The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-02
MARIE ANTOINErrE sIDEBOARD
How nit of the Louvre Came 40
New England.

Now and then one IL led 10 wish that
some inanlmate object might for once be
endowed with the power OF speech: that
It's story might be heard as tirst hand:
although the unexpected sometimes hap
pens. however. the impossible Is quite an
other thing. and in regard TO the subject
OF this article a plain statement Of facts
Is oil that can be given.
! An interesting piece Of furniture whose
history-could we hear IL from itself-
would be well worth the hearing Is a side
board which may be seen in the dining
/ room OF Hon. James II. Baxter. ex-Aayor
OF Portland. Me. IL was in 1881 when as
/ its present owner was n Thonastan. Ne,
ne saw on exhibition a somewhat impos-
/ ing sideboard. and with his weIl-known
love OF che antique. admired. and at
length purchased the piece. which was
sent 10 his Portland residence.
The sideboard Is OF French marquetry,
semi-circular IN form. the apparanet
drawers OF which open like small doors
| by silver handles. each handlepieee being
/ engraved with an acorn and oak leaf.
/ Some time after las removal TO Portland
/ a woman called TO see Mr.. Baxter and
| speaking OF the piece OF furniture asked
/ II he knew It's history. No. he AID not
know n, and upon this assertion the wo-
man made known the surprising fact chat
| Il had once been the property Of no less
a parsonage than the French Queen. Ma
/ RE Antoinette. and came from the
Louvre. IEcrcdulous as this at FIRST
sounded, subsequent investigation
brought 10 light facts which proved be-
yond a doubt the truth Of the woman's
statement
How II came about that the personal
property OF the unfortunate Queen was
found on sale In n little New England
town Is a story thar must be told by IT.
self. the plot OF which. had Il succeed
ed. would have added a page OF romance
10 the histories OF two nations.
During the years 1888 and 1924 there
hailed from Wiscasset. Maine. or an ISL
| and I'm the wiscasset harbor-called by the
Indians Jeremy Sausm." ard later known
| as EdEecomb island-a man by the name
OF Stephen Clough. gentleman and ship
/ master. Aside from his fine old mansion
| Capt. Clough had inherited by marriage
tho staunch ship Sally. with which. during
| 1898. he was engaged In carrying lumber.
under contract. from Wiscasset 10 France;
that Capt. Coughs interests were some
what divided about this time Is shown by
n portion OF his family record. which
reads as follows: stephen Cough was at
Paris during tho reign OF revolutionary
terror under Robcspierre. and actively en-
gagged In the AID OF the victims Of the rev.
olutionary vengeance" The sally being
noted for her speed in all weathers was.
as may readily be seen. an efficient ally Ia
/ his work Of rescue.
That the captain was well acquainted
| with the condition Of affairs IN France
was due not alone to the fact OF his fire.
quent presence there. but 10 the addition
al fact that a ncighhor and friend down
| on the Maine coast was at the same time
a trusted and wideawske French officer In
the military service OF his country. This
mnu. Benneto Claude de 81. Pry, had in
l1so established a salt factory on the shore
OF tho sheepsco, and while nominally
engaged in trade In America. was never
theless In intimate touch with the affairs
OF state IN France.
So Il came about that IN the year 1873
while the Sally lay In a French harbor
awaiting a cargo for her return TO the
Sheepscot. Bennete Claude dc 81. Pry sug-
gested TO a few loyal friends Of the mon
archy a most remarkable aud unexpected
freight from the little American ship As
every student % history will remember.
the poor. deposed Queen, Marie Ansoi-
nette. was az this time in prison. suffering
from the indiguites OF her brutal iallag3.
and ST. Pry's suggestion was nothing less
than that the Ssliy'e return cargo should
consist OF the Queen and a few Of her
closest friends. with clothing and other
provisions OF comfort OF residence IN a
strange land.
Disguised % longshorcmen 81. Pry end
mis- copieCerates called upon Capt. ciorEh
one day nuc made known to nln their
plan. II was u bold and dangerous ore,
but this did not discourage the sturdy cap
tain. he was as eager 90 begin ita carry
ing out as we're the instigators them
selves. II vas not long before the chips
cargo icgan 20 come aboard. there we're
many purchases for the captain so
called. bat could these packages and cases
have been opened and examined these
purchases" would have seemed 20 .ndi-
cate ? wild eNtrava sance. 10 say the ie3et.
There was furniture OF royal rake. srd
most elaborate design. with other honae-
hold decorations. and splendid SQUIRT gowns
much too Lendsome TO be suited L, the
simple social requirements Of the Wiscas-
set danes. oven though they did belong .
the family 81 stephen Clough, eentleman
aud shipniasteT
Al length everything was IN readiness.
and the sally waited only for the signal
which should tell her masfer that the
plot had succeeded and the queen was
ready TO embark. The waiting was In
vain. Marie Antoinette had been removed
10 a deeper dungeon, and when she once
Journey BY means Of the broad Atlantic,
but set out upon another sea which we
coll eternity. For after several days OF
waiting Capt Clough formed one OF that
crowd which on the memorable sixteenth
OF October. fI9a. saw tine unfortunate
queen led TO the scanold, where a trag-
edv was ended.
IL was not until early IN the following
year chat Capt. Ciough reached again his
native shore. and then it IS said that
the Sally. though deprived OF one royal
passenger. yct brought no less a person.
axe than the prince and statesman. Tal ey-
rand. Certain u Is that he. with a com
pation. arrivcd IN Wiscasset about this
time. and no other Maine ship 80 far as
known was then IN che French commerce.
and all other vessels were subject 10 the
French inhibition.
When the sally once more dropred
anchor IN che Wiscaeset harhor fabulous
stories were soon floating about as 10 the
cargo she brought. maay Of which have
come down 20 the present day Boston
man. Capt James Swan was owner OF
the lumber trade IN which the Sally and
her master were engaged. and ~ he had
no other hand In che plot Cor the rescue
Of the unhappy queen. he at beast M
contract owner. was entitled 90 a share
of the ships unclaimed cargo. A little
later we ma him building a fine mansion
N dorchester, which, when cor1raefats