The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-07-15
A BIT OF HISTORY.
ny ALBERT CLAyPooL WHITE.

ut is the belief OF many people that when
DIR. Jameson crossed the Transvaal from
tier at the head of band of 800 freebooters.
1t was with the tacit approval of the British
South African company; that II the Brit
ish 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 baflied 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 Hartman
Blennorhassett's beautiful home his head
quarters began enlsting mon for an expe-
dition against the Spanish possessions on
the Gulf of Mexico He, too. led his men to
believe that 1t was with the tacit approval
of the United States government, and, II
their petition succeeded, the United
States would back them up and make 1t a
part of lbs territory. As a matter of fact.
Burr deslgncd to make himself dictator of
the conquered territory. But there, too,
events initiated against the adventurer.
and the Rurr-Rlcnnerhassett expedition
failed. But H. wtlp a picturesque ard most
changeful time in American history, and 1t
will not be uninteresting to recall ii now.l :
In the Ohio river, near the mouth of
The Little Kanawha and about IA miles
Delow 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. He was born
in 1767, 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. 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
iarse aeees''oi' " ms ioi ''
WIN wealth., rank anu ihteiiec'uai
powers ol hiSh oruei' iieniS eui,i
Naoeo, ne seeiheo 10 NC on .he I'M esiio'u
of a brilliant career. His friends de-
sireu MN 70 enter l'oii'ics' ou. 'ii''' ""'
not 10 MS taste. MS ilciinasiohs Meio
for the quieter paths of literature.
The excitement aroused by the ODDreS-
SION OF royalty was III the very ar III
ireland, ana he turned 10 tne ohi'eu
states US maven Vi reiuse' iie SUI al
VI ms iahoe'' .N''"'es .'ii,i meno ~ i-ne
i'i,o' "noie ~ iA''i - 20 ~,
| ua"ghter vi 'i,e so'elhoi " ,'-e isle
., Mail i'eioie ie,' iiu ~. - ;,
cnase', " ID ,ii1' ."' , 49, -. .,i:,asa.h
an eN,eASiNe eiisniieai ,'nu -,
/ lcai apparatus il.ousn ,e''''' "n.e.'
ne oro"Sh ut iie "i.o ''iS W.. -,
quain'eo WIN iiirns VI ,ne ie
loh'iiies III i>ew hoi NJ anu Wy
Tue rcclPieii's VI haosei ing ''o'''''
| hearing OF the hueh-nhe isianos ~
the ONO RIVER he determined 10 WISH
that part OF the country. MI. ana MIS-
Iiennerhassett arrived III litCspuisn
in the autumn OF l'01 ana iioisteu Gown
the river as far as Marietta III one VI
the fat-nottomed poats 'heh III use
lie spent an OF tne next M3ii'sf u
studying the topography OF tae couh
try ard the habits OF the rec ie' 1ht
following spring he bought "iiat "aS
i then called Backus f'iahd, anu evei
since 1T has borne ms name. Inns
isiano containeo "hout ooo aeleS' am
al inc upper eha d ne" 'eies WHY iie'
from trees' presenting na'uiai ''s"''
The new owner OF TINS enchahtins
spot began energeticaiiy 10 erect
home. Slaves were bought ana tiie up
per part OF the island was laid OUT AM
ornamentedwith exquisite taste. lher
were graveied walks ana carriage ways
ana peautlful view OF the rive
through an opening among the trees
and flower garden Oh ABOUT TWO acre
filled with towering shrups' poth eS
otto and native. Aroors ana grotto
covered with vines were scattereu ner
and there, and on the south slde OF Tn
island was kitchen garden stocke
with choicest fruits. spacious on,
buildings We're erected anu BOAT iahe
ings constructed Tor communicate
with the ONO and Virginia shofe'
The house was like palace, with wv
wings stretching out Ill either dlre'
ton, and its inside finish was luXuriou'
When the house was completed, u
gether with the adornment OF tn
: grounds, the sum OF 100000 in gold ha
been expended.
The mistress of this romantic hon
was a very beautiful woman. lie
figure. tall and commanding, we
nodded in perfect proportions. tic
manners were captivating, and at II
same time full of dignity She wro1
and spoke French and Italian huentl
while her familiarity with English Ii
erature at once stamped her as won
an of culture and refined educatio
oi1 "'a on NJ ~,
anu sn W." O., "so g. ...lp;t;a,,
nous." Nle We -,