The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-02
A RARE Old TERRAPIN.
Catches Rats and Bears-Aaron
Burr's Initials on Its She'll.

Burr's Initials on Its She'll.
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
terrapin with an unusual history was
rediscovered on Prospect hill, Parkersburg,
W. Va. the other day. Years ago. before
the civil war, common mountain terra
pin was picked up in the street in Court
house square. The occurrence was not I'M
usual, as terrapins, or, more properly, tor
tolses, were found almost anywhere In the
mountainous country of Virginia at that
day and even a much later date. This spec
linen of the tortoise family, however. was
distinguished by quite a number of letters
and dates cut into its shell Among these
were the initials H. B. and A. B., and the
date 1903 The tortoise was evidently very
old. at least so said number Of old men,
woodsmen and hunters, whose experience
went unquestioned.
Who were H. B. and A. B.? was the
query readily settled to the satisfaction of
the entire community by two old judges
of the county court Judges Hannaman
and Phelps. Both of the men decided that
Fl. b. and A B. were intended for the mi
tiais of Hartman Blennerhassett and Aa-
ron Burr. To this add the date, and there
remained nothing to dispute the decision.
1t was, in fact, the date when Harman
Blennerhassett resided upon the island be-
low Parkersburg and about the time when
Burr first made his appearance. The sad
story of Blennerhassett, closely following
the incidents of Burr's Instruction was
familiar to the judges, the uncle of one Of
them-Col. Hugh Phelps-haVng been the
militia commander who took possession of
the island after the retreat of Blenner-
hassett and Burr. This story is authenti-
Gated by family traditions and records.
The tortoise was kept for several years
around the Old court house, but disappear
ed, al what time no one knows. Nothing
was heard or thought of this tortoise again
for years. In fact its very existence was
forgotten until some time in 1884 when
venerable tortoise appeared within the mar
row confines of 20 by 30 yard in the rear
OF Thanhauser's store on Market street
The tortoise was often picked up and
handled, perhaps a hundred times, before
some one found inscribed a number of let
ters and figures upon its she'll The story
was noised abroad, and several months Ia
ter a grandson of Judge Phelps wrote to
friend in this city, giving the story told
above, and asking his friend to examine the
tortoise and see whether the letters and
date could be found. The examination was
made and the Initials II. B. and A B. and
the date 1903 were found
When this became known considerable
interest was shown in the tortoise. 1t
was petted and fed and made much of
and it manifested in its peculiar way
its appreciation of its popularity After
the discovery of the tortoise for many
days succeeding a dead rat was found w.
ing in the yard Every rodent had been
killed in a peculiar manner. It's upper
and lower jaws were broken and crush
ed in every case, and no one about the
store could supply even a theory or con-
lecture in explanation, when one of the
clerks, who happened to look through the
window into the yard saw the terrapin
lying on the pavement holding a big rat
by the jaws. The rat was still alive and.
, although every clerk in the store and
many passers-by crowded into the little
yard 10 look on the unusual sight the
tortoise would not release his hold until
the rat was cold and stiff
Such tragedies were enacted and re-
enacted many times, and hundreds of
persons looked on. During the fall of 1884
however, the terrapin disappeared Ieav-
ing many friends to regret its fate, every
one believing that the tortoise had been
stolen and killed by some malicious boy.
Nothing was heard of the tortoise. and
no one ever expected 10 hear of 1t again
until a few days ago. when a tortoise
old, venerable and gray with age. was
picked up on Prospect hill, where work.
men were excavating for a new street.
That 1t was the same tortoise which fig
uFed In the early years of the century in
the history of B,ennerhassett and Burr
and eight decades later as a rat exter-
minator in Thanhauser's yard there is no
doubt. The initials H. b.. A. B., and the
date, 1908. were still to be seen cut into
the shell, and in addition were the figures
1884 and the outline of a rat inscribed be-
meath the above, cut by one of the clerks
of the store. How the terrapin got out
of town and on the top of the hill, is mere
conjecture. 1t was seen by number of
persons, who had seen it fourteen years
before, and it caused quite a stir.