Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-10-09
OWNED THE KOH-I-NOOR.
ENGLAND'S IMPLACABLE FOE
ACCEPTS A PARDON.
Vulcep Singh, the Last of "A Race OF Kings
The Remarkable Career OF the Indian
Prince from whom the Kohl.
Moor was Wrested.

owner of the koh-i-noor, or Mountain
Of Light now the chief among the
crown jewels OF England. Duleep was
not yet in his teens when the great |
Sikh dynasty, of which he was the |
last representative, fell before the
arms of England, ana the little boy
lost his throne and his wonderful dia-
mond. The third clause OF the treaty
of peace provided that 1.-THE gem call
ed the koh- i-noor shall be surrender
ed by the Maharajah OF Lahore to tho
Queen OF England"
1t is doubtful If the English ever
spent so much money on any other
fallen foe rs on the -Maharajah Of
Lahore. He was taken to England
along with the Koh-i-noor and no
English prince was moro carefully
reared and educated. AS he grow to
manhood parliament voted him money
to buy II magnificent estate and
| 1925, 900 year to keep the wolf from
the door. He became extremely lavish
in his expenditures, supported first
|
occasions outshone everybody in the
splendor of his diamonds, and in fact
became one of the most stunning
young men in Eng He was now
and then guest AT the palace and was
II favorite in nristocratc society.
IL should like he said one day,
":o place the koh-i-hOorin the Queens
hand now that l am man. l was
only child when surrendered it to
her by the treaty, but now l am old
enough to understand"
The very nextday he was summoned
to the palace. The jewel was placed
in his hand, and for some time he
toyed with it. Then the descendant
of Eastern kings handed back tho rich
prize OF many conquests and formally
remarked that it gave him much
pleasure to place the jewel in the
hand OF his sovereign.
But not II great while after Dulecp
Singh ceased to hold the queen in such
high regard. He begged to inquire
how many millions she was making
out OF his old country, tho Punjab,
J while he was almost starving on the
beggarly pittance OF $4,000 yer.
In fact 1925, 900 was a small sum OF
i money when he compared the almost
, fabulous income of his predecessors on
the throne of Lahore. He appealed
) to the government to give him IL larger
l allowance, but the request W refused.
3 So Duleep Singh said if he couldn't
r have enough money to properly sup.
!; port his dignity he would not take Il
= penny. He therefore betook himself
!. and his gorgeous diamonds to foreign
d parts. His gems, like the Koh-i-noor,
= were derived from his fathers. and
: were worth goodly fortune.
3 His departure moved the British tt
g contemplation. They really did no
8 know how much mischief the ex-Ma
g harajah might stir up among the dis
2 affected elements in India. He hat
!; hardly crossed over to France befor,
IS the British offered him all he hat
J. asked to come back. But he
Q would not stir peg. He was tn
= Sikh chief again, robbed OF his rights
s his people. and his splendor by ,
n brutal invader. From that position hi
II has never swerved unit! now. Nearly
v every court on the continent ha
Q harbored him, and he has ever bee
ready to tell the story OF wrongs to al
who would listen. For years he ha
periodically issued addresses to tn
ir Sikh people urging them to revolt
m and promising to appear among ther
= soon to restore the old regime. In tn
e proclamation he issued two years ag
in to the princes and people OF India b
1t signed himself:
g Sovereign OF the Sikh nations an
Of implacable foe OF the British Cover
Y. mcnt."
|y Some OF his friends in India have a
err ways managed to have his proclaim,
no tions mystcriously placarded ON til
" billboards. OF late years. howeve
err these illusions have been hardly mo-
it than objects OF derision.
at Last year he wrote letter to Quee
fe Victoria telling her 1T was high tin
r. she restored the Koh-i-noor to its RICH
20 full owner.
ia OF late years Duleep Singh has liv'
=. mostly in Russia. He attended Il
~ Paris Exposition last year. and |
,le Ena fish newspaper said he was lookiI
rather seedy and tout OF luck" .
far as is known, he has mad no mea
Of support for many years except Il
On gems he has occasionally sold. He
m now getting old, and it Is certain tn
on his old spirit is broken. or he wou
st. never renounce jot or title OF
he regal claims upon the Punjab for
de the wealth and honor England cou
,ly give him. For many years he had t
n.y. to speak the word and princely