The Wichita daily eagle., 1900-09-05
SEEKERS FOR PEARLS
Lured by d Fairy Story of an
Empress Necklace
EXPLORE CORFUS WATERS
What They Will Find If They
Find Anything.
EXPLORE CORFU'S WATERS

fulIy OQe-ndlI OF the pOpuIdJlOn Oh the
island of Corfu, where the late Empress
Elizabeth kept up a magnificent estab-
lshment for many years. have turned to
pc arl fishers, and so great is their ardor
for the work that the old-timers hardly
reco gnize these idlest of all the Ionians,
who neglect not only their agricultural
purslh is in favor of the new one that
premises unusually high reward. but even
ther siesta and their favorite occupation
of fleeing foreign visitors.
The fishermen and amateur fishermen
are searching for one of the greatest
treasures of the imperial house of Haps-
burg, her late majesty's necklace, the
same which Francis Joseph hung around
Elizabeth's neck on that glorious April
day in 154, when he called her his bride
The emperor had ransacked his crown
treasury to collect material for this un-
paraleled necklace, but though his Golfers
were well filed with the Inheritance Of a
long line of splendor-loving ancestors, it
took a round million forms in cash to
complete the string, of which each gem
was the exact counterpart of every other
in siIvery whiteness, smoothness and won
drous iridescerce.
And this necklace iss lying somewhere
on the bottom of the channel Of Corfu or
Ionian sea, where the Islands crowned
guest herself deposited it.
1t may be buried under five, ten or a
hundred fathoms of water, it may stick
in the mud near the coast Of Albania, or
it may be drifting toward the heel of It
alys boot. Apparently nobody knows its
exact or approximate whereabouts, but
the Corfu people are determined to find
out The prize is too alluring to let it
slip through sheer idleness or want of en-
terprise.
So the "deadest" eason of the year has
been turned into the busiest, and every
one with a capacity of holding his breath
and a little courage besides has turned
diver, either on his own hook or as hire
ling Of some company of small capitalists
who combined to search for the treasure
on the basis of sharing expenses, gain or
loss.
The Corfu diver, as we see him now,
everywhere at the seashore and during
yachting and boating expeditions, doesn't
believe in expensive apparatus. He goes
to work in the costume of our forefather
Adam, save for a girdle, on which he
hopes to hang his find. In his right hand
he carries a spike to defend himself
against sharks or swordfsh that occasion
ally visit these shores; he lowers himself
with the aid of a stone weighing some 40
or 50 pounds. and relies for his life on the
watchfulness of a friend or partner
The majority of amateur divers remain
under water not more than half minute.
but there are some, having got used to
the business, that can stay from so TO 90
seconds. OF late a party of professional
divers made their appearance with cum
bersome dress and bell They are said to
be in the employ of rich Athens specula-
tors, and if they value their lives they
viii continue to keep away from Corfu,
fo- the islanders regard the treasure as
theirs by right of shore law. Whether
that will hold good in case the necklace
! is recovered is a question about which the
courts of Athens and Vienna will have to
come to an understanding, but whether
they dare keep it or must peturn it TO the
empress heirs If found. in either case
they are sure Of ;, high reward.
Up to the beginning of 1889, the empress
and her necklace were inseparable In
fact, she never left it off. On state occa-
sions it glittered on her white neck, to-
gether with other ewels of priceless value;
in every DAY life she wore it below the
collar or silk band other waist.
Superstitious persons, and envious per
sons, too had warned Elizabeth against
the pearls from the very beginning of her
married life. Pearls signify tears" they
said, and their prophecy became true as
everybody knows; still her majesty re-
fused to see the connection between her
misfortunes and her favorite jewels and
continued to wear them
As a matter of fact the empress derived
much satisfaction from the circumstance
that it was seemingly impossible to dupli-
cate her treasure, for though the czarina.
Queen Victoria and dozens OF lesser
queens gave carte blanche to their jewel
ers, these gentlemen sooner or later had
to acknowledge their inability TO match
Elizabeth's necklace in detail. Even the
two richest of the Baronesses Rothschud
gave up and small wonder. The majority
of Eizabeth's pearls were brought from
the crusaders by the ancient Hapsburgs
:
own treasure chest.
While varying in weight from "a to 100
carats. each pearl was Of the first water.
its delicate texture free from sneck or
flaw. The pearls were Of perfectly Spher-
ical shape and their color was white and
clear almost translucent, with a subdued
iridescent sheen.
As usual. Elizabeth wore the necklace
on January so. 1883. when the news Of ber
sons suicide reached the Hofburg. Count
Hoyos. who arrived form the house of
death about midday. SAYS he found Ter
MAJESTY in her writing room. dressed in a
white wrapper. her only Jewels being The
historic pearls. drawn in double row
around her neck Hardened 10 fare.s on
slauShts as she was, Elizabeth did not
break down when II was announced that
her son, the her to the crown. ana the
hope of despairing Austria, hal suffc~a5
a dishonorabie death. On The contrary
she showed remarkable courage and r5cI-
ness Not tear moistsned ner eyes. al /
though her features al a. once became
drawn and colorleSs. Ia7aei. sbe va.
able 20 take the rIa-e I her. husband. i
who entirely broke doNa ana ar the We SHIT
OF his SORROW.
Tell my people that It IS 10 the eur
-ase and devotion of that noble woman
tho empress. that I have not gwen away
10 absolute DESPAIR said rranets Joseoa |
TO his prime minister OF the eve g that
terrible day.
For once Elizabeth assumed command !
AZ court; she instructed the ministers rot I.
% accept he- husbands orders whea n
intended TO publish pro>samattlh an
nolacl7g his resignation. The enpress.
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