The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-31

ed and dismayed by these events. knew
not what course take. Blennerhassett's
Island, like all de islands in the Ohio
River at that time, being part Of Vir-
GINA they felt tbem5sl ,, safe from the
the neighborhood. Under its authority the
Colonel of a militia regiment in Wood
County called out his men, with the in
| tention of marching to the island, arrest
| ing the whole band, of conspirators and
Selling their arms and stores.
Faithful spies in; Wood County FASTENED
over to the island and informed Blenner-
| hassett that the, next day his stores and
| himself were to be seized.
what shall we. do?" the conspirator
asked.
LOAD every boat possible" said Harry,
and push off tonight
Blennerhassett resolved to follow the
advice, and as soon as it was dark four
boats were hurriedly loaded. and the whole
party of confederates ON the island, 40 in
number, armed to the teeth, embarked and
pushed out ON the bosom of the dark river.
leaving Mrs. Bennerhasseit and her two
little boys, and some servants, to abide the
storm of the morrow. 1t was arranged
that she should procure their family
boat from Marietta, and follow the fly
ing band in a few days.
Next morning the wild militia came over
in batteaux and seized the home of the
conspirator. The island was at the time
deserted, Mrs. Blennerhassett, with her
children, having gone to Marietta. The
Colonel left n small party in charge, and
with his main force marched across one
of the giant bends" of the Ohio TO in
tercept the fugitives at the mouth of the
Great Kanawha. Ascertaining that the
boats had not passed this point, he sta
a. . -, al
with the strictest injunctions to watch all
night.
1.-The night is going to be cold" said the
militia Captain to his subordinate officers.
"We'll freezer' declared Lieutenant,
whose teeth We're already chattering.
Let us build a fire."
This suggestion met with approval, and
n dozen campfires were soon blazing along
the river banks. Old farmer Debbins, who
''see what WIZ goin' on" and finding The
boys cold and chilly on this raw December
evening, Informed them that he had q bar
rel of whisky in his cellar, and that some
of it might do them good. The suggestion
met with the approval of all, from the
highest officer to the lowest private. Half
the company went to the house, tilled their
canteens and returned to their comrades.
Build on the fires" cried the Captain,
taking a long suck at his canteen. Build
EN- up high, and let's enjoy life. Fire
up without, and fire up within"
THAT is good liquorn' declared Lieut..
Richardson, smacking his lips.
Yes, Lieutenant. Let NE have another
taste of it, won't you?'
Help yourself, Captain
That's right, boys: drink and keep out
the cold" said the Captain. Il tell you
there is no comfort in guarding river
filled with running ice in December"
The men drank, and the more they
drank the stronger became their confidence
in their ability to capture the conspirators
before the dawn day.
lyon are right Gpmradesr' said the
Captain. "Egad Here's great success to
our noble selves for there's few like u.s."
Then followed q hearty pull at the can
teen. Smacking, his lips, he added: I'VE
will have old Blennerhassett in Jail before
morning. Build UP the fires, so we can
see across the river"
Logs and fencerails; were heaped on the
fires. The men sang songs, some whistled
tunec while others danced, and the Wild
half-savage orgies were kept up until near
ly midnight, when, overcome by fatigue,
whisky and cold. officers and men sank
upon the ground in state of insensibility.
few moments after two dark forms
stole from the wood TO the camp. Slowly
and cautiously, FROM tree to tree, from
bush to stone, they crept until they were
in the midst of the drunken militia.
They are all asleep, Jem,' said Harry,
contemplating the scene ,iaar-,.s- ...
so they be, Mister Harry, an | think
it would be master easy to knock them
all on the head, while they be heavy with
sleep and drink"
NO" answered Harry, with shake of
the head. I'VE must not shed blod. Let
us hasten back TO the boats and inform
them. We can pass in safety"
Blennerhassctt was informed of the
state of affairs, and the hotilla glded 81
lently past the camp, and, before daylight,
was far beyond pursuit. A day or two
after a party of II young men from New
York City, on their way down the river
to join the expedition, were arrested near
the island and conveyed to it for safe
keeping. Three of, the country Justices
were summoned to the island and the IA
men tried in Blennerhassetts magnificent
parlOr. As no positive evidence could be
brought against them they We're dis
charged. Mrs. Blennerhassett was still in
Marietta, trying to get her boat; the
Colonel, who was gentleman, was away,
and the soldiers broke over the bounds
Of loose militia discipline. They broke into
the wine cellar and drank themselves into
vandals. Then they ran through the
house, destroying or disfguring wherever
they went; firing rile-balls through the
painted ceiling, tearing down costly drap-
cry, and dashing to pieces mirrors and
vases. Then they rushed like so many
sayages about the grounds, destroying the
sbrubbery and breaking down trellises and
arbors. The ornamental fences were torn
away, piecemeal, to make fires for the sesl-
tinels mt night. In the midst of this riot
and destruction Mrs. Blennerhassett re-
turned; but the embarrassments of her sit
uation and her anxiety for the success of
the expedition were such that she sur
veyed the ruins of her abode with indiffer-
ence.
The authorities refused to allow her to
have boat; but the young men who had
been tried and released offered her an
apartment in their boat, which she accept
ed. In few hours she was ready, and,
Dec. II, left her island in possession of
the lawless militia who had laid it desc
late
In those days news travelled slowly The
courier and post-chaise were the swiftest
winged messengers known, and while the
militia were making the attack on the up
per Ohio, Burr was still at Nashville.