The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
"H. II. AVID A. B.-1sOs.,
A Famous Old Tortoise Found AEaIn-It
Bears the Initials of Aaron Burr.

Bears the Initials OF Aaron Burr.
PARKERsBuRo. W. Va. Aug. ga terrapln
with an unusual history was rediscovered on
Prospect Hill one day this week. Years ago.
before the civil war. q common mountain ter
rapin was picked up In the street in Court
House Square, The occurrence was not I'M
usual. as terrapins. or. moro properly. tor
toises. were found alniost anywhere in the
mountainous country OF Virginia at that day
and even q much later date. This specimen OF
the tortoise family. however. was distinguished
by quite q number Of letters and dates cut into
It's shell. Among these were the initials H. B.
and A. B. and the date 1908. The tortoise was
evidently very old. at least so said a number Of
old men. woodsmen me hunters. whose ex-
perience went unquestioned.
Who were II. 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 n. B. and A. B. were in
tended for the initials OF Hartman Blennerhas-
sett and Aaron Burr. To this add the date. and
there remained nothing to dispute the decision.
It was. in fact. the date when Hartman Blenner-
hassett resided upon the island below Parkcrs-
burg and about the time when Burr first made
his appearance. The sad story of Blenner-
hassett. closely following the incidents Of
Burr's instruction. was familiar to the Judges,
the uncle Of one OF them-Col. Hugh Phelps
having been the militia commander who took
possession OF the island after the retreat Of
Blennerhassett and Burr. This story il au-
thenticated by family traditions and records.
The tortoise was kept for several years
around the old Court House. but disappeared.
at what time no one knows. Nothing was heard
or thought OF this tortoise again for years. In
fact, it's very existence was forgotten until
sometime in 1SS4.when a venerable tortoise APP
peared within the narrow confines Of q 20 by 80
yard in the rear of Thanhauser's store on Mar
ket street. The tortoise was often picked up
and handled. perhaps 100 times. before some
one found inscribed a number OF letters and
figures upon its shell. The story was noised
abroad. and several months later q grandson Of
judge Phelps wrote to q friend In this CITY. Civ
ing the story told above. and asking his friend
10 examine the tortoise and see whether the
letters and date could be found. The m
ton was made, and the initials Fl. b. and A. B.
and the date 1903 were found.
When this became known considerable in
terest was shown In the tortoise. 1t was petted
and fed and made much OF. and 1t manifested
iarity. After the discovery OF the tortoise. for
many days succeeding . dead rat was found
In a peculiar manner It's upper and lower
Jaws were broken and crushed in every case,
and NO one about the store could supply even a
morning. earlier than usual. when one Of the
clerks, who happened TO look through the win
pavement holding a big rat by, the jaws. The
rat was still alive. and. although every clerk in
the little yard to iook on the unusual sight. the
tortoise would not release his hold until the rat
The story got into local papers. and the tor
toise got, Its name up as u ratcatcher. For
months the tortoise remained In the little
fast BY the jaws. until the rats deserted that
sitting BY one Of the windows opening into
scsnper across the yard. Tho tortoise was
lying on the brick pavement at the time. and
Us Msg shell Sa and '1 Slipped It's feet Beneath fhAH Il. in In
this shape the tortoise looked something like
The rats eyes fell upon the curious object, and
It determined to, ascertain the nature Of the
curious-lookinE hump, Approaehing, slowly:
minutes was pryfng its nose about the she'll.
Presently, in moving around the tortoise, the
to make q discovery. It's nose was thrust be-
meath the shell Just where the. head Of the tor:
sfTenR ea So% a1sSP mPeaGiblle wn Closed dn over Z thee a nos Ss
and jaw OF the rat. and its fate was sealed.
Such tragedies were enacted and reenacted
on. Darins the fall OF 1854. h however. the ter
rapIn disappeared. leaving many friends to re-
tkoise had been stolen and Killed by SOME ma
Nothing was heard. OF the tortoise, and no
one ever expected to hear Of It again. until q
and gray with age. was picked up on Prospect
Hill, where workmen were eXcavating for a new
street. That II was the same tortoise which
figured in the early years OF the century in the
history OF Blennerhassett and Burr, and eight
hauser's yard there is no doubt. The initials
II. b.. A. B.. and the date, 1903. were still to he
seen cut into its shell. and in addition were the
figures 1884 and the outline OF q rat inscribed
beneath the above. cut by one of the clerks OF
the store. How the terrapin got out Of town
II was seen by a number Of persons who had
seen 1t fourteen years before. and it caused
quite a stir.