Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-13
Romantic Story Of Half Million
Acres of Land Granted to James
Swami a Century Ago
ROW TO BE SOLD ON COURT ORDER.
Virginiab Liberality to 8 Brave Son, Who
Gave His Entire Fortune to the
Cause of the Colonies.
A MAMMOTH COLONIZATION PROJECT
Swallowed up In the Mad Whirl Of the elistering
Paris Of KspoleOnI Day.
uyro,,L rrLronAx 10 rnr prsr Ircu.,

bthtet Oourt IN TINS city py Judge Jonu u
Jackson In the case of Dumas versus D Hut
d. Monsignon ct al, Locontre versus Randall
ct al and Randall versus Dressler OF al, au
thoriEing John r. Reed, OF Philadelphia
Pa, trustee, 10 sell all the interests, legal
and equitable, In 300, 900 acres Of land, part
Of large territory granted by the Com
monwealth Of Virginia 10 James swapr
June 3, 1898. This decision 10 the finale oI
q most interesting and romantic story, which
the correspondent secured through the trans
Iation Of the old French manuscripts now
IN the hands Of the Court
Prior to the Revolutionary War there 70.
sided In the city OF Boston Q prominent citi.
Een and merchant - Mr.. James Swami.
When the war for the Independence OF the
colonies commenced, Mr.. Swami adopted
the cause Of his country and was one of the
first TO enroll his name In the patriot army.
BY Gen. Washington and Gen. Lafayette he
was looked upon as one of their most conf
DENTAL and important aides. Swami was
very courageous, discreet and o man Of ex-
cellent judgment as q soldier, and through
these talents won promotion rapidly, and at
the end OF the war he had become major
general.
GAVE HIS FORTUNE TO HIS couN TRY
His sympathy for his country in her fnan-
cial embarrassment after the close of that
long and bloody war was 50 great that he
gave for her relief almost his entire private
fortune. General Swami was one Of the he
roes whom the old Commonwealth of Vir-
glnia looked upon as q special protege.
When VirgInis's adopted son was learned
to bear financial straits the House of Bur-
gesses granted him vast landed estate
which amounted to something over $780,
600 acres Of land. This land comprised part
OF kentucky, eight or ten counties in Vir-
gina and almost all Of what is now known
as Southwestern West Virginia in the coun-
ties of Boone, Logan, Lincoln, Wyoming,
Mcdowell, Mercer and others along the
border.
General Swami was q man OF romantic
and very imaginative character. When
the old State gave him the great territory he
became enthused with the idea of grand
colonization scheme. He had many close
friends among the mobiles and leading men
of France, and he believed that with their
aid, which he did not question, he could Sc
cure an immense colony-a Western Uto-
pis-on the lands granted him by Virginia.
he was 80 enthused with this scheme that
he arranged his affairs and in few DAYS de-
parted for France.
GAY PARIS TURNED HIS HEAD,
When General Swami arrived in Paris he
was warmly and enthusiastically welcomed
by his former comrades of the French allied
armye Through their influence he gained
entrance into royal society, and quickly en-
tered into the whirl and dissipation of the
French court. Gay Paris, with
its intrigues, frivolities, extravagances,
and fast life, drew from all quarters of
Europe kings, princes, potentates and other
oil General Swami, presented in the 1oWery
language and beautiful coloring given it by
the European enthusiast, suited the excita-
bic and romantic temperament of his listen
ers, and they enlisted their names and for
tunes. Among those who took part were
several kings of the lilliputian monarehies.
half dozen or more princes, dukes and
lesser nobility galore.
Unfortunately for General Swami this oc-
Cured at time when the history OF France |
had become identified with the fortunes of |
Napoleon 1. Bouaparte had but inst re- |
turned from the East, where be had de- /
stroYed or overthrown the vacillating, die |
tatorial Government with the two councils |
and formed a new Constitution. He had |
been chosen First Consul; had broken the
coalition formed against France by the
bloody victory Of Marengo; had forced
Austria and Germany 10 conclude the pesoe
OF Luneville, and Great Britain that of
Amiens, and by concordat re-established
Christian worship.
BANKRUPT AT LAST.
After months 10 which the days and
nights had been spent In folly and dinsipa.
ton, General swann one morning found
himself bankrupt, with q debt OF 1000 900
francs 10 liquidate. Paris had been thrown
Into confusion by the unnIeAsurable ambI.
NlQu 0l lhH Tlrfi (iaaHu1 A...., |
scarce and could not bo had, ~ the moneyed
men and hnAnolera foreshw the terrible
time coming. The colonization scheme
could no longer be thought Of and General
bwann'A creditors became importunate and
demanded mortgages on his American prop.
erty In liquidation Of his debts, He re.
fused 10 mortgage his Utopia, and was
arrested and thrown into prison (st
Pelago).
Under the old law then in force In France
his creditors were compelled, not only 10
support him, but 10 do NO In the manner In
which he had lived while at liberty. His
apartments In st. PelAgo were luxurious In
all their appointments and his cuisine was
such as he could only have gotten In the
most luxurious salons OF Paris. He had
his wines from the South of France and his
pate dc fois Rras. He was daily visited by
his morgantic wife, who came nj every
NJ
ing. In brief, he lived like prince In ali
but liberty for ten years. He was released
during the historical "Three Days" when
the prison doors were opened.
DIED OF A BROKEN HEART.
When General Swami walked out of 81
PelRgo he looked about him and INQUIRED
for some of his old friends, but found NOT
one. Every one Of them had been killed or
banished and not one remained 10 symna
thize with or assist him. He wandered !
about the streets for three days, and on the !,
evening of the third day he fell dead of q
broken heart. !
When General Swaun's death became
known IN Virginia the Legislature ap-
pointed Mons. John Peter Dumas, of Phils- Z
1elphia, Pa, trustee for the French heirs.
Mons. Dumas died in 1888, and left the
estate IN debt $500, 600. While Mons, Dumas
vas living the French heirs EMPLOYED Hon.
] Josiah Randall, father Of the late Samuel
as their attorney. Meanwhile. the 1
estate had become forfeited to the State of q
lrgin Tor non-payment oftaxes, but in 1888 IL
ne eld commonwealth, still remembering
ne courage ana generosity Of her adopted Z
on, feconVeyed It. The French, learning
y y TINS Iact' petitioned the appointment of
Ippointed in 1855. Mr.. Randall died ten v
ears later, or about the close of the late
Far.
LITIGATION AND BLooDsHFp.
While he lived the great estate was con- @
lnoouslY engaged In suits of ejectment b
gainst the army OF squstters which had
sttled upon the land. The work Of eject
lent was dangerous one; 30 much 90 that
ute Q number Of the officers who were sent /.
nj wnra am hu spadnd slna .aS s-..s--s