Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-04-21
Gales aud Sketfhes.
Mrs. Nshane's Diamonds.

A few days ago. SAYS the Virginia City
(Nev.) Enterprise. Mrs. Nora McShane,
who resides on the Divide. near Hickey
street, received letter and a newspaper
from her husband. who is in the diamond
fields of South Africa When nearing
home, Mrs. McShane-who is not able to
read writing-coneluded to go on TO the
residence of a friend who generally reads
for her the letters that come from her hus-
band. When standing and debating in
her mind the question of going on at once
to have her friend read the letter, Mrs.
McShane, almost mechanically. opened
the newspaper to have glance at It. she
being able to spell out print. As she OPP
ened the paper. she thought she observed:
as she saws. .some bits o. dhirt or gravels"
fall cut of it, though she paid but little
attention, thinking at the time it was some
..schtuf that had worked into the paper
on the road"
When her friend read the letter it was
found. that her misunderstanding to
luck as he said-had sent in the news
paper, as specimens, no less than 10 dia-
monds in the rough, ranging in valve from
800 to sl2O each. Here was go, as not
a stone remained in the paper. However,
she remembered that when she opened the
paper she was in a walk-where the snow
was off the ground-just opposite the res
idence of a neighbor.
Accompanied by her friend she at once
returned to the place. Not diamond was
to be found; but Mrs. McShane's friend
had observed lot of chickens about the
spot. and was confident they had found
and swallowed the glittering little stones:
In short time quite crowd OF men and
women had collected about the spot-hav-
ing been told about the loss-and, as the
place was regular cruising ground for
the chickens in search of gravel while the
Ground was covered with snow in most
places, it was the general opinion that the
fowls had swallowed the gems.
The chickens belonged to the neighbor
in front OF whose place the newspaper
had been opened, and this neighbor could
not be expected to sacrifice his whole flock.
numbering 80 fowls, for nothing. As no
one could tell which particular chicken
might have diamond in its crop. and
which not, it would be necessary to sacri-
flee the whole lot,
The owner disliked to lose his chickens,
but finally said he wonld let them go. I'M
der the circumstances, at seventy-five
cents each, cash down. Mrs. McShane
had no money, and knew not what to do.
However, there was no time to lose, and
a miner of sporting turn, who happened
to be present, agreed to pay for all the
chickens, provided Mrs. McShane would
give him any stone he might pick out from
among those recovered. Mrs. McShane
accepted the offer. with the proviso that
- ,ll ba ahiolonc thof
killed.
The fowls were enticed into their
house and the heads cut off the whole lot.
The contents of their crops being care
fully washed. twelve of the gems were
found Generally they were worth from
$50 to $50, but there were three worth
800 and over. One of these, stone
worth 1920 fell to the share of the specu
latiye miner. Mrs. McShane was helped
out on her side by dressing and selling
the chickens at from 75c TO 81 each.
A curious part of the story remains to
be told. Besides the uncut diamonds
found in the craws of the fowls there was
taken from one a handsome emerald that
was perfectly cut. Mrs. McShane, of
course, thought this stone had also been
sent by her husband, though it was not
mentioned IN his letter. While this mat
ter was being discussed, lady living in
the vicinity came up and at once claimed
the emerald. She said she lost it out of
her ring the day before. No one knew
what to say to this, as those present did
not wish to dispute the point. Seeing how
matters stood. the lady ran off home, and
presently returned with her ring, into the
setting of which the emerald fitted per-
fectly. On seeing this. all at once agreed
that the stone was the property of the
lady.