Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04

80 on until nine had gone. and none came
back: when the chief himself found way to
deliver note, and returned with O reply un-
seen, in safety. They now had their revenge
Nine Of their best warriors had been killed
by, or through the orders of, Mr.. Strathmere.
To burn him out seemed to them their duty;
and they did it. The family remained in
Georgetown uptif the island was sold, when
they returned 90 England.
From Mr. Hartwoods diary" it was found,
"that several years before Mr.. Strathmore
came to this country his daughter Eileen was
engaged to Mr.. Savoy, the only son Of wealthy
London banker. But few weeks before the
marriage was to have taken place. Mr. Strath-
more became insane upon that one subject His
mania was that she should marry a member Of
the royal family or remain single. He would
not listen to reason, and his physicians advised
him to travel This he did, pleased with the
idea that he had broken OF the engagement
forever.
'The fire on the island, together with the less
OF his beautiful daughter, seemed TO have the
effect Of completely curing him; for In less
than year after his return home he advertised
in every country for Mr.. Savoy and his wife,
promising to do everything in his power to
make them happy If they would come back to
London and remain during his life They were
only too glad to accept his invitation, and after
their reunion happier family could not have
been found In all England"
w In 1892 he devised Analostan Island to
his son John, the item reading: II also give
and devise TO my said son John Mason and his
heirs forever. in like manner my island in Po-
tomack River opposite the mouth Of Rock Greek
which hold under patent from the Lord
Proprietor of Maryland by the name Of Bar
BADGES" In this connection it is quite evident
that the testator was a strong believer In pre-
paredness, for his win bears date of March 20.
17T3 10 years before his death.
It is really hard to imagine SO good a scholar
as George Mason making the misstatement that
he obtained this particular piece of property
"fr0m the Lord Proprietor of Maryland" when,
as before said. we have the evidence Of Mr..
Taggart to prove that such was not the case.
But fortunately, in addition to this, we have
the statement Of Miss Maud Burr Morris,
very careful researcher, who gives us the sue
cessive ownership of the property down to
william A. Bradley, who took title in 1851. The
Masons, however, it is said, had quit the island
long before this, due to the great swarms of
mosquitoes which infested the place in the
Summer season, and had moved back farther
into Fairfax County. Here is Miss Morris chain
Of title: 1.-The deed for this property described
it as aH that tract called Analostan Island,
lying In the Potomac River opposite George
town. and originally patented by Charles Lord
Baron of Baltimore to Randolph Burnett I'm
Hammersley to George Mason In 1777, and de-
vised by him to his son, John Mason, and con-
veyed by Richard Smith, trustee, to John Car
ter In 1912. John Marbury, executor Of John
Carter, conveyed to Bradley"
The Bradley here mentioned was the eleventh
Mayor Of Washington. who died August 20. 1867.
WITHIN the memory of many old residents
there were . number Of buildings at one
time on Analostan Island, including the man.
sion house Of John Mason, his outbuildings and
slave quarters. and about every convenience .
blue FLOODED virginian could wish for in ante
beliam days.
The owner was man of considerable stand
ing and prominence In the community. In 1893
he became nm incorporation of the old Bank of
Coiumlsia. at FIRST located ut the northeast cor
ner Of Twenty-ninth and M streets, and II
years later the north side of M street be-
tween wisconsin avenue and Thirty-fourth
street. Later he served as president of this
bank, succeeding Benjamin Stoddert when the
latter became the first Secretary of the Navy
I'm the cabinet of President John Adams.
In Ieo2 President jefferson appointed him
brigadier general of the militia Of the District