The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-11-08
n VERY QUEER STORY.
Con. Wade fiampton's Diamonds.
Knorrille, Tenn, Tribune.

| Con. Tnde 7iRmpton's Diamonds.
| KnorpWc. Tcnn, Tribune.
A leading physician related to q re.
porter of the Tribune few days since
the interesting story of Wade Hampton's
diamonds. Many Of our older citizens
are we'll acquainted with the particulars
of the interesting episode, but we give
it for the benefit of those who don't
remember it, or never heard Of it.
About the year 1867, DR.. s. II. Smith,
Consul, resident at Mexico City, and
Rev. James A. Lions, Mt present mem
Der Of Holston Conference, NJ f. Church,
South, were engaged in the jewelry
business III the corner room under the
Lamar House, now occupied by Isaac
| Whites barber shop.
One day rather rough looking noun
taineer, dressed in buttcrnut pantaloons
and hunting shirt, entered the door and
sauntercd around the store elbowinp the
show cases and behaving just like he was
lost among the glittering thugs of gold,
| silver anu SrOnze.
After some time DR.. Smith approached
him and asked if there was anything he
could do for him.
| Yes" tho stranger replied, drawing
m old fashioned bulls eye silver cased
watch from the folds of his hunting shirt.
| 'What will ye give me for this watch?"
| We'll, how much would you be willing
to take?" the Doctor asked.
"l'll take So"
That's bargain" replied the Doctor,
and taking the watch, opened the case
and read, Presented TO Gen. Wade
HAMPTON A9le1 nooys,;nr ~ 80 a1s 1903" s;u
stranger drew from his pocket heavy
gold breast pin, with magnificent
diamond sparkling in the centre, and
offered it for S5.Dr. Smith promptly paid
him for it. and was surprised to see him
bring forth an extra heavy gold bracelet,
bearing an elegant gem of an unusual
size, set in cluster Of rose leaves.
These be offered for $40, which was
promptly taken up.
He then offered solitaire finger ring,
diamond ear rings and other diamonds
o! great value, all of which found
rendy purchaser in the person of DR..
smith. AS the stranger finished his
trading and was preparing to leave,
satisfied with Lis great bargains, as he
thought, Mr.. Lyons and policeman,
who had watched the transactions
through the window. closed the door and
asked the jewel laden stranger to give an
| aeCouuL Vi himself.
He was perfectly dumbfoulaed at
being confronted by "a policeman, and
| proceeded TO tell a disconnected, ram.
bling story of how he came in possession
of the jewels, which didn't exactly suit
the preserver Of peace, who soon began
to realize that he had struck q bonanza,
so to speak, and hurried the poor fellow
off tc jail to await further developn:ents.
Smith and Lyons at once wrote Gener.
al Wade Hampton, who had just become
famous as a soldier in the rebellion,
asking him to reply by telegraph if the
jewelry belonged to him, and describing
it.
lie replied in due time in the affirma-
tive, and requested the authorities to hold
the prisoner and the jewelry until further
orders from him.
In the meantime Col. J. G. Luttrell,
then Mayor of this city, took charge of
the jewelry and held it until it was cali
ed for by al agent of Gen. Wade Hnmp.
ton, who carried the proper credentials,
signed by Gen. Hampton himself.
The agent stated to the auth critics that
at the breaking out of the war Wade
Hampton had put the jewels ir box
together with some plate, and had buried
them in secluded spot on the side of
mountain, near Greenyille, 8. O., for safe
Keeping through the ravages of the
impending war, and that on returning
from the field. Gen. Hampton found that
the box had been removed, and presumed
that it had been taken by Northern
soldiers who would never think of
returning such valuable family treas.
ures.
Meanwhile the wealthy prisoner, after
being confined in jail several -ys, had
/ ft.I Nfaka
| said that while hunting in the mountains
he saw tue corner of box sticking out
OF the ground ON the side of mountain
which contained the jewelry and what he
supposed to be lot of pewter plates,
which he and his companion melted and
made bullets OF.
The strangers story and that of Che
agents WsTo so similar in every respect
that the authorities decided to discharge
this prisoner. On taking him from the
jail, which stood then where Col. O. J.
Meetings. residence now stands, he stood
for several minutes as if taking bearings
and then catching glimpse Of the Chill
howee Mountains to the South, he star
ted in dead run to the river, plunged
In and swan to the other side, disappear.
ing among the hills of South America.
and has never been heard of since.
The agent returned to South Carolina
with the Hampton jewels which made
glad the heart of the "war horse of the
Carolinas."
The watch was present to Wade's
father, Gen. Wade Hampton, of revo.
lutionary fame, and was one Of inestima.
BILE value as an heir loom.
| The gem in the bracelet had cost in
London over $1,000, and the mounting
of the same had cost $500, and was a gift
to his mother from her husband. The
other diamonds were worth altogether
90, 600, and belonged also to his mother.
The poor ignorant hee.hen thought he
was doing we'll when he received S45 for
the 80, coo worth Of goods, and Wade
Hampton knew he was doing exceedingly
we'll when he got them back for the sum
OF two or three hundred dollars, although
1t Ia said that he "nade his Joys fe!t"in
! L Iaah Ia A L.