The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-08
CALIFORNIA DIAMONDS.
Gems of the First Water Found In Fl
nnR0An rnnnNv

Gems of the First Water Found In Fl
Dorado County.
From the San Francisco Chronicle)
Fortune hunters need no longer brave
the perils Of the treacherous ocean to seek
Tor sudden wealth in the famous diamond
fields Of Southern Africa. It Is believed
that many gem Of purest ray serene"
lies buried with the mineral wealth Of
California, and the occasional specimens
discovered by workers in our mines lead
to the conclusion that a systematic search
for diamonds in California might meet
with a rich reward. F. Il. Plumado Of
Placerville, FL Dorado county, yesterday,
brought TO San Francisco two valuable
diamonds, discovered in gravel claim in
the vicinity Of Placerville by R. Il. Ohm.
stead. MIR. Plumado, accompanied BY
James @. Bronson, who resided at Placer.
vile since 1852, until he removed to this
city some two weeks ago, yesterday call.
ed at The Chronicle office 10 exhibit the
stones and reporter was detailed to ae.
company tho gentlemen to the establish.
ment Of Charles Lemme, manufacturing
jeweler, No. 413 Bush street, opposite the
California Theater, for the purpose of
having them subjected to the inspection
OF an expert. As frequent accounts have
appeared Of fictitious diamonds manufac.
tured in England for the purpose of''salt.
ing" claims in the diamond regions of
Africa, the report OF Mr.. Lemme was
looked for with considerable interest. The
largest crystal was first examined, and
alter very short inspection, was declared
to be genuine diamond, beyond ques-
ton, and Of good quality. 1t weighed 81
carats, and the expert pronounced It
worth at the least calculation 5000. he
said the price could not be certainly fixed
until after 1t had been cut. It will proba.
bly, be sent to Boston for that purpose. It
is a stone Of the first water, quite clear,
and apparently without flaws, the crys.
talization being unusually perfect. The
smaller one weighs 1915 carats, and lis
ofcomparatively little value, presenting q
good many imperfections. When out it
will make stone worth SEQ or $50. The
larger stone was exhibited at fuckers,
and two or three other establishments,
and its genuineness pronounced unoues.
tionable by all Of the experts, though they
differed widely ia their estimates Of It's
Wholesome placing it as high as $500, and
others as low as $780, It will not be sur.
rendered by the owner for the highest
sum named. The diamonds were found
in gravel claim, two miles east of Pla.
Cerville, owned by R. Fl. Olmstead, Thos.
CruSop, and Mrs. Henderson, on what Is
known as Cruson's Flat, and sometimes
called Wisconsin Flat. The fact that
they were found at different times Is re.
garded as proof that there are more, and
the discovery has created much excite.
ment in the neighborhood. The claim
has been sold for large sum to parties
who have faith that it will nan out a
wealth Of precious stones, but Il has not
formerly changed hands yet. Mrs. Hen.
derson being recent widow, and the
estate OF her deceased husband not hav.
ing been settled yet, she is unable to give
the necessary title. The gold hunters in
the neighborhood have redoubled their
exertions, and are constantly on the Qui
Vtre for Koh.i.noors or diamonds of any
size.