The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-25
TRAGIC STORY OF AN IDOL.
stolen From an Oriental Temple q
Century and "a Half Ago.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
Perhaps the finest collection of oriental
idols in this country is that owned by
James E. Richardson of Philadelphia, who
has devoted much time and money TO get
ting together an aggregation OF curlos
which is practically priceless. Eaoh OF
the quaint looking or repulsiVe images mas
its own particular story attached, but none
of these narratives is more strange or
tragic than that connected with bronze
figure which has It's origin In Burmah'
Some time in the early years of the eigh-
teenth century il was cast at Shwebo, IN
upper Burmah. and was later sent 10
Havre. In French Tonquin where, accord
ing to native account, 1t stood unnotlced
for ten years in the Kuan-Yin temple.
This edifiCe was burned, but the idol was
rescued by "a priest who subsequently fed
to the coast during some sectarian trou-
BILE, taking the image with him. Al
small village he found an Isolated band of
Buddhists who hailed with Joy the ad-
vent of a priest, and the Image was IN
stalled in a tiny temple on the shore OF
the Gulf OF Tonquin. From the time OF
the priests arrival the little community
seemed to prosper, and wonderful cures
of dread diseases were ascribed TO the
influence of the little idol
In the year 1850 the French bark LES
perance lay in the Gulf of Tonquin. Some
of her crew, having been given shore
leave, discovered the little shrine, and In
the twilight of the interior, mistaking the
semi-precious stones and tiny metal mirr-
ors set in the cincture which garlanded
the calm brows of the god for Jewels of
price plotted 10 ravish the shrine and
steal the image. Late that might boat
set out from LEsperance, and under cover
OF darkness. the conspirators gained the
shore The temple was reached without
incident, and one Jean Pitou, the boat
swain, walking boldly 20 the front of the
apparently deserted temple and followed
by the rest of the men plucked the bronze
from it's pedestal. He then dropped 1t In
to the open mouth OF a bag held in read
mess by the ships boy.
Natives Reused to Fury.
While the robbers were quietly chuck
ling among themselves at their success
something leaped forth from the gloom,
and Pitou, with a sobbing cry, fell,
stabbed 10 the heart. instantly the little
temple was alive with men, who grapplel
with the sailors. One OF the latter whipped
the sack from the hands Of the boy and
ran for his life. The ships boy was quick
ly dispatched and his ehril cries rang
through the night. Two others OF the
party remained: one of these, in his con-
fusion, ran directly away from the beach
and apparently escaped. while the last of
the party was stabbed In the abdomen.
Two men had hten left in charge of the
beached boat and as the hunted sailor,
still encurebered with his bag, came leap
ing down the beach. pursued by half
dozen OF the lightly sleeping and now
thoroughly aroused natives, frenzed OF
the indignity offered their divinity. the
sailors in the boat fired, but without ef-
feet. The fugitive threw the bag into
the boat and, putting his shoulder 10 the
bow, pushed her off into the water The
men In her sprang to their oars and pull
ed clear just a mighty stroke from the
short sword of the foremost in pursuit
Glove the last of the unfortunate lnan
men from crown TO chin. The others In
the boat reached the ship In safety, and
Just as dawn was breaking the sailor who
had run into the woods swan back to tho
snip, recoUnting how the crew had been
butchci ed.
Found Its Way 90 America.
Those on board were horror-struck and
ignorant, superstitious mariners, they
thofght the Idol had been the cause OF all
their misfortunes, and would have thrown
II overheard had not the captain, Marie
Robert Montfaucon, conhscated It.. Wren
he reached Havre he found from a dealer
in gems that the stones with whlcn Il hud
been garnisned were OF little value He
eoid Il TO an English collector OF cuTtog
from whom II descended to tts last owns
who presented IL TO Mr.. Richa rdson.
The idol Is Of rich reddish bronze. about
Inc In