Retyped for Tri-Counties by Anne PRATT Slatin |
CHAPTER VI.
DUPETITHOUAR, FOUNDER OF DUSHORE.
ONE of the most distinguished and popular residents of
Asylum had the long name of Aristide Aubert Dupetithouar. He had been a post
captain in the French navy and was usually called "The Admiral." He could speak
English better than many of the others, was of a frank, generous disposition,
friendly and sociable with Americans, was the one liked the best, and longest
remembered by them. He was born in 1760, educated at the military school in
Paris. He was in the French naval service in the war with Great Britain and had
lost one of his arms in battle and had been retired with a pension. Later he
became greatly interested in the fate of the missing navigator, Laperouse, and
in company with his brother fitted out an expedition on their own account to
search for the missing ship. He sailed in September 1792, but a fatal malady
broke out among his crew, and one-third of them died. He then put into the
nearest harbor, which was on the island Ferdinand de Noronha, belonging to
Portugal where his vessel was seized, and he was sent a prisoner to Lisbon. The
French Revolution had broken out; as he belonged to the aristocracy; had served
under King Louis XVI, who had been dethroned; France would not be a safe abode
for him, and as soon as released at Lisbon, came to America. Landing at
Philadelphia he became acquainted with de Noailles, who persuaded him to go to
Asylum, where he arrived October 29th, and as he was almost
penniless, he immediately asked for work, of which there was a pressing need in
building houses for the exiles in Philadelphia who wanted to come in the spring,
in time to make garden. He was given work by Boulogne, the Superintendent, and
did as much with his one arm as the other laborers with two. His conduct was a
fine example of what a brave man, with a stout heart, can endure with
cheerfulness when overwhelmed with misfortunes. He had earned enough in helping
to build houses to pay for 400 acres of wild land where the village of Dushore
now stands, and where he commenced a clearing, wielding the axe with one hand.
It was at the request of Charles F. Welles of Wyalusing, that the village was
named Dushore in honor of the brave Frenchman who had made the first clearing.
The story of his giving away his shirt to a man who claimed to have been robbed
of all his clothing by the Indians, is no doubt pure fiction. When the Duke de
Rochefoucauld and M. Blaçon visited Asylum and Niagara Falls in 1795
Dupetithouar accompanied them. The two visitors went on horse-back and he on
foot, keeping up to the horses during the whole journey. He declared he had
rather walk than ride, but probably he was not able to buy a horse. When order
was restored in France he was among the first to return to his native country
where he was recommended by the foremost naval officers (who knew his former
service) for a commission in the navy. On presenting himself to the Minister of
Marine, (or secretary of the navy), was told that he could go on the retired
list, as he had lost an arm in service. His reply was: "I have given one hand
for France, and here is the other for her service." He was given a commission
and placed in command of the Letonant, an old vessel of 80 guns, which was one
of the fleet that conveyed Bonaparte's army to Egypt, and which a short time
after was annihilated by the British fleet under Nelson at the battle of Nile.
Dupetithoaur managed his ship with great skill, but was killed just at the close
of the battle August 1, 1798.