The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-09-28


THEODOSIA BURR ASTON.
well known physician at Pasquotank
county North Carolina, was spending
the summer at Mays Head. This is
watering place on the North Carolina
coast, situated on the Banks" mar
row strip of land lying between Abe
marie sound and the Atlantic ocean.
The denizens of the Banks" are prim-
tive folk, and at one time the land
thereabout was infested by pirates. 1t
happened that DR.. Pool was called in
to see destitute old woman named
Mrs Mann. All her surroundings were
wretehed, but on the wall hung a hand
some oil painting out of all keeping
with its environments. DR.. POOLS
daughter, who Is now Mrs. John P.
Overman, of Elizabeth City, NJ c., wife
! of the postmaster Of that town, fire.
quently accompanied her father on err
rands of mercy to the poor old invalid.
Both she and her father expressed
desire to purchase the portrait, but the
| patient would not hear of it. She said
it had been given to her by her first
| husband, man named Tillett, and she
| valued it for his sake. The old lady
| got well. One day she appeared at the
Mays Head Hotel to pay her respects
to the doctor and his family. They were
astonished to see her wearing a hand
some silk dress of an antique pattern.
1t was an evening dress, cut short in
the waist, and only reached down half
way between the old lady's shoe tops
and her knees. She had come to tell
the doctor that, as she had no money,
she hoped he would accept the portrait
in payment of his services. The doctor
and his daughter we're overjoyed, es-
pecially when she related the circum-
stances under which 1t had come into
her possession. She had no head for
dates, but she remembered that one
calm winters day during the time of
our last war with England her first
husband (Tillett) and some Of his asso-
ciates, lounging on the beach at Nag 8
Head, were surprised to see a smart
vessel under full sail making for the
shore.
The men watched her with interest,
supposing she would tack. Instead, she
sailed straight ahead, and in a little
whitley beacbed. The men got into
one of their boats and rowed up to her.
They found that all the canvas of the
strange vessel was spread and that her
tiller was dashed. Climbing aboard,
they descended into the cabin. Here
a table was spread with half finished
meal. The berths were unmade. A
number of silk dresses were scattered
over the floor. Every indication pointed
to the fact that the persons on boal d
had hurriedly left the vessel in the
midst of meal. On the wall of the
cabin hung the portrait which fell To
her husband, together with one OF the
silk dresses, as his share of the treas
ure tIove.
Such is the story which l obtained
the other day from the lips of Mrs
Overman, to whom the portrait had de-
scended. l had heard some rumors Of
the facts, and, being in Elizabeth City
called at Mrs. Overman's residence fol
confirmation. She went over the par
ticulars above given, and showed ms
the portrait. This is painted on wood
about eighteen by twenty inches In
| size, and Is incased in what was once
gilt frame, the gliding having beer
: worn away by age. 1t represents 9
E woman of about 80 years of age, witt
/ well shaped features, piercing blacl
q eyes, brown hair, slightly tinged will
4 auburn, and an olive complexion. Tit
/ hair is done up much in the modern
e style, high on the head, with comb IL
back and frizzed in front.
4 When the portrait was first present
t ed to him DR.. Pool naturally recalled
: the story of Theodosia Burr, and at thu
S first opportunity compared the portrai
: with well authenticated engraving o
/. Theodosia. Everybody who has eve
: made the comparison declares that tn,
;. likeness is striking, and while it can
q not be proven, of course, that this Is
e likeness of Theodosia Burr. the circum
II stantial evidence is almost conclusive
: Not long ago lady who is connectet
with the Burr family came all the wa.
: from one of the western cities to Eliz
n abeth City to see this famous portrai
n and went away pretty well convince'
! that she had looked upon the portal
4 of her lost relative.
/ Does 1t not seem as IL the story wer
+ true that the Patriot was attacked b
k pirates who murdered its crew and pas
e sengers and carried of all the boot
D. they could conveniently dispose of. an
10 then sent the boat adrift? II the stor
be true, is it all true? Was Theodosi
k also murdered or carried of, as legen
!. ayers, to fate worse than death?