Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-05
AN uNLuoky STONE.
Amer Many Years Of Wandering Fainoas
Diamond Turns Up In Chicago.

Diamond Turns Up In Chicago
The temperance and recognition,
after long years Of hiding, Of famous
diamond at the store Of downtown
jeweler In this city resulted In the TO-
vival of the story Of one Of the tragedies
Of the early part Of the century. The
likeness Of the story to that OF Wilkie
Collins "Moonstone" does not make 1t
the less true.
During the Indian revolt and mutiny
of 1857 q British troop had been sent
upon an expedition Of destruction and
plumber into one OF the Indian interior
towns. In the course Of general sack
ing Of the place an old temple was made
the object Of attack, and every thing OF
value was taken. A Captain Hill, Of the
British Royal Engineers, was in COM
mand Of the party, and many others
participated in the plumber OF the tenn
pie. He discovered and appropri-
ated to himself an immense yellow
diamond, which had served for CEN
turtles as the one eye of the principal
idol. Plucking the gem from Its socket
he carefully concealed 1t about his per-
son and forgot it in the carnage and ex-
element that followed.
All the soldiers who were present at
the time stated that the temple had
been cleared, absolutely, Of all the ma
tives before the place was plundered
and that 1t was impossible that any ma
tive could have seen Captain Hill take
the stone. However, no matter where
the officer wandered after that, his steps
we're logged night and day by first one,
then another OF the Indians. Several
times his tent was ripped open in an at
tempt to murder him. Finally body
of natives made an attack upon the Off
Ger, when he had strayed few yards
from the camp one day, and killed him,
recovering the diamond from his pocket.
Almost before the body had quit CULVER
ing party Of soldiers came to the res
cue, took in the situation, killed all the
Indians, but failed to find the stone.
Some one Of the party who knew
the Indian characteristics suggested
that possibly one Of them had swal-
lowed it Sure enough it was found in
an Indians stomach, and afterward sent
to England and given to the widow OF
Captain Hill. Bad luck seemed to ac-
company its possession, however, and
after some years Of almost wretched ex-
istence the widow was one morning
found dead in bed beside her daughter,
with stream of blood oozing from a
wound over her heart. The assassins
did not get the stone, and it aft erward
passed out Of the possession OF the
family, and its whereabouts remained
o secret for many years.
Some ten years ago the sutton for the
hand Of the da tighter of the girl whose
mother was killed beside her was pre-
sented with handsome diamond
brooch, the center stone Of which was
the unlucky diamond.
Being of an interpretations nature,
the young lady failed to see any thing
more than q coincidence in tho circum-
stance, and accepted the splendid gift
and afterward its donor.
The union was happy but brief one.
The husband was brought home terribly
wounded one day after they had been
married for two years and the widow was
left without an income. She was brave,
however, and struggled with the world.
She was advised by every one to sell the
brooch for money on which to
live, but it was her husbands gift and
she refused to part with it until she
and her child were really in need.
On Saturday last she took the brooch
to q prominent jeweler and offered it
Tor sale. The jeweler turned the gems
over to his diamond expert, who at once
the brooch as one he had
made in London several years ago and
the yellow diamond as the one of I'M
lucky omen.-Chcago Evening Post.