Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-16
THE STORY OF A COUNTESS.

The Companion of a Blacksmith, the
Wife of IA Cousin of President johnson
and the Bride of an Indian.
The arrest of Henry Martin, a young In
dian of the Mohawk tribe, say an Erie,
Pa, special of Nov. II, has revealed
another sensational chapter in the re-
| markable career of an adventures who
| disappeared from here under highly rO-
mantle circumstances two years ago. The
Indian has been arrested in California for
an attempt to blackmail one Sayonna, an.
alleged Indian princess and the veritable
! wife of Juanita, a Canadian chief of con-
| sid ,rable renown. The trial of the black
mailer has developed the fact that the In
! dian princess, SayOnna, is none other than
Madame Barabo, of this city, and that the
| threat TO expose her true name and char
acter unless she paid the Indian $1,000
was his offense. Under cross-eXamina-
tiOn the "Princess Sayonna' admitted
that she was from Erie and that she had
been the wife of a blacksmith here; also
! that she subsequently married Mr.. An
| drew johnson, full cousin of President
| Johnson, while living in Erie.
A COUNTESS FROM FRANCE.
Madame Darabo, claiming to be
| Countess IN her own right, came to this
city from France twenty years ago as the
wife of a humble blacksmith. = no led a
miserable life with lis alleged blue
DloOded wife. Her claims to nobility soon
made her a conspicuous parsonage, and
she succeeded in obtaining a position as
teacher of French at the Erie Academy.
| the principal of which at that time was
young man who has since become we'll
known, Judge Albion Tourgee. Under
Dir. Tourgee Madame Barabo, or the
Countess" as she insisted that the fac
ulty should call her, taught for some time
and was finally dismissed because OF her
arrogance in requiring an autOcratic
oDeisance upon entering or quitting her
presence. The Madame was ever hunger
ing for nOtOriety, and on one occasion
nOrsewhipped Magistrate for presuming
to give judgment against her, declaring
that the French nobility were superior to
any American law. Guests who slept at
her house were put to bed in an antique
bed, which she said had contained the
headless trunk Of her grandfather after
the guillotine had done with him.
Welded BY AN OLD MAN.
After the death of Barabo the Countess
succeeded in winning the heart of Andrew
johnson, of this city, a cousin OF the
President, and a very wealthy old man,
aged 81. The old gentleman was passion
ately devoted to her, and fully believed in
her nobility, not only deferentially
according her the title of Countess him
self, but making all his servants address
her as such. With wealth at her com.
mand, the Countess held quite a little
regal court, her receptions being attended
by the best society. But in a few years
this magnifcence came to end rather
abruptly. A son of her aged husband.
getting possession of some of her secrets.
followed them up until he laid the whole
story Of her life, with all its deceptIOns,
before his father. Shocked at the duplicity
of his dashing bride, Mr.. johnson left her
and never returned. His fine residence on
Walnut street was made over to her, and
for some time she existed solely on her
former grandeur.
THE BRIDE OF AN INDIAN.
In the spring of 1882 party of Indians
came to Erie from Canada to play lacrosse
on William l.. ScOtt's property. Among
them was Chief Juanita. The Countess
WAS present at the exhibition and sought
an introduction to the chief. she dazzled
him with her bold and braZen beauty, and,
althOu-h he was old enough to be her
father, she accepted his attentions and
consented to become an Indian bride.
She disappeared at the time the Indian
left, and, as it now appears, she was we'd
ded by Indian rites when the party re-
turned to Canada, she being gayly attired
as an Indian princess. Having succeeded
in getting the chief to convert his prop
ertY into cash, she left him much poorer
man than she found him. The yound In
dian arrested is the son of that chief, who
dogged her from Canada across the cOnti-
nent to Sacramento, IN the hope of max
ing her disgorge some Of his fathers
money. a daughter of the Countess"
still lives in Erie, following the vocation
of teacher,