The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-01
TINE DUCHESS or GATNsRDROUGHs
PICTURE.
1t Ia Recovered After n Gallant Chase ana
n Desperate Fight.

n UGepFEAAS
Almost every eonnoisseur In painting Will re-
member the theft OF the celebrated picture OF
the Duchess Of GaInsberough from an art OK
bIbition In London. This was some years ago.
and IT was n long time before the English public
recovered from the shock In fact almost every
amateur Withdrew his pictures from exhibition
on account of this theft. and even now many OF
the greatest artists keep their pictures guarded
night and day on account OF it. SO great was
this estimation placed upon this great work OF
TINT master fReynoidsJ art that even the
Queens offer Of G5oOO for 1t was refused.
The story of the theft bag already been
told. Aome stroller In the gallery for
u considerable time stood before It. and
ss the guests one after another lsft no
still haunted the place. Watching his op-
portunty, with keen kntfe no cut the canvas
from the frame. and only on the opsntng 81 the
exhibition the next day was the theft Of this
work OF art discovered. The datnsborOuRh
picture. through tho instrumentality q the
camera has already become familiar to almost
everybody and 1t was only work Of time TO
find it's resting place
About we.k ago M Italian aged apparently
| sixty years arrived ut this port FRYING under
his arm n small parcel UeaFuring SONS six
feet In length and In diameter some eight
inches. He had asWarthy eountenanee. heavy
mougtaebe and from his suspicious glances ut
bys,anders attracted the attention Of those vigil
liant specials. Aids Pscofa McDonogh. Hen
messy and Caster.
LII WIS moro lIolH lnb io.hs VI h'o h,"h 'i'hu
from anything elss that these officers tracked
their prey. There was something about him
that appeared to give evidence of something
CROOKED" and 20 they determined 10 watch
him. Leaving the steamer the man started down
ut. Louis street. and on nearing Royal. turned
and saw that some one WAS pursuing. Appre
enInn tho fact that he was chased. he threw OIL
all Disguise and ran up Royal street and turned
into CustomhOuss street thence Into Exchange
blew his whistle, and sgnd OF ths police re-
sponded at once. Many buildings were searched
but nothing found and oil hopes OF capturing
tho supposed smuggler were given up Just
as the purity were moving Off Special Pscora
noticed Il head protruding over tho roof Of ono
of the furniture stores on Royal street. and
d shed up o pair Of stairs. breaking In two
doors.
Quite crowd gathered on Exchange Alley.
awaiting % glimpse of the supposed smuggler.
but the walt WIS not long. for n cheer from Bar
ney McDonogh and Peoora told that the race
was up.
On the roof Of the Bismarck saloon. stnndin K
on tho ridge. was the Italian. stlletto In hand,
and under bis arm tbs roll with which he had
], IT the vessel. display Of pistols soon brought
him to terms and he surrendered. Judge Of the
surprise OF the officers when they examined
the pnckaRe at the First Precinct Station to find
that they had recovered the famous canvas OF
the Duchess Of Gainsborough. and. too. without
q blemish on Its surface.
The man give his name ns Francisco AlvIlf
M0ncHsO. and was locked no for the night. We
cor graduate the officers In securing such q
prize.
Chief Boylnn will exhibit the painting to a
few friends aud Judges OF fine art TO- d ny ut
noon. after which 1t will be shipped TO Eng
land.