The Washington times., 1915-12-10
Historic MaxlmIlian Opal Snug
giles in Vest Pocket Of Her.
bert J. Browne.
TURNED TIDE FOR CARRANzA
Fiery Jewel Obtained As Result
Of Hazardous Trip Up "Un-
naVigabIe" River.

Ever since the late Gen. Marc An
tony, triumvir. OF Rome. coveted an
opal owned by a. senator of that empire,
who prized the stone so highly that he
left Rome rather than give It to An
tory to carry around to Cieopatra,
opals have been more or less In the
liIne)lght Of dynasties, emperors, and
nations.
Today there walks about the streets
Of WaShington q man who can reach
into his left-hand vest pocket II he
viii. and show you the dazzling, opal
escent gem, famous In Mexican history
az the ''Maximilian Opal" The man is
Herbert J. Browne. whose hobbies
range from tho half-an-half plan, to
sailing boats, the single tax. and col
lecting opals.
This particular opal came Mr..
Brownies way because he got three
shiploads Of ammunition to General
CaTTanza's agents in time to turn tho
tide in favor Of the constitutionalist
cause.
Famed Among Experts.
The Ma1imilian opal. as famous
among those versed in historic Gerns az
is the Hope diamond, was owned by
Emperor Maximilian. was given to
General Miramon, his chief of STAFF.
and was found on the body Of the latter
after the two were executed at cuere-
taro, an incident that marked the final
chapter in the romantic history Of the
Empire Of Mexico.
In the early summer Of 1914 New York
papers carried a little item to the ef-
feet that "some of the ammunition
which is being supplied General Car
rama is being taken out Of Galveston
on vessels chartered by some ono who
has assumed the name of Herbert J.
Browne. a well-known Washington
man."
Herbert ]. Brownies abilities as a
skipper. It would seem, were not even
known to his friends IN the newspaper
business. But 1t was he who. In his
own name. took out papers as captain
of the vessels. gave Havana as his
waters turned their prows toward Mex
leo. In all the Sunshine and the Wright,
his two sailing vessels, carried an
of rines, and about fifteen
million rounds OF ammunition into
Tampico.
Surprises Natives.
Moreover. 1t was Skipper Browne who
Jamtily sailed up the Panuco river. a
swift moving stream. along which. about
seven miles from the coast, He's Tam
pico, the city whence the mysterious
supplies Of munitions emanated. to the
discontinue OF the opponents OF Car
rama. Browne was told this stream
was not navigabIe for sailing vessels,
but, being American, and believing he
knew something about sailing vessels.
he sailed up the stream without any aid
of tugs, greatly to the surprise Of the
natives.
sion. he bears with him. as a token of
gratitude from CarranZa. the opal
which has a history. and beauty
An opal, Noah Webster will inform
you; is IAN amorphous, massive, reni-
form. stalactitic. vitreous to resjnous,
VariouslY eolSred. transparent to
nearly opaque, hydrous silica" One
glance. at the opal, formed like the
head Of an eagle. that is in Mr.
Brownies hands, Is as disconcerting as
that definition. 1t is unlike any other
opal apt to be seen in this country.
COIOrs Are Brilliant.
Other opals sparkle and flash, but,
in the proper light, this great stone.
Weighing moro than half an, ounce.
shows deep and fiery red, an intense
and brilliant green. and all other in
colors Of the rainbow.
Incidentally the rainbow ellusion
describes the difference between al
Mexican opal, Mr.. Browne will tell !
you. and an Austrian or a Hungarian |
stone. Other opals generally reflect |
light, but the formation of the Mex !
ican opal is such that 1t is transpar-