The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-07-09
A DIAMOND HEADLIGHT

A gentleman recently from the
African diamond fields relates the
following big story to the 81. LOUIS
Republican: "While abroad / was
fortunate enough to see the largest
and most valuable diamond IN the
world. It was my good fortune 70
learn of very rich one in the hands
of slave, who made his escape from
the coast, and had been away rom
the mines about a year, but 1t was
not then known that he had gotten
away with anything very vslusole
in the shape OF a stone. DE roameo
around for q period of eighteen
months through every viclssitude. de
had many difficultins before him ID
trying to gain passage. Finally be
got on board beat which CHANGED IN
thesGsmbeza river. Twice be was
confined in servitude, until by two
escapes be frally made a safe ar
rival in London. There he mad
vertantly became acquainted With
an African WON n who had been
brought from slavery to London, ana
was then free. She was q servant 10
the family whose guest l was. This
woman could speak his tongue, and
after becoming better acquainted
with her be divulged bis secret, tel
ling her that be had been slave, IN
servitude for years in the diamond
fields of Africa; that by providential
escape he had made his way to Lon
don. He told her that he wanted to
obtain information In reference to
getting his wife and children TO
London. The black woman, in her
ignorance, was unable TO tell him
what to do, and she applied to me,
knowing that l had knowledge OF
slave times in America After hear
ing 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, the
question arose, among other questions,
what recompense be could make the
English government for going to
such expense as he hal asked. After
demurring a good while, on account
OF the great fear he felt about letting
the of Gals know he had such a
treasure, be finally admitted that be
had a rich stone. Upon further in
quiry and delay he requested the
gentlemen to come and make an
examination. He exercised great
caution for 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 negotiated for
the safe arrival of his family and pro-
lection 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 ihe pro-
vincial building when the examin-
alton was made. ! was not prepared,
however, to believe that / would have
the satisfaction OF seeing what is
Iconsidered as the largest and most
valuable diamond in the world. When
the loaf was cut open few believed
that diamond would be revealed.
| Hatton Garden experts were called,
and they were 10th to believe that the
lstone was es large and valuable as
the owner had represented. Il was
the size of an ordinary orange when
revealed; and thereupon 1t was sat
once claimed by some present that
it was OF q very low grade and OF To-
ferior quality. On q more thorough
examination and partial cutting it
was found to represent q weight Of
over six hundred cRrsts. It was sub
sequently shown to q number of the
largest diamond-dealers in London,
Its history was traced a. accurately
az possible; the slave was believed.
money was put up, and his vile and
children vera at once sent for. The
slave was treated like a lord of the
manor, and the last time that I ssV
him he was riding in a fine carriage
and enjoying all the comforts and
luxuries of London. 1t was q queer
sight to see him-ss black SIS tar and
g regular Ethiopian.
The diamond was purchased b
q syndicate OF capitalists, and the YER
best experts pronounced it q very fin
specimen. Its owners hold it a
| s3. 500, 600; and have refused s30O.
IOOO, 900 for the stone. Shortly after
it passed from the hands of the black
man to its present owners. it was ex.
amined and admired by the queen OF
England and the prince Of Wales"