Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1882-06-16
the SALE OF TINE JUMEL ESTATE.
Negotiation for it's Purchase by
Louis Napoleon In the Days of
Tweed.
New York SUM-

The Jumel estate is to be sold at auc
ton. OF the many unwritten historical
incidents clustering around this estate
none are more interesting than one
which involved the personal fortunes OF
the Emperor Napoleon III. 1t occurred
| Just before the outbreak of the Franco
Prussian war in 1870. Napoleon S
throne was beginning to tremble. The
downfall of Macmillan, the assassina-
ton of Victor Noir, the fraudulent
plebiscite, the agitation caused by
FloureIs and Rochefort, and similar
sinister shadows had alarmed the EN-
peror. His friends urged him to invest
a portion of his imperial stealings where
they might prove of value when misfor-
tune came. Spurred by their importuni-
ties, the Emperor sought desirable
permanent investment. A MIR. Edger-
ton, New York merchant, long a resi-
dent of Paris, got an inkling of what
was desired, and mentioned it to the
late Richard Schel. Mr.. Schell urged
the purchase of the Jumel es-
tlte. Louis Philippe had bought con-
siderable property in New York just be-
fore the revolution of lS4S His agent
here was Mr.. La Fargo, who bought
for the King the valuable property after
ward known as the La Fargo Hotel.
This hotel was subsequently destroyed
by fire. The space is now occupied by
the Grand Central Hotel, made re-
markable by the assassination of Colonel
James Fiske, Jr.
The Hon. Richard Schell recalled this
purchase to the Emperor's friends, and
his suggestion was laid before the Ems
peror. This was in 1870, not long after
the burial of Victor Noir. Mr.. Sehell
was invited to the Tuileries, where he
held several conferences with Louis
Verhuel. The title to the Jumel prop
erty had finally been settled after years
of litigation. With characteristic
shrewdness Uncle Richard formed q
syndicate of American spectators for
its purchase. a few of the retainers
of the Emperor were admitted into the
arcanum, and plausible scheme
was unfolded to his Imperial Majesty.
The plan was to establish safe retreat
on Manhattan Islands for Bonapartists
in distress. From such retreat the for
tunes of the family could be governed
by an imperial head without the inter
ference of European powers and of the
factions in power in France. As unnat
uralized foreigners could not hold prop
erty here, the Emperor was to designate
an agent, who was to have sole control.
The price to be paid was 81, 800, 900.
More than half of this sum would have
been clear profit to the syndicate The
plan was to create miniature Paris on
Washington Heights. A large and lux
urious private hotel was to be erected,
and apartment houses, villas, chapels, a
market shops, and other buildings were
to attract the admiration of the Ameri-
cans. Contiguous land was to be pur-
chased, and it was thought that the for
tunes of those interested would be largely
enhanced by the rapid rise of real es-
tate. The Tweed Ring, with an eye to
future benefits, promised their co-opera-
ton.
Napoleon was hot-footed to buy, and
everything looked lovely when the
Franco Prussian war broke out. The
syndicate were on the point of success
when the French recoiled before the adj
vance of Steinmitz at Saar-Louis. a
brief interval elapsed, and then the Ger
man army swept over the Rhine like a
forest fire, and the cannon at Wissem-
bourg sounded the beginning of the end
Bazaine was bottled in Metz, and the
loss of the battle of Gravelotte was sup
plemented by the decisive rout at Sedan.
The Emperor had taken the field in
person without signing the papers pre-
scented by the syndicate. Uncle Rich
ard, however, did not despair of success
until the failure of the attempt to re-
habilitate imperialism at Chiselhurst.
He had taken French leave of Paris
some time before this. Now, however,
he shook the French dust of France
from the French heels of his French
CATERS, and took French leave of French
imperialism. The great speculation had
failed