The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1882-07-20
ADIAMONDS HEADLIGHT.
An African Slave who Discovered tll,
Biggest Diamond in the World.

An African Slave who Discovered the.
Biggest Diamond in the World.
"A gentleman recent from the African
diamond fields relates the following big
story to the ST. Louis Republ ican 4: While
abroad / was fortunate enough to see the
largest and most valuable diamond inthe
world. & was my good fortune to learn
of a very rich one in the hands of a
slave, who made his escape from the
coast, and had been away from the mines
about a year, but it was not then known
that be. had gotten away with anything
valuable In the shape of a stone. He
had many difficulties before him in try
ing to gain passage. Finally he got on
board a boat which CHANGED in the Gam
beza river. Twice he was confined in
servitude until by two escapes he final
II made a safe arrival IN London. There.
he inadvertently became acquainted
with an African woman nan who had been
brought from slavery to London,
servant in the family whose guest
j was. This woman could speak his
tongue, and after becoming better ac-
quainted with her. he divulged his Sc
cret, telling her that he had been a slave,
in seryitude for years in the diamond
fields Of Africa; that by providential es-
cape he had made his way to London.
He told her that he wanted to obtain in
formation in reference to getting his wife.
and children to London. The black Wo-
man, in her Ignorance, was unable to
tell him what to do, and she applied to
me, knowing that s had a knowledge Of
al ua. fiYoos In i "A fforgS boo
the story I advised them to apply to the
British Consul, in the Provincial building.
l went with them, and upon explaining
to the consul J the question arose, among
other questions, what recompense he
could make the English government for
going to such expense as he had asked.
After demurring good while on account
Of the great fear he felt about letting the
officials know he had such a treasure, he
finally admitted that he. had q
rich. stone. Upon further in
quiry and delay he requested the
gentleman to come and make an exam
one Of such ignorance, but finally
brought down a large, stale loaf of bread
and laid it on the table for examination.
Before the loaf was cut open he negoti-
ated for the safe arrival of his familyand
protection against his former masters,
provided the value of the diamond was
such as represented. having rendered
him advice, was given an invitation to be
present IN the provincial building when
examination was made. I was not pre-
pared, however, to believe that I would
have the satisfaction Of seeing what is
considered as the largest and most valu-
able diamond in the world. When the
k,af was cut open few believed thata dia-
mr. yxrr1 nn 1n1
den experts were called, and they were
10th to believe that the stone was as large
and valuable as the owner had repre-
sented. 1t was the size of an ordinary
orange when revealed, and thereupon It
was at once claimed by some present
that it was Of very low grade
and Of inferior quality. On a
! more thorough examination and
partial cutting, it was found to represent
a weight Of over six hundred carats. It
was subsequently shown to a number of
the largest diamond dealers in London.
Its history was traced as accurately as
| possible; the slave was believed; money
was put up, and his wife and children
were at once sent for. The slave was
| treated like lord Of the manor, and the
last time that I saw him he was riding in
a fine carriage and enjoying all the com
forts and luxuries Of London It was a
| queer sight to see him as black as tar
| and regular Ethiopian.
The diamond was purchased by a
syndicate of capitalists, and the very best
experts pronounced it a very fine speci-
men. It's owners hold it at e3,5O0, 900;
| and have refused e3,OOO,OOO for the stone.
Shortly after it passed from the hands OF
the black man to its present owners. It
was examined and admired by the queen
of England and the Prince Of Wales"