Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-03-05
A BIT OF HISTORY.


| a Ut Ii the belief Of many people that when
DR.. Jameson crossed the Transvaal from.
tier at the head Of band Of 800 freebooters,
II was with the taclt approval Of the British
South African company; that II the Brit
lsli South African company found that
Jameson and his expedition were success
full. they would back him up with their
wealth and their machine guns, that II the
British government found the South Afri-
can company was successful, they would
back up the company with the forces of the
British empire, and that another country
would be gobbled up by Great Britain. All
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 Hannah
Blennerhassett's beautiful home his head
quarters, began enllstlng men for an expe-
dillon against the Spanish possessions on
the Gulf Of Mexico. He. too led his men to
believe that II was with the taclt approval
Of the United States government, and, II
their expedition succeeded, the United
States would back them up and make II q
paIt Of its territory. As matter Of fact,
Burr designed 10 make himself dictator Of
the conquered territory. But there, too,
events initiated against the adventurer,
and the Burr-Blennerhassett expedition
failed. But II was picturesque and most
changcful time In American history, and II
will not be uninteresting to recall II now.]
In the Ohio river, near the mouth Of
Lle Little Kanawha and about IA miles
ielow 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 Hartman
!llenDcrhassett and his bride went to
live in the great wilderness of the west.
blennerhassett was the son Of an Irish
gentleman, though his birthplace was
at Hampshire, England. lie was born
in 1867, when his parents were on
visit to Hampshire. His family was
among the most distinguished Of the
Irish gentry, and Hartman 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. lIe 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. rink and intellectual
powers of a hjrh order richly chilli.
waited, he seemed to be on the threshold
of n brilliant cnreer His friends do.
sired him TO enter politics but that WINS
not 10 his taste. His inclinatIons we're
for the ouleter naths NJ literature
The excitement aroused nv tbe onnres.
sion Of ROYALTY was in the very mir IN
Ireland, and he turned to the United
States as a haven of refuge. He sold all
of his landed estates md went IN Emo.
lund. where he married Miss Agnew
d daughter Of the governor NJ The Jsla
OF Man. Before leaving London he pur-
chased a large and valuable library and
an extensive chemical and philosoph-
ical apparatus. Through letters which
he brought he and his wife became &C.
uuainted with many Of the leading
families IN Nsw yorL and thsv ,rare
tbc rccin;cnts n, fotter;no attention
ueor,rr a. thc r1or.li1.s ,slonas I,
tbe Ohio ,;yer ho ,Ietarm;nad w. w;s;.
that ,art - tbs ooun,s, NJ onJ No. s'
,lorna,,hos.,a.. as,a'.j l.. n....a..a''a
n ,ha ant,,,n, 80 ,,o7 aa.,aJ ,.
the riror NO tar No ,,ar;...a T., ano -
tho eat.hot,nm.d hna.a t..r t., uA. .,a W
Jro sr.n, MI - .ha W.. ,,,.o. H.
,tua,.,,a a. .s.s.., ~, -
~ "a 20 .ha ,aSi.n sr -. .s.', s I'M nv.
,,,,..',.,, It. - r'ers
.,,a,, IL. rs 49,, Nv . rs. ""s' "as
sinaa i. has hon,," liz ' MI MI.
,',a, -" Us ~"
~ .ha v 49,. ',,a s.' ovv " . anu
s,.,. Wv . ap wv ~" "e''s "e,' l'oo
o ~, ' P'"s ""'u'a' 'a"n'
!" new OWNER o, inns encnanting
spo' pes"i ehorget'caliy 10 erect
nome saves were oought ana the up
per p'r' Vi 'ne 's'anu was la'd out ana
ornameh'ecw'th exquisite taste. There
were eraveleu walks anu carriage ways
una peaut'iul view OF the river
through an opening among the trees, |