The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-03
Duleep Singh, the Last Of a Race of
Kings, Yields at
When a Boy, as Maharajah of
Lahore, He Owned the
Koh-i-noor.
1t. Together with His Kingdom, was
Taken From Him by the British
Government.

nardoued on the condition that he renounce
his claims to Lahore. His family have for
q long time been urging him to repent and
to seek pardon for his past conduct. When
the princes of the Punjab were informed
that a pardon had been granted they re-
fused to concur unless they were subsidized.
Duleep Singh expects to have part OF his
dominion returned to him. He will remain
in Europe. Duleep Singh, when little
bov, was the maharajah of Lahore, and the
owner of the Koh-i-noor, or Mountain OF
Light, now the chief among the crown jew
els 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, and the little boy
lost his throne and his wonderful dla-
mond. The third clause of the treaty OF
peace provided that ''the gem called the
koh-i-noor shall be surrendered by SHE
Maharaiah of Lahore to the Queen OF Eng
land:' 1t is doubtful if the English ever
spent so much money on any other fallen
foe as on the ex- Maharajah of Lahore. He
was taken to England along with the koh-S
i-noor and no English prince was ever more
carefully reared and educated. AS he grew
to buy magnificent estate and $125UO a
wear to keep the wolf from the door. He
became extremely lavish in his expendi-
lures, supported frst-class shooting box
and stable, on grand occasions outshone
everybody in the splendor of his diamonds.
and in fact became one OF the most STUN
ming young men in England. He was now
and then guest at the palace and was
favorite in aristocratic society.
II should like he said one day, ito
place the Koh-i-noor in the queens hand
now that am man. ! was only child
7 - 30 ap I,yf hn
but now am old enough to understand"
The very next day he was summoned to
the palace. The jewel was placed in his
hand, and for some time he toyed with 1T.
Then the descendant of eastern kings hand.
ed back the 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 a great while after Duleep Singh
ceased to hold the queen In such high re-
gard. He begged t. inquire how many
millions she was making out of his old
starving on the beggarly pittance OF $l25..
600 year. In fact, $l25,OOO was small
sum of money when compared with the al.
most fabulous income of his predecessors
on the throne of Lahore. He appealed to
the government to give him larger allow
ance, but the request was refused. SO Du-
leep Singh said if he couldn't have enough
money to properly support his dignity he
would not take a penny. He therefore be-
took himself and his gorgeous diamonds to
foreign parts. His gems. like the Kohl
moor. were derived from his fathers and
His departure moved the British to con-
temptation. They really did not know how
much mischief the ex-Maharajah might stir
up among the disaffected elements in India.
re had hardly crossed over to France be-
fore the British offered him all he had asked
20 ,or,a hock Rnt ha 1yOul1 not stir n Oap
He was the Sikh chief again, robbed of his
rights, his people and his splendOr by a
brutal Invader. From that position he has
never swerved until now. Nearly every
court on the continent has harbored him,
and he has ever been ready to tell the story
of his wrongs to all who would listen. For
years he has periodically issued addresses
to the Sikh people urging them to revolt,
and promising to appear among them soon
to restore the old regime. In the procla-
nation he issued two years ago to the
princes and people of India he signed him
self:
'Sovereign of the Sikh nations and i'm
placable foe of the British government"
Some of his friends in India have always
managed to have his proclamations myster-
iously placarded ON the billboards. OF
late years, however, these illusions have
been hardly more than objects of derision.
Last year he wrote a letter to Queen Vic
toria telling her it was high time she re-
stored the koh-i-noor to its rightful
owner.
OF late years Duleep Singh has lived
mostly in Russia. He attended the Paris
exposition last year, and an English news
paper said he was looking rather seedy and
tout of luck" AS far as is known, he has
had no means of support for several years
except the gems he has occasionally sold.
He is now getting DID, and it is certain that
his old spirit is broken, or he would never
renounce jot or little of his regal claims
upon the Punjab for all the wealth and
honor England could give him. For many
years he had but to speak the word and a
princely income would have flowed to him
from British Golfers. But he never spoke
the word.
Duleep Singh has son who is an Officer
in the British army, has been stationed ir
Canada, and is known in New York society