The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-08-29
THE DIAMOND FIELDS.

About T1em,-A Tract Forty Miles
WIZ Gems n -s !" -~A0
From the Virginia Evening Chronicle
To-day is the anniversary of the real
discovery of precious stones in Arizona
and New Mexico. Of the existence there
of genuine diamonds, rubies in large
quantities, sapphire, emeralds. garnets
and other precious stones, there can no
longer be any doubt. In 1851 quiet,
conscientious, learned and polished gen.
tleman, settled in Unionville, Humboldt
county, Nevada, and soon won the res
pect of the whole community. His name
was George w. Fox, and he is now in
this city awaiting returns from Boston.
A little oyer one year ago, hearing that
precious stones bad been discovered, or,
rather, purchased from Indians in Ari-
IONA, MIR. Fox made pilgrimage to that
territory for the purpose of prospecting
it thoroughly and satisfying himself
Proceeding direct to Tucson, he found
some very fine rubies In the possession
of gentleman of that place, and asccr-
from Indians living several hundred
locality and arrived in the precious stone
belt sandstone formation) on the Sd
of August last, and there learned that
Harpending and party had been in ahead
of him and had left three days previous
ly. Earpending, however, had not ex-
plored or prospected the region, but had
purchased large number of gems, being
particlar to inquire in each instance where
they had been found. The precious
stone belt lay across in Indian reservation
which was jealousy guarded by troops.
Fox and his companion asked permission
to prospect on the reservation, but were
denied. They struck out, however, and
explored the whole region round about,
gathering some ten or twelve pounds of
rubies and other gems and great deal of
valuable information about the country,
Among the Indians Fox found an in
telligent white man, who was living
regular Indian life-a careless, jovial sort
of fellow, who informed him that some
forty miles up the stream on which he
lived was an abundance of precious stones,
much larger and evidently far more
valuable than those found on the rescr-
walton. In addition to this, he exhibit
ted some exceedingly rich specimens of
silver ore, stating where it came from,
and said that gold in paying quantities
was to be found in the same locality.
These metals were outside the belt Of
precious stones and in different forma-
ton.
After five months of hardship and pri-
walton, Mr.. Fox returned to San Fran
cisco, bringing with him about ten pounds
Of the precious stones, most of which
were placed and are still on deposit with
the Bank of California in San Francisco.
Several specimens were sent to a noted
L.. ~ 4
Fox was quietly awaiting his report when
the diamond excitement" broke out
below. One ruby carried to Boston by a
pidary at $500. Mr.. Fox has with him
in this city about half pint of these ru-
bies, Of the poorer quality, the lot hav-
ing been picked over and over again, and
even may of these refuse ones are exceed
ingly rich and beautiful.
Calling upon Mr.. Fox to learn all the
particulars for the qualification of our
readers, the following conversation took
place
misunderstanding that you
were familiar with the region of country
to the southwark, where precious stones
have lately been discovered, or the ''dia.
mond fields" as generally termed, [ have
called for the purpose ofasking what you
know OF the existence Of precious stones
In that section
Mr.. Fox-I have travelled through a
tract OF country, for distance of forty
miles, where, in many places, I have
found precious stones quite numerous,
rubies, sapphires, emeralds, turquoises,
opals. garnets and other varieties.
Reporter-Do you have reason to be-
Heye that diamonds exist there?
Mr.. Fox-I have; and [ brought some
specimens with me, which [ think upon
being tested will prove to be such. The
character of the country where these are
found is a sandstone formation, a kind of
table land underneath the mountains,
There is mountain range running east
and west with table lands underneath,
some three to five miles wide, and down
among the foothills you find these sto-
mes.
Reporter-What is the area or extent
OF the territory where they are known to
exist2
Mr.. Fox-About forty miles long by
three to five wide, with deposits of stones
located here and there over its sur
face. 1t Is near the line of the railroad
which Is to follow the thirty fifth parallel
and not tar from the boundary line be-
tween Arizona and New Mexico. There
is any quantity Of timber, oak, pine, etc.
all that is necessary. There is also an
abundant supply of water, much more
than in this country. The soil is very
fertile, grass plentiful, and the climate
is delightful.
Reporter-There is do doubt that the
stones you have exhibited here are from
that, country of which you have been
speaking?
MIR. Fox-I can vouch for their hav-
ing come from there. Some of them l
bought on the ground, and the remain
der [ picked up myself from their natu-
raj beds. l will also say that l have
some eight or ten pounds of stones SINH
lar to those l have shown here, and 9TH
ers, on deposit, in San Francisco.
HE Southern rebels look upon the
election of Mr.. Greeley and the restora-
ton of the copperhead Democracy to
power, as their opportunity. The pirate
Semmes said, in one of his lectures, soon
after the rebellion was squelched, while