New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-08
LEGENDS OFTHEDEMIDOFFS.
4 FAMILY THAT HAS LONG BEEN FAMOUS.

A FAMILY THAT HAS LONG BEEN FAMOUS
sToRIrs OF TIKI FOUNDER OF THE FAMILY INFLu'
| TNCE AND wEALTH--THE LEGEND OF IHE Pts
Toll AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. WEALTH AM
THE WAY IT HAS BEEN EMPLoYED-sAN DO
NATO And PRAToLlNO.
| To the Edttor Of The TRIBUNE.
SIR: Aside from many noble qualities, like generos-
ity and gallantry the Demidofs have, from genera
ton TO generation been distinguished by their ecu
liar mania for being talked about and for attracting
public attention in every way. This was indeed the
object in life Of several members of the family IL Is
only two months since the inexpcable sale AT san
Donate created sensation among all the art anna
teurs and collectors of Europe. 1t is scarcely two
weeks since the cable brought the report that nearly
the whole amount derived from the sale was lost by
Prince Paul Demidofl in a gamo Of baccarat in one
single niQht. The curiosity naturally aroused by
these events has crossed the and as much IN
teress felt in America as 10 Europe respecting this
ancient race.
There are two books whichs speak at some length OF
the DemidofR family, ono is The Secret Anecdotes
of the Court of Russia" by an anonymous Russian
writer; the other is entitled odd Russian Types
| Court FoosD and was written by tho tHcrdteur
| Choubnsk Tho two books do not agree in many
points especially regards the founder of the fam
| lly According TO the former he was man simply
called Demid6; according to the latter
and probably on better grounds, his
name is given as Nkita Demidovitch. Both these
| authors however agree in making lula the capital
| of the Government of that name situated between
| Moscow, Kaluga. Tamboff Orel and Riazan. the
original seat Of the family. The author of the " Sc
cret Anecdotes" gives the following version OF the
origin of the fortunes Of the Demidofs: At the time
when Russia was preparing for her war against
Charles XIIth of Sweden, Peter the Great was in
person experimenting the transportation Of war
material from the interior 10 the frontiers Arry-
ing at lula he perceived that one Of his pistos-a
beautiful piece Of English worlmanship-was out
of order As the manufacture Of firearms was then
in its infancy IN Russia. Peter other remedy
for the accident than sending it back to England
for repairs The great sovereign was Respondent
and one Of his aides de camp, witnessing his annoy
ance brought to the notice of the Car gunsmith
of the city. Demid6 by name, who promised TO re-
store the weapon to its previous state of perfection
Peter hestated a moment fearing that the gun
smith presumed too much on his skill, hut finally
consented 70 cntrust him with the pistol threaten
ing at the same time 20 put him to death should he
fail in what he was about TO undertake. few
days later DcmidG presented himself with the pls-
tol. The Gar, who was himself skilul artisan,
struck at with the excellence Of the work.
and ordered that the workman should be royalty
rewarded. But Demid6 had a still greater surprise
in store for him. When he perceived that the En-
peror was satisfied with his labor he drew from be-
meath his coat the original pistol in exactly the
same condition as when it had been handed to him.
The weapon which the Gar was then holding in his
hand was an imitation so admirable as to exceed
belief From that moment Peter considered the
acquisition of this humble Gunsmith as an inyalu-
able conquest. Demid6 became the EmpcroTs
friend; he started q cannon foundry which con-
trbuted in no mean degree to the victory of the
Russians over the Swedes who were unprOvided
with artillery. During the whole period of the war
between Russia and Sweden, that is, for twenty
years, Demid6 furnished Peter with an immense
number of muskets at the reasonable rate Of one
golden roube and eighty copecks apiece that is TO
say about 81, thereby making for the State a saw
ing of thirteen gold roubes on every musket sup
alied to the army.
Itwould appear from the legend that the gunsmith
had travelled extensively, and possessed a good
knowledge Of mineralOgy, for no promised to the
Gar that he would discover for him silver and gold
mines. In 1925 in fact. Demid6 discovered silver
mine at BOLIVIAN in Siberiaj this the of
the riches of the family. He next discovered the
mines of Nevianoki. NJnetagniski and others, by
which his already remarkable wealth was enOr-
mously multiplied. The gold and silver mines
Peter in few years took into his own possession
the copper and iron mines he left to the dscOyerer.
1t may be we'll doubted whether Peters Choice was
n wise one; it is certain that Demde we'll salts
fed with it. Demd6 and his decenda is, as the
story goes, recorded the greatest benefactOrs
of Siberia. They spread in those remote provinces
science industry and civilization and their name
is never pronounced there without blessing.
HMBERD, NOT A PISTOL.
According to Choubnsk the story of the pistol is
a myth. such as is found in the old sagas The
hero of the new legend is not Demd6, but his son,
Nkta Proceeding TO Woronegia, tho Car Peter
stopped at lula and requested the gunsmths of the
city to manufacture for him three hundred halberts
according to a certain pattern which he had with
him. Only one man answered the Cars appeal
Nkta Demdovitch Demidotf; he was tall
strongly built young man. Staring at him. Peter
exclaimed. "What handsome grenadier he will
make for the Predbrajnski regiment The gunsmith
took the exclamation for peremptory order; he
threw himself at the feet of his sovereign imporng
to be released from military for the sake of
his old mother. of whom he was the only support.
IL will spare you," replied Peter. lauRhngly, If
You Will manufacture three hundred halberts SINH
lar 70 this PATTERN Demidof promised and on the
appointed day delivered the weapons. The Car
paid him three times the price agreed upon pre-
sented HIM with Dutch cloth sufficient TO make
complete suit and a silver spoon. promising further
more to pay him visit when he should again pass
by lula. Peter kept his promise. On his visit to
NIkitas workshop, he found him busy in making
gun according to "A new pattern. Peter. awakening
to the importance Of encouraging such branch of
manufacture in his empire, gave him moral
as well material support. In tins
way Nlkita Demidoff started foundry on larger
scale than had been seen in Russia. He next dis
covered the mines Of BOLIVIAN and opened at Tu-
bza ironworks with machinery moved by water
power lie obtained large concessions in Siberia
where he opened factories of all kinds. He colon
lied the District of Perm. then almost desert In