Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-25
WADE mAMPrON's DIAnONDs
snl. ferestIng Story OF the zap
ture Oisfhe Jewels In
Knoxville.

About the year 1867 DR.. S. H.Smith,
Consul, resident at Mexico, city, and
Rev. James A. Lyons, at present
member Of the Holston Conference,
NJ. L. Church, South, were engaged
in the iewelry business in the corner
room under the Lamar House, now
occupied by Isaac Whites barber
shop. :.
One day a rather rough looking
mountaineer, dressed in butternut
pantaloons and hunting shirt, entered
the door and sauntered around the
store elbowing the showcase and be-
having Just Ike Re was lost among
the glittsrings of gold, silver aud
bronze.
After some time, DR.. Smith APP
preached him and asked if there was
anything he could do for him.
Yes the stranger replied, draw
ing an old fashioned bulls eye silver
case watch from the folds Of his hunt
ing shirt; what will you give me for
this watch"
well, how much would you be
willing to take?" the doctor asked.
an take So"
That's a bargain, replied the doc
tor, and, taking the watch, opened the
case and read, Presented to General
Wade Hampton BY 49,,
1903"
After pocketing the ten dollar bill,
the stranger drew from his pocket a
heavy gold breast pin with magnih'
cent diamond sparkling in the center,
and offered it for s.. Dr.Smith prompt
ly paid him fer it, and was surprised
to see him bring forth an extra heavy
gold bracelet bearing an elegant gem
Of az unusual size, set in a cluster Of
rose leaves. This be offered for $40,
which was promptly taken up.
He then offered solitaire fpger
ring, diamond ear rings and other
diamonds Of great value, all Of which
found a ready purchaser in the person
Of DR.. Smith. As the stranger finished
his trading and was preparing to leave
satisfied with his great bargains, as he
thought, Mr.. Lyons and a policeman
who had watched the transactions
through the window, closed the door
aud asked the jewel laden stranger to
give an account Of himself
lie was perfectly dumblounded at
being confronted BY policeman, and
proceeded to tell a disconnected, ram
bling story Of how he came in possess
sion Of the jewels, which didn't exaet>
ly suit the pTeserver Of the peace, who
began 70 realize that be had struck a
BONANZA, 50 10 speak, and hurried the
poor fellow of to jail to await further
developments.
Smith 4 Lyons at once wrote Gen.
Wade hampton. who had just become
famous as soldier in the rebellion,
asking him to reply b. telegraph if the
ieWelry belonged to him, and describ-
lng il.
lie replied 10 due time in the at
zrmatiTe, and requested to hold the
prisonsr and the jsEelry until further
5r3srE t-uzIim.
Il tbs Meantime Col. james C. Lut-
ir1ll. thai Mayor Of the city took
,hE-Es q tie jsEslry and held il until
{ vAs called fog b an agent Of Gen.
Na5e Hampton, who carried the
roper credentials, signed by Gen.
Hampton himself
The az Ut stated 70 the authorities
hat Al the breaking out Of the war
Wade Hampton had placed the Jewels
I ; box together With some plate, and
lad buried them IN . secluded spot On
he side Of the mountain near Green
nile. south Carolina, for safe keeping
through the r4yagss OF the impending
var, and that On returning from the
held, Hampton found the box Of yalu-
ables missing from the supposed place
Of security and presumed that they
had been found probably By Northern
soldiers who would never think Of
returning even such valuable family
treasures.
After being confined in Jail several
days the prisoner had become fully
quieted and composed and stated that
while hunting in the mountains he
saw the corner Of a box sticking out
Of the ground on the side Of a noun
tain which contained jewelry aud what
he supposed to be lot Of pewter
plates, which he and his companions
melted and made bullion of.
The strangers story and thst Of the
agents were so similar in every re.
spect that the authorities decided to
discharge their prisoner. On taking
him from the Jail, which then stood
where Col. j. {. Meetings. residence
now stands, he stood for several min.
utes as if taking bearings and then
catching glimpse Of the Ohilhowee
mountains, TO the South ne started in
a dead run to the river, plunged in
and swan to the other side, disappear.
ing among the hills Of South Carolina
and has never been heard Of since.
The agent returned to South Caro-
lima with the Hampton jewels, which
made glad the heart Of the war horse
Of the Carolinas."
The watch was a present to Wade's
father, General Wade Hampton of
revolutionary fame, and was Of inesti.
mable value as an heir loom,
The gem in the bracelet had cost in
London over $1,000, and was gift 10
his mother from her husband. The
other diamonds we're worth altogether
$1,000, and belonged TO his mother
The poor ignorant heather thought he
was doing well when he received SI5
Tor the $1,000 worth of goods, and
Wade Hampton knew he was doing
exceedingly well when he got them
back for the sum Of two or three hun
bred dollars, although it is said that
be made his joys felt" in a much
larger sum than that.