The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06
A COLUMBIA WOMAN,s RoMANCE.
Her Triumph, Her Downfall and Her De-
oRnitatIon in Japan,

|
NEW YORK, October 28.-Soon after
the war most beautiful young lady ar
rived In New York from the South. She
brought letters to Thurlow Weed, Hugh
j. Hastings and many other New Workers,
youching for high respectabiiity IL the
South. Her family had Lost heavily by
the war. Soon the beautiful refugee wen
all hearts by her sweetness of manner
and beautiful face. Among her auitora
was the wealthy Mr.. Johu Beecher, who
married her. Mrs. Beecher soon became
famous as the most beautiful woman In
The city. She was beautiful ia her lovely
Fifth avenue residence and graceful as q
queen as abe rode in the park. She led
in beauty ut the Jerome Park races. Her
lovely face attracted Mr.. Floyd Phmnix,
who soon won her affections away from
her husband. The story Of her relations
with Mr.. Phnnix and her shooting him
as he went up the steps Of his sisters
mansion on Fifth avenue were narrated
in every newspaper of the time. Mr..
Phoenix had his ticket bought for Europe,
but Mrs. Beechef's pistol 30 frightened
him that he gave up his state.room and
left New York quietly for Philadelphia.
A week after Mr. Phoenix sailed for
Europe. Mr.. Beecher separated from bis
wife, though II almost broke his heart,
and she followed PhGnix to Europe.
Once in Paris her beauty captivated, not
Mr.. Phoenix, bnt Count Portallis, former.
ly Of the French Legation at Washing.
ton. The first wife Of Count Portallis,
who was Miss Jennie Holiday, daughter
of Ben Holiday, had been dead two years.
Count Portallis took Mira. Beecher 10
China, where he was ali attaCho of tho
French Legation. On thei: resarn 20
Paris the Counts money gave out aud he
abandoned Mrs. Beecher. In Paris Mr..
John lIeecher, who never ceased to love
his wife, furnished her with money.
After bewilderipg the boulevards and
turning half of Paris mad with her
bewildering ioveliness, she went to Japan
with French officer. A few nionths of
love and extravagance and Mrs. Beecher
ruined the officer and he returned to
Paris, leaving her in Japan. While
| mistress Of the Japanese Secretary of
State, very wealthy and highly titled
Japanese. After astounding court circles
with her grace, beauty and extravaganza
she at the end Of year had quarrel
with her husband and went to live with
another titled Japanese, but inferior in
rank to the Secretary of State. Last
week came the astounding news that the
Japanese Secretary of State had prevailed
upon the Miksdo of tho empire to have
Mrs. Beecher beheeded. An official edict
was issued and the once beautiful refugee
| from South Carolina was hehesGed and
| her last husband imprisoned. Thus ends
the life of woman once known and ad.
mired Dy thousands OF people in our city.
Her cad fate is the talk Of the uptown
clubs. H-
THE above evidently refers to a some.
what noted and very handsome woman,
q native and former resident of Columbia
Miss Mary Bnozer. She was the reput.
cd daughter of Peter Burton, her moth.
er's second husband, but adopted by DR..
Boozer, the third spouse. The frat hus-
band was welded on his death. bed In
Philadelphia; the second died in very
singular manner in Columbia; the third
suicided in Newberry, and the fourth was
abandoned by the muchly-married and
really beautiful woman, whose remains
now repose In pauper's grave ih New
York. Whea Sherman evacuated this
city in 1865, among the hundreds who
followed his army were Mrs. Feaster and
her frail bn. lovely daughter hfary, or
marie, as she was pleased to call herself.
A brief history Of the exploits of this
young woman In New York and other
cities-for she travelled extensively-was
published few years ago, while she was
living as the wife of Count PortaIlis in
China. This Is the first intimation, so
the public as to her whereabouts and
adventures since that time Columbia
Register.
From tho Ne.p York Truth, October q.
The story of the tragic death in Japan
of Mrs. John BeecheF, afterwards the
Countess Portales, published yesterday,
was the talk of the town. It appears TO
have been known to few Of the unfor.
tunate woman's friends, but by general
acquiescence was kept as secret as pos.
sible. Such q story, aboundiDg as it
does In tragic and romantic details,
could not long remain untold, and now
that It he's reached prin;. manT nes and
interesting details will doubtless be dis.
closed. A prominent banker of this
city, friend Of both Mrs. Beecher and
also the Count, wes called upon by our
representative, and obtained the follow.
Ing additional particulars as to the man.
ner Of her death:
After Mrs. Beecher, or the Countess,
became the mistress of the Japanese
Prime Miniater she was Informed that
the cnstom of Japan toward the unfaith.
fulness of q mistress with death would
be observed should she break her vows
to the Prime Minister. The little woman
laughed at the warnings and said she
would only die in two ways, q natural
death or by her own hand. As the mis-.
tress OF the Prime Minister, one of the
wealthiest men Of Japan, her every wish
and caprice was granted. Not content
with anything, however, she deserted the
Of another officer Of the Japanese Gov.
ernment and openly defied her former
lover. Fully aware that an. attempt
would be made to kill her che always
went armed and with O body guard
Among her many accomplishments she
had by daily practice made herself an
expert shot with the pistol. To all out.
1 ward appearances she cared naught fol
the impending and terrible death which
hung over her and which is regarded 81
inevitable. None Of her gayeties were
overlooked and she was daily seen at the
public places In company With men.
VARIED OF HER DOOM. ,,;.5.
Warned to fly. and seek safety Ia
France or America, che Indignantly de
olined. Fear certainly was not one oi
her faults sud her courage was remark.
able. 10 less than two weeks after heS
desertion Of the Prime Minister, Y eddo
was excited by rumors of an attempt Ia
/ kill the daring woman biik which failed