Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-02
PROF. ABBE's FIND.
For Little or Nothing He Obtained
Relics Of Napoleon L

Prof. Cleveland Able, who 10 in Cincinnati
has told some interesting facts regarding his
recent journey to the west coast Of Africa on
the eclipse expedition to Cincinnati CONNER
cidl- Gazette reporter. On the return trip, says
the account, Q stop was made AZ 81. Helena,
the famous prison Of Bonaparte. Not more
than Ave by seven miles long. with rugged and
forbidding cliffs, the island barely furnishes
two anchorage places, but once landed, beyond
the struggling row Of houses which form the
town proper. the shore is . mass OF beautiful
plantations. Before the days Of steam the peo-
pie grew rich on trade, for every vessel stopped
there, and although this has ceased to some ex-
tent, the planters are still we'll to do. and they
talk more OF annexation to America through
the visits of the South Atlantic whaling feet
which annually sails direct from New Bedford
to st. Helena. than of other nations. Every
treasured by the British residents though for
a long time they would not allow themselves
to speak of him with respect
The first house in which he lived In in the
town proper, and then. finding the town disa-
greeable on account OF his being subject Of
prepared for his reception. the orders coming
on the same vessel which brought him to the
island), he was transferred to 1.-The Briers." a
pretty suburban place, and last to Longwood.
the historical farm, three miles distant from
the town.
During his three weeks stay ON the island
Prof. Able walked many times its length and
BREADTH visiting every hamlet and height He
also located every observation post--many of
them obliterated by time but ali well known
and sacred to science since the days Of the first
reported observation at st. Helena by HALEY
in 1872. Prof. Able was the guest of Lady
Ross, the widow of Governor Ross, and through
her he was able to verify the genuineness OF
relics Of Napoleon. which he prizes highly. He
was talking during one of his walks to an old
colored man. who, after some irrelevant con-
versation. asked him if he would like to sec
some silver which had belonged to Napoleon.
Very incredulous for nearly everything that
could be obtained and carried away had long
since been bought up at any cost, he assented,
and to amuse the old colored people examined
them. AS he was about to depart the old man
hesitatingly offered to sell the relics. The pro-
fessor expressed his doubt rs to being able to
verify tho relics as being Napoleon's, where
upon the old negro said he could refer him to
Lady Ross and also that they had letter from
Napoleon which they had mislaid. Professor
Able expressed great curiosity to zee the let
ter and assisted them in the hunt. II was
finally found and proved not to bG from Ma
poleon, but from Madame Bertrandt, wife of
Gen Bertrandt, who was the emperor's COM
panion in exile. The letter spoke OF few
gifts which the writer left in hopes that they
might one day sell for enough to buy the recipi.
ent's freedom and seemed conclusive proof of
the genuineness Of the silver relics but the old
woman-to whose mother 1t had been written
refused to part with it. They were paid ave
shillings for the cups, however, and the letter
was taken to Lady Ross for translation into
English, which the old couple much desired,
and returned with the original 70 the old
couple. Next day a message came from the
grateful old colored people saying that they
were much pleased with the translation of the
letter aud that Prof Able could have the
original for another shilling. "These old peo-
ple," said Prof. Able, in concluding his chat
with the Commercial Gazette reporter who
drove out to see him last evening" "were pen
sioners at penny day and living was coming
hard in st. Helena. left eight or ten shilkngs
additional in an envelope with Lady Ross to be
given to the old couple az they needed IL and I
have considered them pensioners Of mine in a
small Wav ever since"