Daily American organ., 1856-11-06
The Story OF the Russian Crown Ola.
mOnds.

1 .
The crown treasury of the Czars at Moscow
contains precious stones of considerable amount.
The two most considerable are diamonds. one
the size Of pigeons egg, rose cut. The Russians
have given il the name Of the OrloA. The other
has the form of an irregular prism, and ia of the
size, and almost the length, Of little finger. 1t
bears the name OF the Shah, and it's history is as
follows:
II formerly belonged to the Sophis and was one
OF the two enormous diamonds which ornamented
the throne of the Nadir Shah and which were dssig-
mated by the names of Sun of the Seas" and
Moon Of the Mountains" When Nadir was as.
sassinated, his treasures were pillaged, and his
precious stones divided among few soldiers, who
| carefully concealed them. An Armenian, named
Shafras resided at that period a Bassora, with
bis two brothers. One day an afghan came to
him and offered for sale the large diamond, the
Moon OF the Mountains" as well as an emerald,
a ruby OF fabulous size, a sapphire of the finest
water, called by the Persians the Eye of Allah.
for the whole of which he asked such moderate
sum that Shafras suspected they had not been
honestly come by, and told him to call again. as
he had not the money in the house. The afghan.
fearing Shafras was going to act with treachery
towards him, left the place, and could not again
be found, although the three brothers made every
search for him.
the man at Bagdad, wko told him he had just sold
all his precious stones for $4,000 piastres and
pair Of horses. Shafras had the residence of the
purchaser, who was jew pointed out to him.
and he went to bin and offered him double the
price be bad paid for them, but he was refused
The three brothers then agreed to murder the
Jew aud rob him of his purchase which they did
and on the following day poisoned the afghan
and threw both bodies into the river. dispute
soon after arose between the brothers as to the
division OF the spoils, which terminated In Shat.
ras getting rid of his two brothers by poison, after
which he fed to Constantnople, and thence to
Holland, where he made known the riches he DOS.
sessed, and offered them for sale at the different
Courts of Europe. Catherine III proposed to buy
the Moon of the Mountains, only.
Shafras was requested to come to Russia, and
he was introduced to the court jeweler. The terms
demanded by Shafras were letters of nobility,
life annuity of 900 rubles and 1000 900 rubles
payable by equal instalments once in ten yeara
Count Bapin, who was then minister, delayed the
settlement OF the bargain as long as possible, and
IN the meantime had the Armenian led into such
extravagances that he fell into dsbt, and when the
| minister found that he had no means Of paying
what he owed, he abruptly broke off the negotia-
| ton. Shaffas according to the laws Of the couu,
try could not leave until his debts should be paid
and the court jcwelcr prepared to take advantage
Of his cmbarrsssments and Intended that the dia-
ue Sbafras, however, discovered the trap that had
been set for him. and dsposiDg Of some Of the ess
valuable stones among his conntrymen, paid bis
debts, and disappeared. Agents were sent after
him, who had orders to assassnate him and rob
him, but he escaped them.
Ten years after, while he was at Astrachan, re.
newed oilers were made to him, but he refused 10
enter into any negotiation unless the bargain
should be settled at Smyrna Catbarine accepted
and became possessor of the diamond for letters
| OF nobility seven hundred thousand roubIes and
ten thousand paper roubles, making together about
| two and half millions of francs. shafras not
being able to return to his country, where he
would be obliged TO give an account Of two honi-
cidcs and two fratrieidcs, fixed himself at Astra-
chan, where he married a countrywoman of his,
and had seven daughters One of his sons-inkw
poisoned him for the sake sof his property. The
immense fortune which the murderer had acquired
from ten to twelve millions) divided and soon
spent. His successors and several OF the grand.
children of Shafras are now living at Astrachan in
abject misery.
An Exciting Race for Life In California.
The Shasta Republican states that short time
since one of the stages which run upon the Yreka
road left the Pitt River Station on its way from
Yreka to the valley. The coach bad no psssen-
gers, and was driven by Jared Robbins, familiarIy
known among the divers as Curley Jerry" AZ
ter leaving the Pitt River Station, the road passes
over stretch of thirty miles through wilderness
in which no water can be obtained, and without
white inbabtant. A great portion Of this distance
is through timber or chappareL After proceeding
several miles over this lonely and desolste road,
shower Of arrows was suddenly poured In upon
Jerry from the thick bushes which lined each side
Of the road. Wounded in several places and with