The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-12-20
A Priceless Belle.

r. M. Stevens, a carpenter employed
by jeff May, the contractor, discovered
and unearthed an old Roman short sword
yesterday while making some excava-
tions in lot between Pendleton and
Senate streets, abont four and half
blocks from Main street.. It is queer
looking weapon of the Kind used up to
the 18th century. Few have been seen
like it since then. It was at first thought
that some officer or soldier of Sherman's
army had had 1t with him as telic and
had buried 1t or thrown 1t away.
The weapon was shown to number Of
old citizens and one of them noted for
memory and veracity, recalled tradi-
To but few people, which connects q
sword OF, this kind with the illustrious
and liberty loving Frenchman. If the
story is correct and the sword is the same
its antiquity makes it worth hundreds Of
dollars.
The story was told by Lafayette when
be was here, and there Is probability
that the sword Just found Is the one
which caused him so much worry and
regret.
In one Of Charlemagne's battles, the
immortal general had q hand-to-hand
encounter with famous Roman general,
whose name Lafay cite gave, but which
the gentleman who told Of the tradition
does not now remember. The fight
lasted long time and the battle between
the armies practically ceased, to watch
the fight between the two generals.
The. head Of the Roman and taking all
mis- weapons. One Of the weapons was
two-edged sword, like the one found
here. Charlemagne decided that the
weapon should always be kept In the
royal family Of France as trophy Of the
greatest fight he ever had. There were
changes in the ruling families Of France,
but the sword had always been preserved
In the archives. It was there In the time
of Lafayette, who never had the remotest
idea that it would ever be his.
One day Lafayette was provoked to
fight duel with q favorite Of the then
ruling king. He killed his opponent
and the king was much incensed. La
fayette, however, proclaimed his loyalty
to and lovB for the king. Then His Ma
perform. It was performed so success
fully that the king was charmed and
offered Lafayette honors and money, but
he declined all saying that he only wished
for some small token Of the king regard
for him. In q moment of joy the king
gave Lafsy yette the sword of Gharlemagne.
He was to Keep it rntil his death and
then it was to be returned to France.
When he visited this country in 1925,
Lafayette brought the sword with him,
and had it when he reached Columbia.
Here it disappeared and Lafayette believ-
ed that it had been stolen by come negro
who had been searching for money.
The strong box in which It was kept was
found broken open but there had been no
money in the box. Lafayette remained
in this city longer than he had intended
and vigorous search was made for the
weapon. It was never found, and Lafay-
ette's staff believed 1t had been buried
somewhere by the thief Lafayette's
grief over the loss Of the weapon was
bitter. The loss Of the sword is said to
have enraged the king 30 much that he
told Lafayette never to approach him
again.
If il can bs proven that the sword is the
lost weapon Of France its value cannot be
estimated Columbia Journal, Dec. 8.