The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-07
A DIAMOND IN HIS LEG.
A Cincinnati Mans Story of the Orloff
Precious Stone.

A Cincinnati Mans Story of the Orlof
Precious Stone.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer: Gus
Fox, dealer in diamonds on Fourth
street, has II STORY about the famous
Orloff diamond, named after Count Orloff,
the first European who bought it. Fox
says: "It was originally the eye of an
idol in Trichinopoli. 1t was stolen, ac-
cording to the accepted account, by Il
Frenchman, who escaped with it to Per-
STA, where he sold it for the equivalent in
our money of $4,000 to Jewish mer-
chant.
"The Jewish merchant sold it to an
Armenian named Shafras, who had trav-
eled in Russia, and conceived the idea of
taking it to that country and selling 1t to
the Empress Catherine for great sum.
Shafras paid him $4,000 for it.
Having secured the stone the next
question with Shafras was how to get it
to Russia, or rather how to conceal it
when he was searched by robbers, as he
was sure to be OH the road.
"The journey was n long and perilous
one, and thieves abounded everywhere.
Shafras thought of swallowing the stone
when he should be taken by the robbers,
but was obliged to give that plan up as
the stone was too large to swallow.
"He began to feel that he had IL white
elephant on his hands, when thought
occurred to him He secured a sharp
lance, made a cut in the fleshy part of
his left leg and thrust the diamond into
the wound. He sewed up the cut with
II needle and n silver wire. 1t healed,
leaving the diamond embedded fast in his
leg quite ont of sight.
'Then he started for Russia. On the
way he was seized by robbers again and
again. Being an Armenian and suspected
of going to Russia to trade, the thieves
marveled greatly at not finding anything
| of value upon his person.
Gle arrived in Russia at last and after
extracting the diamond visited the en-
press. He was willing to sell it for about
| Sl50,0OO, but the empress had not so
large an amount in cash for the purchase,
and Shafras preferred to go on to Amster-
dam, the seat of the diamond cutting in
dustry, where he had the stone polished.
"Here Count Orloff, an extremely
wealth Russian, saw the diamond and
was filled with II determination to secure
1T for the Russian crown. He did secure
it, but Shafras exacted from the Russian
government s400, 900, an annuity of SEQ
600 and "A title of nobility He died mil
lionaire.
''The Orloff diamond weighs 1915 carats,
and is about the size of a pigeons egg.
at Is smaller than the Koh-i-Noor, in
the possession of the English queen,
which is supposed to be worth s., $50,
000''
MRS. HETTY GREEN IN POLITICS.
Washington Post: "Her whole nature
has been revolutionized, said Wash
ington hotel-keeper, speaking of Mrs.
Hetty GREEN'S reported intention of
spending 81 600, 900, or $50 much thereof
| rs may be necessary" to elect her son
governor of Texas.
81 never knew anybody to loosen up
like Mrs. Green has of late" continued
the boniface. about eighteen months
ago, when she came on here, she haggled
with me over the price of one of the
cheapest rooms in the house, and actually
made me give her reduction because
she stayed week. The next time she
came she had on the finest sort Of dress,
such one as nobody had ever seen her
wear, and this time my house was not
good enough for her, SO she went to the
highest priced place in town and never
asked the rate. Her liberal streak was
late in developing, but If her son does go
into politics it will be a fortunate thing
for him that his mater changed her sys-
tenn in the way of things pecuniary."
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