Liberty Tribune newspaper 1880-01-09

              THE MYSTERY OF THEODOSIA ALSTON'S FATE SOLVED AT LAST of oC the bo Chicago Inter BATTLE CREEK MII Doe Doc 28 Tho The reader ot ci biographies will wil remember that Theodosia the only daughter of Aaron Burr was wee never nover hoard heard ot of after her bar voyage to visit her bor father in il New Now York Y olk and that hitherto all al speculations iu as lS lo to her bor death and bavo boon bee fruitless James Jams Par Parton ton in his hi Intent revised life ii of Burr mentions that no tidings wore were over ever received of the vessel upon iori which she sailed She was wa the tho wile wife ol of Joseph Josph Ale Ala Alaton Aleton ton then Governor of South Carolina Alter After the death of her only uly son who she lau lan languished and bur hor health lat last failed her br With a view of ot improving it and again seeing Hoeing her br beloved luther hither HIU she sh sot dot sail Hail trout Charleston in the tho schooner schooler Patriot Doc Doe 30 ao 1812 on a voyage to Now New York Tho rho vessel was wu commanded by an al experienced captain and hud bad for fir nailing mastor an old prot noted notel for hit his skill and ana courage Tho Ibe vessel was wa a staunch ship hip and und noted lold for fast fat flail sailing in 2 and it was wa expected that they I would roach ro h their destination in about t S five fo days Timothy Groon Green a retired law law- lawyer lawr r yer of Now Jew York a friend of 01 Col Burr went by land to accompany her hr and the I news ew of their departure was wais communicated t. t ed od to Burr who was looking forward with groat great anticipation of joy to the tho visit of 01 his bis daughter after so many years year of 01 separation The Tb full ful timo limo for the arrival of the tho vessel was w. w passed and still sti it did not come Every Ery possible moans means was re rs resorted re- re resorted sorted to to obtain information but no tidings tiding wore over hoard beard of the tho vessel or orthe the tb passengers At last lat who when Burr came com cameto cameLa to La realize that bis his daughter was lost lout the tb blow nearly killed him bim Parton SIS says ty in inbi his hi bi history that ho he wrote to her hor husband Gov Alston Aiston that the tho world was a blank to him and ho be fort felt severed from the tho whole human buman taco raco The Tho generally ac accepted theory of 01 the sad occurrence at the tho time was that the vessel vossel was wrecked off of Cape Cap Hatteras and all al bad gone gono down While the Ocean Inter representative was at Cassopolis Mich recently and in conversation with wib the tb keeper of the tb coun cons county ty poor house while speaking of the tb oc occupants oc- oc occupants who were wro and bad been there he ho related to us DS the tb strange death bed con can confession of an old sailor who bad died did there and was buried in the cemetery attached to the poor The Tb sailors sailor's name was Benjamin F F. Burdick and aDd ho bo was a hard bard rough old salt By some somo naval accident he b. had bad lost one on leg Ig and arid could only hobble about as ns be he was very vry old and infirm He H. was the Arabian Nights Nights' entertainment to the poor unfortunate inmates with bis hi wonderful adventures and stories stori of 01 a sea sea- seafaring seafaring faring life lif Usually he be was sullen and morose sitting apart from the tb others for lor hours bours and apparently meditating Feeling that his bis end nd was wa near nar ho he one ono day called cald the tb wife of 01 the th Methodist minister Mrs Parks to his bis side bed and in the tb hearing baring of three other reliable witnesses gave the tb following DEATHBED DEATH CONFESSION He H. told her hr that be h. knew his end nd was near nar that he b. bad had but a short time to live lv and be he had bad a terrible secret crt which preyed so s. s much upon his bia mind that ho be felt ho b. must mut confess it before his bis death Ho then told her hr that he b. was the tb murderer of 01 Mrs Theodosia Burr Alton Alston When very vry young younghe he h. was on board a pirate ship and on the of January J 1813 1813 they came camo across the tho ship Patriot Chase Cba was immediately given en n the tho vessel captured and everything of value taken out and transferred to their vessel They Thy then compelled the tb captain crew and aDd every vry passenger on board to walk the tb plank into the tb sea a and all al per pr He Ho said there was wa one on lady on onboard onI I board who was wa beautiful appearing intel intel- intelligent intelligent and cultivated who gave her hr name Dam as Mrs Theodosia Alston Alaton Allon When her br turn came cam to walk the fatal plank she sh sheI I I asked for a few fw moments moments' time tim which was wa wasI I gruffly gruly granted her hr She then retired to I F her br berth and aDd changed her bor apparel ap appearing paring on deck dock in iu a few fw moments clad in pure pur white garments and with a Bible in her br hand band she b announced that she was I ready rady She appeared as calm and aDd com corn composed posed as if she was at home bom and not a tremor crept over her br frame or a pallor overspread her br features as she walked to to- towards toI I wards her br fate fat As she sh was taking the tb fatal steps she folded hot her hands bands over her hor bosom hosom and raised her br eyes to heaven havn She fell lel and sank without a murmur or sigh It I was wa my unhappy lot said the tb dying man maD to be b. delegated by my captain to pull the plank from beneath her hr I would I give my whole life ii to recall that one on act Hardened sinner that I 1 was then my myHA HA hAit hAArt art AAi thA hA no 0 0 r-n r innocent l woman but had 1 I refused death dath would have been ben my lot I shall hal never I forget the perfect confiding faith which her hr eyes ys expressed as a. she gazed up op into heaven havn when about to take the fatal step I Her Hr pale pal face fac has bas haunted me m. ever vr since and lean I can see s. s it now as a. plainly as could I I I on that terrible day day Before he b. died did the tb old crippled sailor repeated this same am confession to other in in- inmates inmates mates lutS of the tb house houe saying that he ho could not die until he h. had bad hd made mad this thi confession The Tb statement is regarded as reliable and furnisheS famishes the tb clew to a mystery which has ba ha baffled bald every vry attempt at solving for tor over sixty five sixty years There is therefore but hut little doubt that lamented ladys lady's bones bons are now at the tho bottom of 01 the ocean where they will wi rest ret until the tb day when all al the tb secrets shall be b. made mad known