The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-14
The 0rIoy Diamond.

|
| As frcquentallusions to this jewel (which
adorns the imperial sceptre Of Ruesia)
have been made by my daily contempor'
aries, and as various conflicting accounts
Of its origin have been published by them,
think 1t may be Of interest to give the
following authentic details, furnished me
during residence in ST. Petersburg by a
descendant OF the Armenian merchant who
brought the stone 10 Russia. The diamond
in its rough state formed the eye OF an
idol in a temple near Triehinopoli, and
was distracted by French renegade,
who escaped with his prize to Persia.
Here he wandered from town to
town, trying 10 dispose Of it for
moderate SUN, but only meeting
with distrust and suspicion. At length,
when the news OF the theil had spread over
India and reached Persia. fearing arrest,
liz accepted the offer OF Hebrew mer
chant, and surrendered tue diamond for
1900. Meantime the Shah was informed
hot only oil the robbery, but also that the
thief was residing in lis territory and had
offered the stone repeatedly IOr snle. Al
once his Highnees gave orders 10 arrest the
man, dead or alive, and to seize the dia
mond, whether for the purpose Of restoring
it to its rightful owners or in order to retain
It for bis own DEDICATION Ii is now impoSsi.
BILE 10 say. The Jewish merchant naturally
became alarmed for the safely OF his new
acquisition, as well as that OF his head,
and gladly sold the stone 10 an astute
Armenian merchant named ShafraS for
El2O00. The magnticenCe OF Catherine
the Great and her Court was a bywUrd in
Armenia and Persia, and ShAiras knew
right well that il he could reach ST. Peters
burg with his diamond he would be able
10 dispose OF it at u handsome profit. The
greatest difficulty was to secrete the stone
eOthorOughly about his person that in cage
Of his arrest it should moi be discovered.
1t was too large for him 10 swallow, 50 lie
solved the problem by making u deep ill.,
CisOn in the calf Ol his leg, inserting the
stone, and sewing up the wound with
silver thread. When the Cnt had cheat.
lized sufficiently TO allow the removal Of
the wire, Shairas began his travels
toward Russia. Had he known Oh
arriving AZ the frontier that the diamond
had been traced to the jewish merchant
aud from him To an Armenian, he would
pIUu4uly HhNN lllth W NuLEGhl LIN UhllOus
aIity. But he boldly proclaimed himself
an Armenian merchant to the S!ah's III.
quisitive officials. was arrested, and con.
sIgued 10 prison on suspicion. Strong
euIetiCs were admin s.ered, but no dlAn0nd
came 10 light. lie was stripped naked,
plunged into hot bath, aud then cx-
amined from head to foot, with no better
success. Even little torture WIS Tried,
but Shatras was firm, and in the emf he
Was bundled unCerCmOniousIy over the
irontier-hls petty cash, however, being IT..
tanned. lie reached Orenburg, aud h.re
some compA:riOts advanced HIM sufficient
money to reach the capital.
Catherine the Great was short OF ready
money when ShAiras offered her his iiH.
mond for sale. He demanded E4O.OOO for
it, but the Empress could not raise more
than E200OO, and though she offered 49,.
900 desslAtins lat four acres each Of CrOTR
land in addition TO this sum, SnairAs r..
fused. Catherine WA greatly Chagrlnpd,
and did not hide her annoyance; but she
WAS too noble character to resort 10 the
COtrClVe ueiIBuIus which HnAh Of Persia
would have adopted without = moments
hesitation. ShRfTas was allowed 10 depart I'm.
Inolested and betOok himEelitO Amsterdam
to have his diamond cut. lIcreit wa that
the famous Count OrIOv tirst saw the jewel
iCr which his imperial mistnss had sighed,
and he determined to lay 1t rs IL gift AT her
feet The bargain with SAairns was con.
Cluded oil hand. for Count Orlov never
haggled. In exchange for the diamond
(Which weighs lS5 Carats and is valued II,
G3OO,0OO) Count Orlov promised shafras,
On his return To Russia, E7OOW down, All
annuity Of 1000 rub!es, aud patent Of
nObiIIY.