New-York tribune., 1905-04-23
STONEHENGE'S OWNER.
Wig SIR Edmund .Antrobus Has
Fenced ia the Famous Ruins.

cTibed 10y the most eminent scientists OF the
day 10 an epoch nearly two thousand years
before The birth OF Christ. Under the circum-
stances, the public has taken exception 10 the
action OF Sir Edmund AntrobUs the owner OF
the ground upon which 81 is situated IN surround
!ag the hoary ruins with wire fence and in
charging admission Zee. People feel about f.
indeed. in much the same way they might feel
L the Khedive OF Egypt were TO surround the ap-
prosches % she great Pyramids near Cairo and TO
ghe Sphinx with a fence and 10 debar the public
from access thereto. save on the payment OF a fee
The matter has now been brought the fore by
the lawsuits which have been brought against Sir
Edmund Antrobus by societies organized for the
avowed purpose OF protecting the rights OF the
public Finding that There was no OF
inducing the government TO purchase Stone
henge from Sir Edmund in the same way that IL
might buy q park for the use OF the people and
thRt moreover. the title OF Sir Edmund 10 the land
or which Stonehenge is located is unassailabIe
.hey have brought suit against him I'm the Court
of Chancery Ia L0Adon on the plea that the public
have a right OF way TO the monument
The Attorney General and a big array Of legal
talent are conducting The case against Sir Edmund.
and. although defeated last week in The lower
courts are carrying the meter 10 appeal The
bar0net has made clear his position namely that
n be has surrounded stonehenge with a barhed
wire fence il is for the purpose of protecting the
stones from the injurious treatment TO which they
were formerly subjected by people without any
reverence for the hoary past. Moreover as some
of the stones are ia danger Of falling he fears
that r. the event Of anybody being injured there
bv, he might D. held financially responsible.
That rhe ruins have undergone the most shame
m treatment II IS impossible 20 deny some of
the giant stones were brought down 10 the ground
through holes dug by gypsies. And while some
q 1he tourists Contented themselves with merely
chipping The stones IN their anxiety 10 secure
felics. there were others who actually attempted
10 blow them from their position BY means Of gun
powder ana dynamite, with view Of ascertaining
whether rhere were not any treasures concealed
beneath
All these arguments Of Sir Edmund are held 10
be OF no avail by the Attorney General who
claims that inasmuCh as Stonehenge has lain open
20 al rhe world since English history began, the
public has acquired right OF way TO every poT-
tIon of the grounds and he adds that anything in
the shape Of modern inclosure tends 10 destroy
.he spell formerly created by the aspect Of these
immense stones standing alone in strange circles,
-ur from human habitstions In the midst OF a vast,
open. rolling pain-these stones which were re
garded prehistoric already a thousand years
sg0 when Henry OF Huntington wrote Of them
-aXton the pioneer OF printing. referred 10 the
mystery q their origin: Sir Philip Sidney sang of
hem In the reign OF Queen Elizabeth: King
Charles II beguiled a day after the disastrous
5attle OF Worcester in en1eavoring 70 count the
stones while hiding az Hele House. and Daniel
Defoe Of Robinson Crusoe" fame, likewise de-
scrtded his pilgrimage 10 the spot.
The price for which Sir Edmund offered 10 sell
he rains ana the twenty acres Of land on which
they stand 70 the government or 10 any public or
1-vate body $50 GO and there has always been
dread lest andrew Carnegie. J. Pierpont Morgan
y some other American uulti-Clilli0nalre should
axe advantage % this Offer. purchase the whole
property and ruins and ship the latter of
America al the same time sub5ecTng their present
site 10 an exhaustive exploration by means OF ex-
,svauous which would probably reveal wonder
fully Interesting relics Of the creators Of the temple
and possibly treasure
Sir Edmund is a distinguished soldier who served
Fth much Eallautry in Ine Guards in EgypJ. and
who since retiring from the army has assumed, as
partner. the representation Of the hereditary family
interest in CoutJs's Bank In London. He is mar
RED 70 Florence Ssrtoris, a niece Of Mrs. Nellie
Grant Sartoris, and his uncle. the late Monsignor
F--der1ck AnrroUus was for many years secretary
q the British Legation washington during the
Presidancies 0f Lincoln, Johnson and Grant. he
retired from the diplomatic service as first secre-
tary entered holy orders q the Catholic Church,
and became Superior or that exceedingly arislo-
cratic scclesiastcal establishment in London known
rs The Ora1ory at Brompton-
Sir Edmund Autrobus is known officially of
RuIherflrd the first holder of the Antrobus
lar0neIcy having received royal permission 10 as
sumo this style. IS the owner OF the Rutherfurd
estates tormerly belonging 20 the Scotch barony OF
Rutherford. This peerage became dormant in IVA,
and L genoa loeists are 10 be believed there are in
America peopie VINO have very strong claims there
70. among them the Rutherfurds OF Eew-York,
whose armoria bearing identical with those Of
tie a.5tinne lords OF Rutherfurd-
WELLER A SOURCE OF TROUBLE AGAIN.
The loyalty 10 the crown OF General Neyler, Mar
Quis a Teueriee can he relied U05n only when he
happerz 10 Dc IN one. When he returned from
Cuda II may be remembered that ne cOquetted for
a time with The Carlists. and even with the Re
publican party. before being appeased by his ap-
poutreut 10 The position OF Minister OF Var
While holding that once ne managed 10 populartze
himself with The ron-oommission@d officers by in
creaslrc their pay and ther prerogatives. But his
uslrrzuon of authority. his offensive manners and
hs saae-s1arg record aroused the prejudice OF the
young King against him. while the Queen Mother
has slp-avs deteeted the man 50 justly known
''the butcher % cuba
Since being o.sted from ministerial Office. he has
once more assumed the role of a malcontent and
tie present adTunistra tou AZ Madrid fearing that
b. nay use his undeniahle influence with the non
commissioned officers of the army. and also with
rhe IJve- ranks u the commissioned officers. II
endearorilE 10 propiJiate him by means of the
Grand Cross Of the Military order o. san Fernando.
n De- conferred upou him for BIS services in cuba
Tae order ~ san Fernando Ike the IRON Cross OF
Germany. The order q Maria Theresa Ia Austria.
;ae 81 George Of Russia. The Victoria cross IN
England ard the Congressional Medal IN the United
States Is granted only for fears OF altogether eE
eeprlo1a galautry and heroism iu fs minor grades
while The Grand cross or First class Of the Order
which carries with Fl pension Tor Hte 81 500 IS
restricted 10 generals Who have commanded NetoI1
ous armies IN the held and admirals ~ victorious
aeets in naval battle. The proposal therefore 10
confer This distinction that Is 10 say the highest OF
al military honors upon the very general who II
above al Others responsible for the loss 10 SPAN
merely Ot Cuba. but also OF her entire coollai
empire arouses the utmost Indignation among The
public and the King IL Fesolutely declining 10 atllA
his Signature 10 the decree granting the order
which the Cabinet IS endeavoring 70 Obtain from
him is fn6orsed by ali sensible people in Spain
vel ss by al field officers Of The army and nag