Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-07-14
SWORD TWO THOUSAND.
Years Old Presented by tho Car OF
Russia to President Johnson.

I.P. Farmer, the County surveyor
of Columbiana County, Ohio who
resides at Lisbon, has in his posses
sion one of the rarest historical speoi-
mems in existence. 1t is an old
Damascus blade, which, it is claimed,
is over 1000 years old. 1t is of
crude design and workmanship, and
was made entirely by hand, the ire
gularity of its lines proving more
conclusively than anything else its
antiquity.
Shortely after the assassination of
Lincoln an unsuccessful attempt was
made upon the life of the Car of
Russia. A fleet Of American war
ships was sent on cruise across the
ocean, and incidentally carried q
message of congratulation to Rus
sia's ruler from President Johnson.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox
accompanied the squadron, on board
the Nliantonamah, commanded by
John j. Cornell, of Lisbon, Ohio.
Secretary Fox was presented with
the sword by the Czar in person, as a
token of his high esteem, accom-
pined by the following speech: g.
81 present to you, sir, as the repre-
sentative of one of the foremost and
mightiest modern nations, this sabre,
as a material appreciation of your
nations high regard for my welfare
and safety. Through ages it has
been treasured in the archives of my
fathers as a scmblance of the mighty
races that swayed the destinies of fu-
ture generations on tho shores of the
Mediterranean; it was carried
through scenes of carnage which
marked the upbuilding of the power
full sovereignty of Western Asia, and
has outlived the kingsdoms it helped
to build"
The ancient treasure was accepted
by the Secretary, with an appropri-
ate response, and as the fleet steamed
out of the Russian port he presented
the sword to Commander Cornwcll.
While the fleet was off Toulon,
France, Commander Cornwoli died
suddenly of heart failure. The ves-
sci pulled in at the port and tele-
gram W1F 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 it aboard tho
dead Commanders vessel The cas-
ket missed connection, but the sailors,
who were unware Of that fact, hus-
tied casket which arrived on tho
train off to the ironclad. The fact
that the box was quito heavy did not
excite the suspicion of the sailors,
and after it had been taken to the
cabin the mate opened tho cover.
CONSERVATION reigned on board
when there was disclosed the body
of beautiful young lady, buried in
a wreath Of flowers.
The lid of the casket was hurriedly
restored to It's place and preparations
were promptly made to return the
body to the depot at Toulon. But
the story of tho alleged seizure had
spread, creating intense excitment in
the French port, and city official
was preparing to board the American
war ship with search warrant. Ex-
plantations were made, but the mis-
take came near causing an interna-
tional disruption.
The French newspapers character
lied the action Of the American
sailors in the most scathing terms,
assuming that the taking of the
body OF the young lady was pre-
arranged plan.
Commander Cornwcll was buried
at Toulon, and the old sword was
given into his widows keeping, and
she in turn presented it to her brother
in-law, Mr.. Farmer.
I The blade is twenty-five and ono
half inches long and ono inch vide,
tapering to point. Tho hilt is
made of horn, ornamented with
tw- ed brass wire, and is as hard as
adamant. The cross-picces are of
leather, tipped with sheet brass. The
scabbard is as interesting as the
blade, being fashioned from wood,
with a sheet brass covering. 1t was
ornamentod in crude style by indenta
OF a pointed tool. Near the hilt, on
the blade, are a number of odd char
acters, resembling ancient Hebrew
] linscripti0na, -Philadelphia Times. y.