Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-03-07

ticr Mt the head OF banu Oh elght nun
dred freebooters, 1t was with the tacit ap'
proyal of the British South African Com
pany: that II the British South African
Company found that Jameson and ms OK
pcdition were successful. they would BACK
him up with their wealth and their ma
chine guns: that II the British uoverh'
men, found the South African Company
was successful, they would back Mp the
company with the forces OF the britisn
Empire and that another country would
be gobblcd up by Great Britain. All OF
those homes have been bafiied 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 n hundred years ago. when
Aaron Burr went into the West, and.
making Hartman Blcnnerhassetts bcauti.
full home his headquarters. began enlist
ing men for an expedition against the
Spar ish possessions on the Gulf OF Mex
leo. He, too, led his men to believe that
Il was with the tacit approval Of the
United States Government, and. II their
expedition succeeded, the United States
would back them mp and make 1t q part
Of its territory. As q matter of fact, burr
designed to make himself dictator Of the
conquered territory. But there, too,
events initiated against the adventurcr,
and the .Blennerhasse expedition
failed. But Il was picturesque and most
changcful time In American history, and
1t will not be unintcresting to recall II
How.--Eds.)
In the Ohio River. near the mouth Of
che Little Kanawha and about fourteen
miles below the old town Of Marietta,
1ics Blennerhasset Island. Perhaps no
other spot along Ia Belle Rivicre" has
such an interesting history.
1t was almost 100 years since Har.
man Blcnnerhnssett and his bride went
10 live In the great wilderness Of the
West. Blcnnerliassett was the son Of
an Irish gentleman. though his birth.
place was ut Hampshire. England. He
was born In 1867. when his parents
were on q visit to Hampshire. Ills fam.
lily was among the most distinguished
OF the Irish gentry, and Hartman ell
joyed excellent educational advnn-
tages. After preliminary schooling
In England, lie entered Trinity Col.
lego, 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 100. At the
death Of his father. soon after, Blen-
nerhassett received large accession
to his fortune.
With wealth. rank, and intellectual
power Of a high order, richly cultivated.
he seemed to be upon the threshold Of
n brilliant career. His friends desired
him to enter politics, but that was not
to his taste. His inclInatlons were for
the Quicter paths OF literature. The OK.
cltcment aroused by the oppression OF
royalty was In the very air In Ireland.
and he turned to the United States an
a haven of refuge. He sold all Of his
landed estates and went to England,
where he married Miss Agncw, a
daughter Of the governor Of the Isle Of
Man. Before leaving London, lie pur-
chased large and valuable library and
an extensive chemical and philosophl.
cal apparatus. Through letters which
he brought, he and his wife became nc.
qualntcd with many Of the leading fam.
lilies In New York, and they were the re-
cipients Of Aattering attention.
Hearing Of the Eden.likc islands In
that part Of the country. Mr.. and Mrs
Blcnnerhassett arrived In Pittsburg In
the autumn OF 1907, and fl0atcd down
the river as far MS Marietta In one OF
the hat.bottOmed boats then In use. lie
spent oil Of the next winter In studying
the topography Of the country and thu
habits Of the people. The following
spring he bought what was then called
Backus Island, and ever since It hai
borne his name. This island contained
about three hundred acres, and ut til,
upper end few acres were free from
trees, presenting natural lawn. Tit
dropping branches of the willows lavct
by the river, and gigantic elms ant
sycam0res, gave beauty and grandeu
to the scenery.
The new owner of this enchanting
spot began theoretically to erect [
home. Slaves were bought, aud the M
per part of the island was laid out an,
Ornamented with exquisite taste. Their
were graveled walks, and carriage
ways, and beautiful view Of the rive
through on opening among the trees
and a flower garden of about two acre
filed with Towering shrubs, both cXOtl
and native. ArbOrs and grottOes cover
cd with vines were scattered here an
there, and on the south side Of the isl
and was kitchen garden, stocked will
choicest fruits. Spacious outbulldIng
were erected and boat.Iandlngs con
structed for communication with til
Ohio and Virginia shores. The hOus
was like palace, with two wing
stretching out In either direction. an
its inside finish was luxurious. Whe
the house was completed, together wit
the adornment Of the grounds, the SUI
of sixty thousand dollars in gold In
been expended.
The mistress Of this romantic HON
was a very beautiful woman. Her fll
urc, tall aud commanding, was mOlde
In perfect proportions. Her manner
were captivating, and, Mt the sam
time, full of dignity. She wrote an
spoke French and Italian fuentl!
while her familiarity with English II
crature at once stamped her as won
an of culture and refined education
She was an accomplished hOrsewOmaI
and she was also an accOmpllshe
housewife. She was very ambition
and It was great trial to her to hay
hns, pc1x os,I 10 IA Is 1u111i n ~ N