The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-11-06
A COLUMBIA wOMAN's ROMANCE.

A COLUMBIA WOMAN'S ROMANCE.
Her Triumph, Fer Downfall and Her De-
capitation In Japan.
NEW YORK, October 26.-Soon after
the war most beautiful young lady ar
rived in New Yorl: from the South. She
brought letters to Thurlow Weed, Hugh
j. Hastings and many other New Workers,
vouching for high respectability in the
South. Her family had lost heavily by
the war. Soon the beautiful refugee won
all hearts bv her sweetness of manner
and beautiful face. Among her suitors
was the wealthy Mr.. John Beecher, who
married her. Mrs. Beecher soon became
famous as the most beautiful woman in
the city. She was beautiful in her lovely
Fifth avenue residence and graceful as q
queen as she rode in the park. She led
in beauty at the Jerome Park races. Her
lovely face attracted Mr.. Floyd Phoenix,
who soon won her affections away from
her husband. The story of her relations
with Mr.. Phoenix snd 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. Beecher's pistol so frightened
him that he gave up his sItate-room and
left New York quietly for Philadelphia.
A week after Mr.. Phoenix sailed for
Europe. Mr.. Beecher separated from his
wife, though it aim ost broke his heart,
and she followed Phoenix to Europe.
Once in Paris her beauty captivated, not
Mr.. Phoenix, but 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 Mrs. Beecher To
China, where he was an attache Of the
French Legation. On their return to
Paris the Counts money gave out and he
abandoned Mrs. Beecher. In Paris Mr..
John Beecher, who never ceased to love
his wife, furnished her with money.
After bewilderipg the boulevards and
turning half of Paris mad with her
bewilderiDg loveliness, she went to japan
with French officer. A few months of
love and extravaganza and Mrs. Beecher
ruined the officer and he returned to
Paris, leaving her in japan. While
there she won the heart and became the
mistress of the japanese Secretary of
State, very wealthy and highly titled
Japanese. After astounding court circles
with her grace, beauty and extravagance
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 Mikado of the empire to have
Mrs. Beecher beheaded. An official edict
was issued and the once beautiful refugee
from South Carolina was beheaded and
her last husband imprisoned. Thus ends
the life Of a woman once known and ad-
mired by thousands of people in our city.
Her sad fate is the talk Of the uptown
clubs.
The above evidently refers to some.
what noted and very handsome woman,
a native and former resident of Columbia
Miss Mary Boozer. She was the reput.
ed daughter of Peter Burton, her moth.
er's second husband, but adopted by DR..
Boozer, the third spouse. The first hus-
band was welded on his deatE-bed in
Philadelphia the second died in o 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 "a paupet's grave in New
York. When Sherman evacuated this
city in 1865, among the hundreds who
followed his army were Mrs. Feaster and
her frail but lovely daughter Mary, 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 q few years ago, while she was
living as the wife of Count Porsallis in
China. This is the first intimation, so
far as we know, that has been given to
the public as to her whereabouts and
adventures since that time Columbia
Register.
From the Ney York Truth, October 81.
The story of the tragic death in Japan
of Mrs. John Beecher, afterwards the
Countess Portales, published yesterday,
was the talk of the town. Itsppears 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 a story, abounding as it
does in tragic and romantic details,
could not long remain untold, and now
that it has reached print, many new and
interesting details will doubtless be dis
closed. A prominent banker of this
city, friend of both Mrs. Beecher and
also the Count, was 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 Minister she was informed that
the custom of Japan toward the unfaith.
fulness of 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, 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
Prime Minister and became the mistress
of another officer of the Japanese Gov.
ernment and openly de6ed her former
lover. Fully aware that an attempt
would be made to kill her she always
went armed and with q body guard.
Among her many accomplishments she
had by daily practice made herself an
expert shot with the pistol. To all out
ward appearances she cared naught for
the impending and terrible death which
hung over her and which is regarded as
inevitable. None of her gayeties were
overlooked and she was daily seen at the
public places in company with men.
WARNED OF HER DOOM.
Warned to fly and seek safety in