The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-03-03


Allen when he demanded the sur.
render of Fort Ticonderoga Gin the
name Of the Great Jehovah and the
Continental Congress" is in Ne~
Orleans for a few days. This valu-
able relic of the doughty old hero
is brought to the city by it's owner
Hannibal Allen Hopkins of St
Clair, Mich, one of the six dele.
gates from the Wolverine State tc
the National Editorial Association
meeting.
Mr.. Hopkins brings the Ticon-
deroga weapon to this city, together
with an old family Bible aud other
ancestral relics, because of a visit
to be made by himself and wife to
Oakbourne, the plantation home of
Mr.. and Mrs. c.. A. Breaux at La
fayette, La, where Mr.. Hopkins
and Mrs. Breaux will exploit the
glories of their common ancestors.
Upon the death of Col. Ethan
Allen, his sword was left to his
military son, Capt. Hannibal M.
Allen, who married Agnes B. Low
an aunt of Mrs. Breaux and great
aunt of Mr.. Hopkins. Upon the
death of Capt. Allen, the sword was
left to his widow, there being no
and Mrs. Allen took up
her home with her sister, Mrs. Ben
jamin Hopkins. After the marriage
of her favorite nephew, Hannibal
Allen Hopkins, the namesake of
her husband, to whose memory Mrs.
Allen was ever very devoted, she
lived with him the remaining years
Of her life and left to Nj. Hopkins
the nicked and venerable heirloom.
upon the death of his
father and mother, the sword des-
cended to its present owner, who
also bears the name of that military
son of Ethan Allen who showed
such excellent discrimination. in
for a wife the aunt of Mrs.
Breaux.
The line of descent and the iden-
:ity of the sword have been fully
proved. For some time the old
'clic reposed in the National Mu-
scum at Washington, and at one
line movement was on foot to
purchase the old weapon from the
Hopkins family in order that it
night remain a fixture in the ma
ions archives.
The blade of the weapon, nicked |
md scared, Is twenty-seven inches |
ong and slightly curved. The
landle is of bone, seven inches
ong, and is surmounted by a dogs
lead of silver with ruby eyes. On
he scabhard is silver band on
which is engraved ETHAN ALLEN.
IN other bands, in smaller letters,
Ppear the names of Bradshaw,
maker, and Martin Vosburg, who is
to have been the dt.nor of
he weapon to the old hero. The
memorable date "1775" is also en-
raved on the sword.
The original commissions issued
o Hannibal M. Allen, the one as
Lieutenant of Artillery" signed
~ Thomas Jefferson, and as "Cap-
ain of Ar.illerists," signed by James
are also in possession of
he Hopkins family.
Mr.. Hopkins has with him on this
INVASION of the friendly Southland
he breastPlate of Col. Ethan Allen.
cross which the letters v. NJ. I. of
he Vermont of old appear. And
hen Oakbourne plantation shall
ave been rachel there will be in
reading from an old. musty
Memoir Of Col. Ethan Allen"
otaining the true history of the
firing events in which Col. Allen
as a principal figure. AS told by
lie old hero himself, his stirring ex-
eriences read as delightfully."- as our
liter day romances.
Mr.. Hopkins is editor and
ubllsher of the St Clair Repub-
cans. He enjoys the distinction
being the Youngest presidential
in Michigan. He is
lie Republican son in. law of that ,
Democrat ex.COn. |