Iron County news. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1890-189?, 1891-01-24
ONCE OWNED xoH.l.NooR.
The MnharsJsh Of Lshore, IN whom
England Has Spent Much Money.

Duleep Singh. when a boy. was the
Maharajnh Of Lahore. and the owner
of the Koh-i-noor. or the Mountain of
Light now tho chief among the crown
Jewels of England. Duleep was not
vet in his teens when the great Sikh
dynasty. Of which he was the last rep
resentativc. fell before the arms Of
England. aud the little boy lost his
throne and his wonderful diamond.
The third clause of the treaty of peace
provided that 1.-The gem called the
koh-i-noor shall be surrendered by the
Maharajah Of Lahore to the Queen Of
England"
II is doubtful II the English ever
spent so much money on any other
fallen foe as on the Maharajah Of La
hore. observes the Boston Transcript.
He was taken to England along with
the Koh-i-noor, and no English prince
was ever more carefully reared and
educated. As he grew up to manhood
parliament voted him money to buy a
magnificent estate and 1925. 900 year
to keep the wolf from the door. He
became extremely lavish in his ex-
penditures. supported frst-class
shooting-box and stable. on grand
occasions outshone every body In the
splendor OF his diamonds and In fact
became one of the most stunning
young men In England. He was now
aud then a guest at the palace, and
was a favorite in aristocratic society.
Il should like" he said one day, ito
place the Koh-i-noor in the queens
hand now that am a man. was
only child when surrendered IL to
her by the treaty. but now l 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 toy
eastern kings handed back the rich
prize OF many conquests. and formally
remarked that it gave him much pleas
ure 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 regard. He begged to inquire
how many millions she was making
out OF his old country, the Punjah,
while he was almost starving on the
beggarly pittance of $l26 600 year.
In fact 1925. 900 was a small sum of
money when compared with the almost
fabulous income of his predecessors on
the throne of Lahore. He appealed to
the government to give him larger
allowance, but the request was refused.
So Duleep Singh said that If he could
not have enough money to properly
support his dignity he would not take
penny. He therefore betook himself
and his gorgeous diamonds to foreign
parts. His gems. like the Koh-i-noor.
were derived from his fathers, and
were worth a goodly fortune.
HIS departure moved the British to
contemplation. They really did pot
know how much mischief the ex-
Maharnjah might stir up among the
dissatisfied elements in India. He had
hardly crossed over to France before
the British offered him all he had asked
to come back. But he would not stir
a peg. He was the Sikh chief again,
robbed of his rights. his people and his
splendor by brutal invader. From
that position he has never sweryed I'M
til 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 aud promising to APP
pear among them soon to restore the
old regime. In the proclamation he
issued two years ago to the princeS
and people of India. he signed himselI:
Sovereign OF the SIKH nations and
implacable foe of the British govern
ment."
Some of his friends in India have
always managed to have his proclama-
tons mystoriously placarded on the
bill board.
OF late years, however, these effu-
sioRs have been hardly more than
objects of derision.
Last year he wrote letter to Queen
Victoria, telling her that it was high
| time she restored 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 newspaper said he was look
ing rather seedy and tout of luck. v
AS far as is known, he has had no
means Of support for many years. ex-
cept the gems he has occasionally sold.
He is now getting old. and it is certain
that his old spirit is broken. or he
would never renounce jot or title OF
his regal claims upon the Punjab for
| all the wealth and honor England
could give him. For many years he
had but 10 speak the word and q
! princely income would have flowed Ia
him from British Golfers. But he never
| annLa tho ,unrJ