The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-24

finally placed in the museum. During
the recent visit Of Icons Kai Ghcu and
Pow Chez to New Orleans. saws the
Times Democrat OF that city. the lat
ter discussed the disappearance OF the
tree and its discovery at Boston.
"Of all the mystery connected with
the Chinese Imperial City, said he,
"this is probably the most ineXphcable-
For more than two centuries the stone
tree has been closely guarded day AMI
night, and only a few persons knew OF
its existence or where il was kept
though il has a romantic history ana
that is why the discovery of its loss
created so great a furore several years
ago among Chinese officials. The en-
pre- was searched, but no trace Of 10
could be found. Then an effort was
made 10 locate the person or persons
VINO were responsible 70 rits disappear
dnce. but nothing could be learned from
those guarding the treasure house. as
none OF them had ever seen the tree.
An investigation followed, lasting sew
eral years. and the officers to whom
was lntrusted the mission of locating
the culprit or culprits made a report
10 the effect that the treasure tree had
ceen stolen years before Then an eff
Tort was made 20 locate it throughout
the world, but no trace of II was ever
found, and it had almost been forgotten
Wnen, shortly after the Boxer troubles.
the tree made it's appearance very. sud-
denly in the Boston museum. How it
got 70 Boston is as much a mystery
as us disappearance from the treasure
house in the Forbidden City. and its
discovery created a great connection
among the Chinese throughout tia
world Il has been a subject of dis
CuSSiOn among the Chinese Officials.
and the matter was brought 10 the at
tentiOn OF the United States authori-
ties. but il seems that the tree is lost
to the Chinese forever.
Were It not known that il dis
appeared before the invasion of the for
eign troops, its loss TO China could
easily be explained, but il was known
10 have been stolen years before the
EOXer troubles. It is a mystery how
it was taken from the treasure house
and carried from the Imperial City,
and there is still more mystery at
tached to its disappearance, because oC
the fact that no trace Of its where
abOuts could be found till after the
Boxer troubles. All Chinese are asking
two questions: How did il get out OF
China, and where has it been since il
was stolen years ago? But there prob
ably is no one living who can answer
these questions The value of the tree
cannot be computed in dollars and
cents. as it is the only thing Of its kind
in the world.
According 10 tradition, Il was pre-
sented To the emperor Of China many
many years ago by a Chinese prince
who had been condemned TO death for
some alleged crime. but whose limo
cence was discovered only a few DAYS
before the date set for his execution.
He had been confined 70 prison for q
number Of years, and during his incar-
ceratlon mad made this tree from ma
tive stones. When il was officially
known that he was innocent the en-
peror pardoned the prince, who, for joy
at being restored to life and liberty.
presented his majesty with the tree.
which was always kept in the treasure
house"
Though Pow Chez is in a sense an
exile from his native country. because
of his prominence in the movement TO
dethrone the empress dowager. and has
long been a resident of the United
States and Australia. during which
period he has embraced the Christian
religion, he spoke Of the missing treas
ure with marked reverence.