages. After
a preliminary schooling in England, he
entered Trinity college, Dublin, where
he graduated in due time with high
honors. He then read law in the Inns
of Court, and was admitted to the bar
IN 1890. At the death of his father,
soon after, Blennerhassett received a
large accession to bis fortune.
With wealth, rank and Intellectual
powers Of high order, richly culti-
waited, he seemed to be on the threshold
of brilliant career His friends de-
sired him to enter politics, but that was
not to his taste. His inclinations were
for the quieter paths of literature.
The excitement aroused by the oppres-
sion of royalty was in the very air in
ireland, and he turned to the United
States as a haven Of refuge, He sold all
# his landed estates and went to Eng
X I'd, where he married Miss Agnew.
4 oaughter of the governor of the Isle
OF Man. Before leaving London he pur-
chased a large and valuable library and
an extensive chemical and philosopll-
lcal apparatus. Through letters which
be brought he and his wife became ac-
quainted with many of the leading
families in New York, and they were
the recipients of fiattering attention.
Hearing of the Eden-like islands in
the Ohio river, he determined to visit |
that part of the country. Mr.. and Mrs.
laennerhassett arrived in Pittsburgh |
in the autumn of 1907 and foated down |
The river as far as Marietta in one of |
the fat-bottomed boats then in use.
He spent all of the next winter in |
studying the topography of the coun- |
try and the habits of the people. The
following spring he bought what was
then called Backus island, and ever
since it has borne his name. This
sland contained about 800 acres, and
II the upper end a few acres were free
from trees, presenting a natural lawn.
The new owner of this enchanting
spot began energetically to erect
home. Slaves were bought and the up
Der part of the island was laid out and
exquisite taste. There
we're graveled walks and carriage ways,
md a beautiful view of the river
through an opening among the trees.
nd flower garden of about two acres
illed with Towering shrubs, both ex-
tic and native. Arbors and g1ottos
covered with vines were, scattered here
md there, and on the south side of the5
sland was a kitchen garden, stocked
With choicest fruits. Spacious out
buildings Were erected and boat land
ngs constructed for communication
With the Ohio and Virginia shores.
he house was like a palace, with two
wings stretching out in either direc-
ion, and its inside finish was luxurious.
When the house was completed, to-
ether with the adornment of the
the sum of 100000 in gold had
'een expended.
The mistress of this romantic home
vas a very beautiful woman. Her
gure. tall and commanding, was
nodded in perfect proportions. Her
tanners were captivating, and at the
anne time full of dignity. She wrote
nd spoke French and italian fiuentIy,
vhile her familiarity with English lit
rature at once stamped her as a wom-
n OF culture and refined education.
he was an accomplished horsewoman
nd she was also an accomplished |
ousewife. She was very ambitious.
nd it was a great trial to her to have
er husband waste his brilliant powers
| obseurity. Vainly she urged him
D enter as an advocate the higher
ourts. of Virginia, but he preferred
is books and music and the peaceful
ursuit of scientific studies. Blenner-
asset was a versatile genius, man of
reat heneFolence and intense SYM :
athies. and in manners very courteous,
lid end yielding. His virtues were