Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-31
MADAME Dc PONTALBA.
An Extraordinary Career I'm Tw'
Hemisphere. lrs f.-l

AtnAA6 tAGAts- ii.H
The Baroness de Pontalba, or Ma
dame de Pontalba, as she was general
ly called In New Orleans, who recently
died in Paris, was woman who had a
remarkable history. Her father, Don
Andres Almonaster, was an Andalu-
sian who emigrated to Louisiana when
it was Spanish colony, where he ae-
cumulated a great estate, and at the
time of his death In 1898 he was by far
the richest man In the colony. His
only daughter, Michaela, as soon as
she had completed her education,
was married to the son of
an ex-oficer Of the Spanish army,
who was also very wealthy, of the name
of Pontalba. The young couple estab-
ished themselves In Paris, whittier
the elder Pontalha shortly followed
them, taking up his residence in a
chateau near the city. After some
years dissensions arose between the
husband and wife which led to sepa-
ration, Madame de Pontalba retain
ing the custody of their children under
the condition that she should consult
their grandfather IN the direction of
their education. The old gentleman
was extremely mortified and indignant
at the separation OF his daughter-in-law
from her husband, attributing the
blame entirely to the wife, and
a startling tragedy was the result of
his chagrin. On one occasion Madame
Pontalba, visiting the old Baron at his
chateau to consult with him about the
welfare of her children, was invited
into his cabinet. Very soon an angry
alteration was indistinctly heard by
the servants, followed by two reports of
pistol and the wild shrek of a
woman's voice. The door was burst
open and the bodies of the two were
found lying on the floor bleeding pro-
fusely. The Baron was dead; Madame
de Pontalba hadreceiv afearful wound
in her breast, the ball having passed
through her hand, severing one of her
fingers in It's course. What passed be-
tween Madame and the Baron previous
to the shooting was never revealed.
The lady after long illness recovered
and resumed her place In society, pur-
chasing square In the most aristo-
cratic faubourg IN Paris, where she
erected one of the most costly and
magnificent mansions to be found in
that city, entertaining with great lib
crafty. Her daughter married Lou
isiana gentleman, and when the revOlu-
ton of lS4S occurred, decming it pru-
dent to leave Paris, Mime. de Pontalba
visited New Orleans, where she
remained until Louis Napoleon
came into power, when she re-
turned to the gay capital In which
she spent the most of her life. She was
exceedingly shreE and capable in bu-
siness affairs, and at the time of her
death, in addition to vast property In
France, was the proprietor of a larger
area Of ground in New Orleans than
any other single individual. The Pic
dyltHe says that she had two sets of po-
litical opinions, one for Europe and
the other for America. In France she
was decided Legiimist; In New Or
leans she was Democrat of the Jack
son school. The NelU Orleans Times
says that the ascetic life led by the
famous millionaire John MeDonogh
was the result of his rejection
by Mile Almonaster, with whom
he was desperately in love In
his younger days. He was then a gay
and dashing young man, profuse IN
his expenditures of money. To his
proposal of marriage it is said the an
swer was returnrd by the family of the
young lady that he was not rich enough
to marry the heiress of Don Andres
Almonaster. Then, in his bitter anger,
MeDonough vowed that he would live
and work until he was richer than all
the Almonasters and Pontalbas put to-
gether. From that hour the mans ma
ture and habits changed. He began
his career Of money getting, in which
he eventually became absorbed and
was so successful The story of his
solitary, miserly life, his death, the be-
quest of his vast possessions to eharita-
bic purposes, and the litigation which
followed, has been often told.