The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09
HISTORY OF A
STOlth IDOL.


tn ERHAPs the finest collection of
~ Oriental idols in this country is
ll6 that owned by James H. Rich
ardson of Philadelphia. who has
devoted much time and money 20 getting
together an aggregation Of curios which
Is practically priceless. Each OF the
cuaint-iooking or rcpuls,vc images has its
own particular story attached. but none
of these narratives Is moro strange or
tragic than that connected with a bronxa
figure which has Its origin In Burmnh.
Some tifne In the early years Of the
eighteenth century II was cast at shwe-
ho, In Upper Burmah. and was later sent
to Havre In French Tonquin. where. ac-
cording to native account, II stood nu-
noticed for ten years In the Kuanyin tenn
pie. This cdincs was burned, but tho
idol was rescued by a priest, who sub
sequently fed to the coast during some
sectarian troubles taking the image with
him. AT small village he found an iso-
lated band OF Buddhists. who hailed with
Joy tho advent pr priest. and the image
was Installed In q tiny temple ON the
shores OF the Gulf OF Tonanin. From
the time OF the priests arrival the little
community seemed 10 prosper. and won-
derful cures OF dread diseases were as
cr1hcd TO the influence OF the little idol.
In the year 1880 the French bark I.'rs-
persnce lay In the Gulf OF Tonauln Some
or her crew. having hocn given shore
leave, discovered the little shrine. and
In the twilight OF the interior, mistak-
Ing tho semi-nrecious stones and tiny met
nj mirrors set in the cIncture which gar
landed the calm brows Of the god Tor
Jewels OF price, plotted 10 steal the lni-
age Late that night boat set out from
L'Esperance. ana under cover 81 dark
ness the eonspirators gained the shore.
The temple was reached without incl
dent. and one Jean Pitou. the hoatswain,
"a In hsslA Is h.
parenrly deserted temple, and followed
by the rest OF the men. plucked tho
bronze from ita pedestal. lie then drop
ped II into tho open mouth 81 q bag
held in readiness by the ships hoy.
While the robbers were quietly chuck
ling among themselves at their success
somebody leaped forth from the gloom,
and Pitou. with a sobhing cry fen stab
bed 10 the heart Instantly the iittia
temple was nlve with men, who grnp-
pied with tho sailors, Ono Of the latter
whipped the sack from the hands ~ s,is
boy and ran for his life. The ships hoy
was quickly dispatched Two others ~
the party remained: one OF these. IN his
confusion. ran directly away from tho
4 beach and apparently escaped. vhilo the
last OF tho party was stabbed IN tho alb
domen.
Two men had been left In charge Of tho
beached boat, and as the hunted sailor
Htai tuNbHtHttu Win MS nag. came leap
Ing down the beach. pursued by half a
dozen OF the lightly sleeping aud now
thoroughly aroused natives, frenried al
the indignity offered their divinity. the
raiiors In the boat fired. but without rf-
feet The fugitive threw the has into the
boat, and. putting his shoulder 90 IN.
bow, pushed her on. The men in her
sprang to their oars and pulled clear.
They reached the ship In safety. and just
as dawn was breaking the sailor who had
run into the woods swan hack 20 tho
ship. reoounting how the crew had been
butchared.
Those on board were horror-ssrurk. aus.
being supcrstitious, they thought the idol
had been the cause OF hli their misfor-
tunes. and would have thrown n overheard
had not the captain. Marie Robert Mont
fancon. confiaestsd 70. when he reached
Havrs he found from n dealer In ENma
that the stones with which Il had been
earnished were OF little value. lie sold Il
TO an English collector Of cnrsaa, from
whom IL descended 30 its last owner. who
presented It 20 Mr. Richardson.
Tho idol In Of rirh. reddish hranxe.
about twenty inches in diameter. partly
hollow and Weighing perhaps thirty
pounds. II represents the parsonage
known 20 Western thought ms the snda
sakya-A NUM-. IL nIts with crossed iegs
In the Mandrn valra pasana, or the pase
In which images Of tho BuddhA are rnest
frequently represented. The tslak. 90
mark in the center % tho forehead
common in Japanese Bu9dhas. u wanting.
ard the figure ats upon a plain PEDESTAL
instssd OF upon the lotus flower pf tho
japanese Eakya- The cofonAi about tho
browa as has been said. II set with stones.
but half Of u was broken away whsn u
WAS thrown into the boat, The eyes are
OF white enamel. with black pupils, AMI
present this pecuhhfity. that when viewed
from a distance they appear 20 look away
from the observer. bat when seen from .
yards distance they look directly into
the eyes with nn expression at once calm
and gofliks. sinister and cruel. hooking
ara sarrQsf4r.