The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01

that she was born in the Providence,
II. l.. poorhouse and that she was |
adopted by a Mr. Bowen, whose name |
mat when she was II she eloped to |
New York with Col. Peter Croix, a |
British officer, and that she lived with |
him In fine wooden house at Thirty. |
fourth street and Fifth avenue, where |
later A. r. Stewart had his marble
booker Trust has its classic structure.
There may be a grain Of truth in each
Of these stories. At any rate the record
in st. Peters Church in Barclay street,
New York. which she gave when she
was married April II. 1904. sets down
the fact that she was born April 2,
1877. that she was the daughter Of
John and Phebe Bowen. that her father
was a sea captain and that he was
drowned at sea.
What does II matter II she did live in
a frame house at Thirty fourth street
and Eth avenue? Perhaps II was
here that Stephen Jumel met and wooed
her.
A queer old boy was Stephen Jumel
He had been q coffee planter In Santo
Domingo. In the troubles between the
blacks and the whites there when
Touissant rOverture created a negro
republic and became a black Napoleon,
Jumel Ned for his life. He got on a
passing vessel and sailed across the seas
far to the east. A strange thing II Is
that he was landed at st. Helena, the
isle that was to be the home Of a man
who later was to be one Of his greatest
friends.
He was lucky enough to have q ship
put in at st. Helena on which he got
passage to New York. and when ne
reached America penniless he had the
greater good fortune Of discovering that
u cargo Of coffee ne had shipped months
before for Europe had been landed in
New York because Of an accident to the
vessel and was here awaiting his orders.
The proceeds Of the sale Of that cargo
gave ample capital for him to engage
in business and in a few years he was
a wealthy merchant
Then ne married Elizabeth Bowen.
He was nifty. She was %. Jumel
simply adored his beautiful wife. In
1910 he purchased for her the Morris
mansion. which now Is known as the
Jumel mansion. There he lived in a
splendor that occasioned wonder.
Every celebrity who came to America
was entertained by him. Every great
American who visited New York felt
that his trip was not complete unless
he enjoyed the hospitality Of NJ. and
Nine. Jumel.
Year by year Jumel's fortune grew.
on Madame. Jumel was an enthusi-
astic admirer OF Napoleon. When
Bonaparte began to meet with misfor-
tune Jumel sailed across the sea In his
own ship. the Elizabeth and offered an
asylum to Napoleon in New York II IL
ever should be necessary for him to
leave France. Napoleon thanked him
, and said:
1T would not be fitting for me &c
seek asylum across the seas no matter
how Ill my fortune might be-"
Jumel bought one Of the most mag.
nificent establishments In Paris and
there he and Madame lived from 1915
to 1928. That was one Of the most
, brilliant and one Of the most kaleido.
scopic periods Of French society. Their
late in 1928. Jumel. finding his fortune
' somewhat impaired. sold his Paris es'
} Establishment and returned to New York
He again took up business and the
5 couple resumed in part their former
e magnihcence Of living.
Their mansion. up near the northern
t end Of Manhattan Island. was treasure
Y house. Among It's furnishings were
0 eight chairs which Napoleon used II
the time Of the First Consulate. There
was q table the marble top Of which
] had been given to Madame by the khe
' dive of Egypt. There was a clock. |
, present from Napoleon. The clock ha'
E been the one he had used in the Tuile
Y ries.
3 There was a chandelier given to he
t by Gen. Moreau. rival Of Napoleon
! There were tapestries and prints col
8 iected by the Empress Josephine. Al
!, of the dining room furniture had bsel
t owned by Charles X. The greatest @
d all her treasures were an army ches
and an army bed. These were the one
8 Napoleon had used in his italian cam
Q paign. the most glorious period Of hi
/. military career.
e When Joseph Napoleon visited III
h Jumels in the Jumel mansion he was re
t ceived in imperial style and all defer
h ence shown to him that would hav
= been shown were he still q monarch
r There too went Louis Napoleon. h