The Ketchum keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1881-1884, 1883-12-22
A MONTANA EOH-I-N0oR.
/ From the independent |

From the Independent
There was good deal 81 excitement
in town night before last land IL has not
sabsIaed yet, over tile reported discov-
*cfy al tlimond fields near Helena. The
circumstances Of the discovery as relat-
oil 20 reporter OF the Independent,
were aa follows, names and locality be-
ing left ont by request OF parties inter
estad, who desire 20 mako further cx-
plorntlons before hearlding the discoy-
cry abroad.
On Wednesday forenoon the owner OF
placer niine IN the vicinity OF Heiena
was In one "a our leading jewclry houses
iii company with friend who was buy-
ing scarf PIN After tho purchase was
made, theproprietor turned tothe placer
mine owner twhpm he WAS we'll acqnaint-
ed With aud asked him II he did not
want scarf pin also.
well, I've gpt d piece OF crystalin my
pocket" was the the reply, (which /
intend having set In pin sometime
producing ms he spoke glittering stone
about Tho size Of Il bean.
That's handsome stone, said the
jcweler, taking IT from the others hand.
Where did you get it?s
Il found il IN my claim" said The
placer miner.
How much viii You take for itf4in-
quired the jeweier.
Don't think care to sell it, but what
will you givef4
sIli give you twenty dollars
II won't sell It for thnt."
Well III give You forty dollars
forty-tiye doiiars.'
The placer man began to open his
eyes, and asked whit The stone was lie
was informed that Ii WINS Il diamond,
ind very handsome Que at that, He
refused all offers for it, although one.
$50 nre Informed. was ia the neighhor-
hood oil $500, and putting the stone in
tho hunda Of an expert had 1t tested.
The test proved TINT what the jeweler
had snld was correct; II was a dinmond
Its weight isa little over three carats.
The gem, rs stated above, is IN the shape
III n bean. and about one-tllid Of IN inch
long, 1t Is white md elear. At the first
glance It appears tn have been cut, hav-
ing eight surfaces. Inspection With q
the stone Inns moi been cut. the surface
not being flint and polished as would be
the ease, If IT bud been through the
hanaa III u diamanet- cutter, Tie sur.
faeea. hnwever. afc smooth aud bright
which Is not often tie easo with dia-
nonds when first found.
It waa found bs chinamnn who ut
the end ef the seasons mining was work.
ing eame tailiaga over. lie brought It tn
The owner Of the mine. and giving 1t to
him. got him 70 promise 10 keep It.
The ChInaman said it was not velly
good purity geod meaning. probably.
that II WIS not n gem Of the first wa
trf ssiifssss That time the owner Inns
carricdit loosely in hispoeket. supposing
il MAS only handsome crystal specimen
hut not of much value He was little
surprised uhen liz found In hud been
carrying u three hundred dollar din
mond arauna III his pocket ns euresessly
liz hoy would marble, He says TINT
while mining he Inns often noticed gilt
tefing substances in the bank while Il
stream of water WAS directed upon It.
but IN there were IL grent many ordin-
AIRY crystals in the ground he was work
lug. and Us he never suspected the pre-
aeuee Of diamonds, he may have washed
over pecks III them without noticing
them.