Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1896-03-06
A. BIT OF HISTORY.
By ALBERT CLAypooL WHITE.


der at the head OF band of 800 freebooters.
i was with the taclt approval OF the British
south African company; that II the Brit
'sh South African company found that
Jameson and his expedition were success
ful, they would back him up with their
wealth and their machine guns; that II tho
British government found the South Afr-
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 baffied by the de-
feat of the Jameson expedition by the
Boers. 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 Hartman
Blennerhassetts beautiful home his head
! quarters, began enlistng men for an expe-
dition against the Spanish possessions on
the Gulf of Mexico. He, too, led his men to
believe that 1t WIS with the tacit approval
Of the United States government, and, If
their expedition succeeded. the United
States would back them up and make 1t
pant 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 -Blennerhassett expedition
failed But 1t was picturesque and most
|
will not be uninteresting to recall 1t now.l
In the Ohio river, near the mouth of
lae 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 Hartman
3lennerhassett 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 a
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. 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 his fortune.
With wealth, rank and intellectual
powers of high order, richly cult
waited, he seemed to be on the threshold
of a 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 haven of refuge. He sold all
of his landed estates and went to Eng
land, where he married Miss Agnew,
a daughter of the governor Of the Isle
of Man. Befor. 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 ac-
quainted with many of the leading
families in New York, and they were
the recipients of fattering attention.
Hearing of the Eden-like islands in
the Ohio river, he determined to visit
that part of the country. Mr.. and Mrs
Elennerhassett arrived in Pittsburgh
in the autumn of 1897 and foated down
the river rs 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
3 since it has borne his name. This
, island contained about 300 acres, anC
al the upper end few acres were free
: from trees, presenting natural lawn
, The dropping branches of the willows
1 laved by the river and gigantic elms
and sycamores gave beauty and gran
: deur to the scenery.
/, The new owner of this enchanting
spot began energetically to erect q
home. Slaves were bought and the up
S per part of the island was laid out anC
;. ornamentedwith exquisite taste. Their,
: were graveled walks and carriage ways
and beautiful view of the rive
n through an opening among the trees
n and flower garden of about two acre
n filled with towering shrubs, both eX
!. osered with vines We're scattered herr
d and there, and on the south side of thu
= island was kitchen garden, stocked
with choicest fruits. Spacious out
n buildings were erected and boat land
u ings constructed for communication
d with the Ohio and Virginia shores
The house was like a palace, with tw,
a wings stretching out in either direc
/ ton, and its inside finish was luxurious
u When the house was completed, to
gether with the adornment of tn
J. grounds, the sum of 100000 in gold hat
e been expended.
II The mistress of this romantic hom
was very beautiful woman. He
, figure. tall and commanding, wa
=, nodded in perfect proportions. He
= manners were captivating, and at tn
same time full of dignity. She wrot
y and spoke French and Italian tluently
= while her familiarity with English lii
u erature at once stamped her as a won
an of culture and refined education
- She was an accomplished horsewoma
:, and she WIS also an uccomplishc
housewife. She was very ambitious
and ii was great trial to her to hav
her husband waste his brilliant power
;. in obscurity. Nainly she urged hin
= to enter as an advocate the highe
= courts of Virginia, but he preferre
a his books and music and the peacefr
:. pursuit of scientific studies. Blennei
N hassett was versatile genius, a man c
a great benevolence and intense syn
pathies. and in manners very courteous
l. mild and yielding. His virtues wer
fe of the amiable character, and he wa