Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-21
ARIZONA DIAMOND MINES.
Statement of the Reported Original
DiscOVerer.

Statement of the Reported OrIg'n nal
DfscOVerer.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20.-The Laramie Sen
tineL of the 18th inst, yesterday publishes
areport of an interview With ST. Z. Arnold,
the reputed original discoverer Of the Arizo-
ma diamond mines, in which Arnold gives
what purports to be the rrst truthful ac-
count of the mines, which has yet been
made public; but which far outstrips any
possible fictions that may have been told
before. Arnold says his first visit to the
fields was in July, 1863. ~ was prospect
ing" he says in the Pimas Indian country
for gold. One day an Indian came to NE,
bringing about pint of bright peculiar
shaped stones. The Indian assured
me that they were diamonds, and that the
locality where they were to be found, had
been known to his tribe for many years.
After making him some presents, and with
a heap of persuasion, he consented to &C
company me to the ground. 1t was a three
DAYS Journey, and We started Immediately,
l found the fields located on a slope of a
mountain of sands stone for
nation, and so plenty were
gems to be found, that picked up quart
or more in few minutes. l started next
day, with fear and hope, for San Francisco.
On my arrival there l carried the stones to
]. a. Tucker, jeweler, on Montgomery
street, who pronounced them worthless. l
was not satisfied. l heard of a French
lapidary in the city, who had worked at
Amsterdam, Holland, the great diamond
cuttin. mart of the world, and to him re-
paired for his opinion. He pronounced
them diamonds of first water. My friends
in some manner got hold Of the matter, and
it was creating some excitement. When
questioned, l referred to Tucker. THIS
satisfied them and threw them off. To
make assurance douoly sure, sent one of
the stones to Fassa, Morris Il Co., Boston,
and had it cut. This relieved my mind of
all doubt. | went back that season and
brought out with me about two huI-
dred thousand dollars worth. l made
two trips in 1870, two in 1871, and one this
year in company with Dodge, Rewberry and
Henry Janin, who were sent to verify my
statements to the company l was then
about forming. On this occasion, N wash
ing about a ton and a half of dirt We
found about $4,000 worth Of brilIiants.
The publishing OF this report of Janin's
was the greatest mistake we have made for
it set all the old miners upon US. Janin
and Dodge he pronounces frauds. The lat
ter, he SAYS, is too well fixed to mine, and
in proof he asserts that after being on the
grounds few hours he positively refused
to pick up the diamonds when they were
under his very nose. Arnold says he shall
start from Canon City, Colorado, with pick
ed men and experienced miners, that their
claim is all right, and they are protected
L ~ sr,t Ha 4 nil
90 ahead boldly. From Canon City their
route will go southwest through the st.
Louis valley 800 miles, and south Of Mo
quais village, near Flax river. he says
about two million eight hundred Il ousand
dollars worth of brilliants have been gath
cred up to this date, figured at low esii
mate. took out one weighing 405 carats
on my first visit. l could pick them up on
the slope of the mountain without trouble.
The rains had washed the surface dirt off
and exposed them TO view. | have denied
upon all occasions any knowledge Of the
location of diamond district except to my
company. / have been obliged to do so to
protect the interests Of my friends and N.Y.
self. You are the first outsider who has
obtained any accurate account Of
this affair. Humboldt speaks Of
this country az region where
diamonds should be found, and Lieut.,
Ives, who passed through that section in
1857 with a surveying party, describes the
rubies and emeralds found there, and
speaks of finding stones resembling dia-
monds, none of which were tested by COM
petent judges. We believe that the gravel
in which quartz are found occupies an area
OF some three hundred thousand acres.
The tract is on the government land, and
the government has issued its patent for the
entire area. The present owners have
therefore the power of the United States to
protect them in the possession and enjoy
ment of their prosperity.