Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16
| BROUGHT ILL-LUCK TO FIVE MEN,
An Opal Ring and the Misfortune
Which Befell Its POssessors.

A gentleman from Houston told q Globe
Democrat man a remarkable story about an
opal and the ill-luck that had followed its
possessor some years ago a gentleman
named Beard, who was one Of the wealthiest
residents Of Houston, and who still resides
In that city. was travelling on horseback
from San Antonio to Austin. In :lis saddle
bags he had supply Of provisions, liquor,
&C.. the usual commissary supplies incident
to horseback journeys. A few miles from
Austin he rode up to a tree, under which lay
stranger sick almost unto death. He
asked Mr.. Beard for assistance and was
given some provisions and a generous
draught of whisky. The fellow was suffer-
Ing with raging fever and realized the ne
cessity Of getting to where he could lave
proper medical attention. He asked Mr..
Beard IL he could spare him a few dollars,
at the same time drawing from his finger
heavy gold ring set with a magnificent
opal. which shot forth flashes Of red, blue
and golden light as the stone was moved
MI. Beard took the ring. giving the man S.
which was about half Of the change be
had with him, promising to call on
the man in the hospital in Austin
where he hoped to hear from friends. and
would redeem the ring. Mr.. Beard rode on
after making the stranger as comfortable as
possible. Some two or three days later he
went to the hospital and found his man still
very III, but he had failed to receive the ex-
pected remittance. After chatting with him
awhile he took his departure. When he WIS.,
Tied the hospital next day he found the man
was dead. He returned to Houston, forget
ting all about the ring, except as he hap
pened to notice 1t. The second day after his
return he lost a law suit involving $4,000
From this time on everything he touched
proved unlucky. One day ne was in Austin
gioomily meditating over his ill-luck, when
oxTa nhnr .,sal fall al.
he swears was emitting a yellowish- gree n
light and seemed to mock at him. like a
flash the story OF the opal and The ill-luck
that attached to a possessor came into his
mind, and drawing the ring from his finger
he started for the Colorado river. intending
to throw II in the stream. On his way he
met friend, the sheriff of The county, to
whom he communicated his intentions. The
such a magnificent gem and begged that he
might have II instead. The opal changed
ownership right there, and three days after
ward the sheriff was shot and killed. The
opal then passed into the hands of a lawyer,
who was thereupon unfortunate until he
died. and the ring went into The hands Of
the fifth man, who soon went crazy. From
this time Mr.. Beard lost all trace OF the
opal, after following its history through the
hands of five different men, all OF whom met
with misfortune soon as the gem came
into their possession.
In marked contrast to this is the expert
ence OF traVellng man named Lak;n, who
has a passion for opals and who wears sew
eral magnificent stones set in rings, group
formed into a watch charm AMI a pocket
book mounted with opals of various sizes
and degrees of fire. He maintains the opal
is a lucky stone, and his experience seems
to justify his faith. whenever he has &C.
casion to go to Queretaro, Mexico, on
business trip he never fails TO purchase a
handful of the choicest stones he can find
at the mines. Hundreds of Texans are now
wearing OpalS cut and uncut, and there is
now but little regard given to the old super
stitiOn that the opal is unlucky.