The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-04-25
A LARGE DIAMOND.
An AvoirdupOis that Is Nearly
Half a Pound.
WEIGHS MORE THAN 971 CARATs.
II Has Been Sent TO the Pope by the
TPansvaal Republic-Other Big
Diamonds.

According to cablegram received
from London last week, the Pope has
received from the President of the
Transvaal Republic diamond weigh.
ing 97l carats. The stone was found
in the Jagrsfontein mines and is de.
clared to be the largest known.
/ The cablegram states that the mon
ster diamond is of bluish-white cast
and practically perfect. its only blem-
ish being tiny spot in the centre. in
visible to the naked eye.
Why the President of the Transvaal
Republic has sent it to the Pope is not
made clear. 1t is not to be supposed
that he has made a present TO His Hol-
mess Of a stone valued at $1,000, 900.
Probably his object was to get free
advertisement for his little republic
and the big diamond found there.
The jewelers. Circular this week
prints a picture of the diamond, show
ing its actual size. This was received
from correspondent in South Africa.
The Circular presumes that the dia-
mond referred to is the one known as
the Jagersfontein Excelsior
1t was picked up by native while
he was loading truck. Although
white overseer was standing near him,
he managed to hide it and keep it on
his person for some time. 1t turned
out. however, that he did not wish to
steal it, for he delivered it personally
to the manager. AS a reward he re.
ceived $3.50 and horse and saddle.
The exact weight of the diamond is
OH q oarats, or about seven and one
quarter ounces avoirdupois. 1t there
fore weighs uncut nearly half pound.
A diamond of fair size for ring
weighs one carat The Jaersfontein
Excelsior would be gem worthy of
the highest efforts of a Tammany poll
tician. Worn in his shirtfront, it
would make him one of the most con-
spicous of living mortals.
In its present condition it measures
three inches in length, one and a-half
inches in thickness, two and a.half
inches at its greatest breadth and one
and a-third inches at it's least breadth.
1t is Of beautiful blush color and is
, shaped like the broken off end of an
icicle.
The flaw in it is believed to be m ore
serious than is stated in the cable de-
spatch. 1t is black spot near the
middle. 1t could be cut in two, how
ever, so as to leave out the blemish.
1t would then make two of the largest
diamonds in existence. At the time
of its discovery it was valued at ST.,
900, 900.
The largest cut diamond in the world
is the Orlotf in the sceptre Of the
Emperor of Russia, weighing 194A
carats. 1t is cut in the rose form, with
fiat surface below. According to
one story, it formed the eye of an In
dian idol and was stolen by French
deserter. In 1772 Count Orloff bought
it for the Empress Catherine at cost
of $780, 900.
The next largest is the Pitt dia-
mond, bought in 1902 by Mr.. Pitt,
Governor of Madras, for 500, 900.
The Duke Of Orleans. Regent Of
France, bought it for Louis XIV for
$3.50, 200. 1t is now reported to be
worth twice that sum. At the time Of
the Revolution it was sent to Berlin,
but reappeared in the hilt of the sword
OF state used by Napoleon l. IL weighs
1861 carats, but originally weighed
40.
After this comes the Florentine, or
Grand Duke, now in the possession of
the Emperor of Austria. 1t is of yell
low color, oblong in shape and cut in
the rose pattern. Its exact weight is
given as 1888 l6 carats. Tradition
says it was lost by Charles the Bold at
the Battle of Granson and picked up
by Swiss soldier who sold it for
few pence.
The Kohinoor, the largest diamond
III the possession of the British crown,
is believed to be the finest and purest
IN existence. 1t also has the most
singular history. The Indian legend
says that it was found in one of the
Golconda mines. near the Kishpa
River. and was worn 5000 years ago by
Karna. one of the heroes celebrated in
the Mahabharata. 1t passed through
many hands to Baber. founder of the
Mogul dynasty. in 1896. Tavernier,
the French explorer, saw it in 1866.
1t was then of the shape of half an
egg and weighed $50 carats. It had
been reduced to that weight from
793 5-S carats by an unskilful stone
cutter
In 1888 it passed to Nadir Shah, the
Persian invader of India, who gave il
its name of Kohinoor, or mountain of
light In 1S49, when the conquest of
the Punjab was finally completed, it
was surrendered to the British and
in 1850 it was presented to Queen
Victoria.
When it was shown in the exhibi.
tlon OF 1857 in London it weighed
lS6 1-l6 carats. Since then it has been
recut. and now weighs 106 10 carats.
1t has been conjectured that the
kohinoor originally formed part of
the same stone as the Orloff diamond.
both of them having once been in the
possession of the Great Mogul. A
stone of 1879 carats captured by Abbas
Mira at the storming of Coooha in
1882 may be third fragment. This
lona H..