Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-01-11
Rare Twin Diamonds.

fire that many pure white diamond is
dimmed Nv contrast with them, and so
absolutely perfect that the slightest flaw
cannot be discovered in either bv the
aid of the most powerful magnifying
glass. They are alike beautifully pro-
portioned, and the peculiar shade of
blue is precisely the same in each. In
all respects the quality of the two is
identical. The early history of the
twin diamonds is wrapped in mystery.
That they are very old can not be doubt
ed, as stones of their size have not been
mined in India for two centuries. They
were undoubtedly royal treasures, and
it is said that they passed into the pos
session of Warren Hastings when he
was Governor General of India They
returned to native ownership, and came
to light again at the time of the Indian
mutiny.
They were then carried to Europe,
where they were bought by Russian
nobleman, who had the gems recut in
Amsterdam, greatly increasing their
lusterand beauty. They attracted great
attention among diamond dealers, and
offers were maze to purchase them for
the Gar, but the owner refused to part
with them. Getting into political
trouble in Russia the nobleman LETT the
empire, taking his jewels with him. At
the gaming tables of Monaco he played
high and lost heavily. He staked and
lost one of his blue diamonds. which
passed into the hands of M. Blanc, the
note clearinghouse proprietor. whose
daughter was married two years ago to
Prince Roland Bonaparte. The Rus
sian nobleman's other blue diamond
found its way into the hanis of Paris
jeweler. After while efforts were
made to find its mate, but all c,ew to
the other stone had been lost. The
Paris stone was bought by the Duke of
Brunswick, who, unable to find the twin
gem, sold itagain. Its counterpart had
all this time been in possession of the
Blanc family, and about year ago it
was sold with other Jewels belonging to
Nine. Blanc. and wa bought for large
sum by the agent of the New York dia-
mond merchant. Some years before
this the Paris stOne-the one which had
been owned by the Duke of Brunswick
had in its turn disappeared, vanish
ing completely from the knowledge of
the ade. 1t is supposed that it share
the fate of many other noted gems and
was stolen.
The purchaser of the Blanc diamond
had no hope of discovering its mate. but
held it on its individual merits. He was
not in any hurry to sell it, and after the
habit of diamond-dealers with the finest
stones, kept it very close from inspec-
ton. About two months ago member
of his firm male a business trip to the
Western States, in the course of which
he visited Chicago. By mere accident
he encountered there certain wealthy
pork-packer, and with mingled feelings
of amazen ent. hope and celight, saw
cleaning on his shirt-front a large blue
diamond. which seemed to be wonder
full match :or the rare stone locked up
in the home office He telegraphed i'm
n ediately to his partners here. and aft
er the change OF few dispatches a
trusted clerk fastened from this city to
Chicago, bearing with him the Blanc
diamond for the purpose of comparison.
The matter was so important and deli
cate, however. that the clerk was not
informed of the true obje t of his mis-
sion, but believed that the diamond was
sent on to be sold. When the travel
ing partner received it he compared
it furtively with the pork-packer's
stud, and saw that, beyond
doubt, the latter was its long
missing mate. He telegraphed the
fact to the head of his firm, and re-
ceived prompt instructions to secure
the pork-packer's gem at any price.
Concealing his eagerness. he entered
into negotiat ons for its purchase, and
finally became its possessor for a sum
which. though large was much below
its value as one of the remarkable pair.
The porA-packer had worn his d amond
for several years in entire norance
Of its history and of the fact
that its exact duplicate had ever ex-
listed. Dur ng a visit to England he
had bought it from Hebrew diamond