Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-03-07
MARIE ANTOINETTE.
Are the Unfortunate Queens EN-
eralds in WashingtonP
A Remarkable Story of Some Marvellous
Joweis-How They Cane In tho Pos
session OF an Old Virginia Family
Residing In the National Capital.

a IhemarKaDie story OF Somo MARVELLOUS
Joweis-How They Cane In tho Pos
session OF an Old Virginia Family
Residing In the National Capital.
The nep tion of -emeralds aud Marie An
toinetie recalls a strang> story told the
New York Graphic scme time since,
which, as it relates to emeralds, and
some, too, reputed to be of marvellous
size and purity, will bear telling in type.
In the northwest quarter of Washing.
ton and on the upper edge of the most
fashionable section there stands an oil d.
fashioned three-story house, built about
fifty years ago. Except that it is old
fashioned and seedy, there is only one
thing to call attention to it, besides its be
ing the home of a reduced yet well.knowp
Virgiuian family. That one thing is the
fact that a back window on the second
floor is always closed tight with pair of
heavy outside iron shutters, in the top Of
VIII ich there are two small light-holes.
A Southern gentleman living on his
wi is somewhat, though not in a disrepu-
table sense, told the incidents herein mar.
rated. He knows the Virginians, who are
among the family a couple of Govern.
ment appointments. He was aware that
there was room in the dwelling which
was never opened, so far as visitors knew.
The door thereto was heavily nodded and
evidently had a strong lock on it In the
course of a friendly conversation he men,
toned a visit to the Chinese embassy (not
the present one). In the course thereof
the host, one of the accomplished at
taches, who spoke English perfectly, lee
him to his private sitting-room. The con
versation accidentally turned on gems
on which subject the Chinese diplomat
proved himself an adept. He showed his
visitor large number of rare jewels, dia-
monds and other stones, some of
them of most costly character. He was
a gem collector, and, being very rich,
could readily crafty his most extrav-
agant wishes. His visitor remembered
afterward that as he told the incident
quick glances passed between members of
the family. A few days passed by and
he was waited upon at his office by one of
the male members, who asked, after ex-
acting pledge of secrecy, il he could
bring the Chinese attache to the house
with the IRON shuttered window in order
to examine some very rare and valuable
jewels.
OF course this was done. Both gentle
men, American and Chinese, went on
their call in quite a futter of excitement.
The hour set was late in the evening.
They were met at the door by the two
gentlemen of the family. None of the
ladies were visible, nor their one servant
either. After removal of hats and coats
the callers were asked to go upstairs.
They were taken to the strong-room, as il
turned out to be. Tho door when they
entered was observed to be heavily lined
with steel plates. Its lock was Q
combination one. A light was burning
within. The iron shutters were closed, as
usual. There was nothing in the room
but an iron stand, bolted to the door, sup.
porting a small iron safe. The door was
closed behind them. On the stand lay
two cooked revolvers. The visitors were
asked to stand near the door. Both wer,
men of nerve, and one had been dash.
ing cavalry officer and was SCARED with
a score of wounds. But they confessed
afterward that thrills of apprehension
ran through them. One of the brothers
opened the safe, and the other stood
where his hands could readily grasp the
revolvers. A few seconds, and then an
peared a jewel-box, from which small
parcel, carefully wrapped in soft leather
and cotton, was as carefully removed.
Opening this, there were exhibited &c
the astonishishing eyes of the caller.
several large emeralds and evidently O,
great purity. The Chinaman trembleo
with excitement. He declared as the
largest one, as big at least as a good sized
pigeons egg, was placed in his hand
that he had never seen any thing like it,
while telling also of wonderful gems that
he knew of in China. The emeralds were
cut in an antique style. There were q
dozen of them, and all remarkable foi
their beauty and size. The Chinaman was
allowed to examine them all carefully.
He did so with the utmost minuteness anG
delight. All the time the closest watch
was kept, and the brothers, as we'll as the
visitors, seemed to feel relieved when they
were all outside the door going down the
staircase.
And this was the story of their posses.
sion of such wonderful jewels, told ther
and afterward hy the Virginians: Thei,
paternal great grandfather was m ilitarv
surgeon. just as the French revolution wa,
beginning, he was in Paris, greatly inter.
ested, too, in all tho stirring events of the
period. He had apartments In the bouss
of physician who had some court prac.
tice, and yet was scarcely a radical. III,
was involved heavily as a gambler at tn,
time, and borrowed money to a consider.
able amount OF his American friena
When the revolut ion became violent. tn.
Frenchman came under suspicion on boti
sides. One day he brought to the Vir
ginian, then about TO return to America. q
small jewel-box and showed the emerald :
which had been exhibited to the visitors.
He insisted upon. his creditor taking their
to America, where he promised to com.
also. Suffice IL to say they were brouph.
a traf fnr.go ". u 4
physician was never heard of afterward
Tho .possessor OF the emeraids held q
transfer memorandum of them, and his
family had held them I'm possession ever
since. They had become both fascina.
tion and a terror to the family, which had
apparently gone down the hill of well.
doing in guarding a great for tune thew
were unable to utilize.
The Chinese gentleman was eager te
buy. Difficulties arose at once. The nos.
SCISSORS were UNIV ling to trust an exper,
with their secret, or to carry the gems ont
of their hidingrplace. The attache de
sired TO have expert testimony as to yalue
aud purity before he expended a princelv
fortune. Some inquiries were cautiously
made as to the history Of the remarkable
emeralds. All known gems of that elias
were located except those of the unfortu,
nate Queen OF France, whose necklace
had apparently disappeared absolutely
from the face OF the earth. The Chinese
gentleman was recalled home or sent
somewhere else shortly afterward. He
did not buy,
mat much and no more the Graphic
knows. So far as it is aware the marvsl-
Gus gems are still in Washington.