The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-30
THE CARS NECKLACE.
Sold Under the Hammer in New York
City for $4,000.

From the New York American
A magnificent pearl necklace, once tho
gift of a Russian Gar, and as ill-omened
as it Is beautiful, was sold at auction
for $4,000 on Fifth avenue yesterday to
prevent a possible panic in Wall street.
The great circlet of precious stones,
for which a Car paid $135 900, became
the property of ]. Dreicer & Son, diamond
dealers, of No. 202 Fifth avenue, and any
American who will give the handsome
commission its owners ask and is willing
to face the "hoodoo' that has brought
disaster on every man or woman to whom
it has descended, may become it's possess
sor.
A year before he died. in 1894, Alexan-
der Ill, father of the present Emperor of
Russia, ordered the royal jeweler to
search out the fifty-four finest pearls in
Europe of uniform size aud of the first
water and to fashion a necklace for the
wife of his ambassador TO Austria who
had won his majesty's undying graft
tude by great diplomatic stroke which
had much to do with rehablitating RUS
sian supremacy at a time when it was in
sad decay
When the present Emperor succeeded to
his fathers throne he removed the AUS
TRAN ambassador in disgrace it is said,
and the diplomat went to Paris, where
the necklace was the envy of all the
grande DANES of the third republic.
But close on the heels Of their triumphs
in France the former envoy and his wife
began to feel the pinch of poverty, and
they sold the eirelet to Paris diamond
merchant for S60,000
An American broker, suddenly made
rich by a great strike in Wall street,
amazed Paris by his lavish expenditures.
which he capped with the purchase of the
necklace at price exceeding 500, 900.
brought ri IN nd
gave them to his wife At this point fer
a time some mystery surrounds the bane-
full gems.
There is a story that while the woman
wore them at the greatest functions of
the 400" her husband lost his fortune
in the street and had TO take back his
gift to sell 1t for the necessities of life.
But of this there is no certainty and
when next heard of the necklace had
passed into the jewel collection of tho
Francis p. Church estate. That was less
than five years ago.
The necklace became the property of
another Wall street broker, then and un-
til two years ago a power on change,
and man still generally believed to be
worth millions. His fortune began to
dwindle immediately; speculaiions went
wrong, the market wrought steadily
against him, until it is sad that today
only his collection of jewels stands be-
tween the former prince of finance and
utter ruin.
In his last desperate effort to gain
funds, the Wall street man took the
royal necklace to the Fifth Avenue Art
galleries. and commissioned the auction
eer to sell 1t, with his other Jewels to
the highest bidder. He stipulated only
that his name should not be divulged.
If 1t Is, he declared, mot only | will
De ruined, but there will follow such
crash In Wall street as it has not known
In many days, and many millions that
may be saved would be jeopardized
The auctioneer kept his part of the
agreement, but a few learned of the
tragic story, and about 100 rich men and
women gathered in the galleries at $50
Firth avenue when the man with the
hammer finally reached catalogue num-
Der 1928.
Perhaps so that he could tell the story
alterward, one man offered $4,000 with =
laugh.
The auctioneer frowned angrily. and III.
crowd groaned. But by leaps and bounda
the DDS went up $1,000 at a time until
Soo,oOo had been offered. Both men and
women had Joined in the game, swayinx
in fascination
Some one bid se5.00O, and Maurice
Brewer. of - John street, lifted the figure
quickly to $4,000. A richly dressed won-
al said. Il make it s7S,O0O"
Her name was lost in the shout that
followed the bid by c. s. Dawson
IN give $s50O0," he said, quietly.
The auctioneer tried vainly to get mora
for the precious necklace and the crowd
gasped and gasped again when the ham
mer fell. Dawson Immediately Announced
that he had purchased the necklace for
J. Dreicer & Son. He understood. he said
that they would offer the string NJ
private sale. ~
The days total receipts were s1s5. 9s4 az
More than half. it is said, were gained
from the brokers' jewels. Whether II il
In the next few days