Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-11-28
GENERAL LAFAYETET,S WATCH.
Tnc estn OF Washington Lost Forty
Esgnt Years nnd discovered In
louisville Junk shop.

The CIT Of Washington Lost Fortv-
Eight Years nnil Discovcrcd In q
louisville Junk shop.
From tho New Orleans News.
1t is doubtless within tho recollection
OF many in this city that in the year
1924 General Lafayette made tour OF
this country, attended by such an ova-
ton as offered, perhaps, the grandest
spectacle OF a nations tribute to q hero
the world has ever seen. During his
tour, while on q visit to some town in
the state OF Tennessee, the General was
mysteriously robbed of his watch. a
valuable souvenir, which had been
presented to him lin 1851 bv
General George Washington to
commemorate at once tho affec.
tionate relations which had long exist.
ed between them, and his gallant ser.
vices at tho siege of Yorktown, the
browning event in the struggle of indie.
Pcndence. Directly upon the robbery
becoming known, most strenuous ef.
forts were made for its recovery, but,
despite the fact that the Governor Of
Tennessee offered reward of one
thousand dollars for it's return, not the
slightest trace of it was thereafter OBJ
tanned, and General Lafayette was
eventually compelled to return to
France, resigned to the thought that
the precious gift of his dear friend was
lost to him forever.
lapse mems recollection of the cireum-
stance faded away. Lafayette died in
1854, and for space of forty eight
years the stolen watch bore an un-
known history. At the end of that
time, but . few days ago, gentleman
residing in this city, while visiting
Louisville, attended an auction sale ct q
Junk shop, where, strange to relate, he
found among the articles offered a
watch, which, upon examination, he
discovered to be the long-lost watch OF
Lafayette.
Suffice it to say that he eagerly pur-
chased 1t, and as quickly formed the
resolution to transmit it to the family
of Lafayette, now residing in Paris
pending such transmission, however,
tho gentleman has brought it to his
home, and has consented to it's cxhibi-
ton for few days at E. A. Tylcrs's
jewelry store, on Canal street.
The watch is open-faccd, of gold,
with double case, and may be re.
marked as of peculiar appearance,
being of only ordinary size, but nearly
as thick as it is wide. The outer case
bears upon its entire surface carved
figures, in bos relief representing the
| picture of Mars offering q crown to the
Goddess of Peace, who is surrounded
by her emblems, while over all appears
the stern implements of war, hung high
out of reach. On the inner case ap-
pears the yet clearly legible inscrip.
ton:
&c. Washington
To
Gilbert Matters dc Lafayette.
Lord Cornwallis's Capitnlation,
Yorktown,
Decb'r, II, $751;"
On the covering of the works is seen
the makers name-E. Halifax, London,
One con believe that the sight of this
relic, with it's host of historical recol.
lections clustering about it, is we'll
fitted to awaken host of reflections,
and carry ones imagination over the
bridge of nearly century, to the time
when the two dead and gone hero
friends stood side by side, carving out
their glorious names and fame, which
to day shine through the long vista of
years with lustre that can never fade.