The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-28
SWORD 1000 YEARS OLD.
Presented by the Gar of Russia to
President johnson.
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times
I. p. Farmer, the county surveyor of
Columbiana county, Ohio, who resides at
Lisbon, has in his possession one of the
rarest historical specimens in existence Ii
is an old Damascus blade which, 1t is
claimed is over 1000 years old. 1t is of
crude design and workmanship, and was
its lines proving more conclusively than
anything else its antiquity.
Shortly after the assassination of Presi-
dent Lincoln an unsuccessful attempt was
made upon the life of the Car of Russia
A fleet of American warships was sent on
a cruise across the ocean, and incidentally
carried a message of congratula ton to
Russia's ruler from President Johnson. AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Fox accom-
panied the squadron, on board the Milan
tonomoh, commanded by John J. Cornwell
of Lisbon, Ohio. Secretary Fox was pre-
sented with the sword by the Gar in per-
son, as a token of his high esteem, accom-
panied by the following speech:
II present to you, sir, as the representa-
tive of one of the foremost and mightiest
of modern nations, this saber, as mater
ial appreciation of your nations high re-
gard for my welfare and safety. Through
ages ii has been treasured in the archives
of my fathers as a semblance of the NIGH
ty races that swayed the destinies of flu
ture generationskon the shores of the Med
iterranean it was carried through scenes
of carnage which marked the upbuilding
of the powerful sovereignty of Western
Asia, and has outlived the kingdoms IL
helped build.
The ancient treasure was accepted by the
Secretary, with an appropriate response,
and as the fleet steamed out of the Rus
sian port he presented the sword to Com
mander Cornwell.
While the fleet was off Toulon, France,
Commander Cornwell died suddenly of
heart failure. The vessels pulled In at the
port and telegram was sent to Paris
for a burial casket. A squad of marines,
under command of a Lieutenant, was sent
on shore to receive the casket from the
train and convey 1t abroad the dead COM
mander's vessel The casket missed con-
nections but the sailors, who were una
ware of that fact, hustled a casket which
arrived on the train off to the ironclad.
The fact that the box was quite heavy
did not excite the suspicion Of the sailors
and after 1t had been taken 10 the cabin
the mate opened the cover. Consterna-
ton reigned on board when there was dis
closed the body of beautiful young lady
buried in a wealth of flowers.
The lid of the casket was hurriedly re-
stored to its place and preparations were
promptly made TO return the body to the
depot in Toulon. But the story OF the AL
legged seizure had spread. creating intense
excitement in the French port, and a city
official was preparing to board the Amer
lean warship with a search warrant Elk
plantations were made, but the mistake
came near causing an international dis
ruption.
The French newspapers characterized
the actions of the American sailors in the
most scathing terms, assuming that the
taking OF the body OF the young lady was
a prearranged plan.
Commander Cornwell was buried at
Toulon. and the old sword was given into
his Widows keeping, and she In turn pre-
scented Il 10 her brother-in-law. Mr.. Far
mer.
The blade is twenty-five and one-haif
inches long and one inch wide, tapering