The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-05-29
CHICKENS AND DIAMONDS.
\ NEVADA STORY OF \ VERY WON
DERFUL SERIES or INCIDENTS.

\ NEVADA STORY OF 4 VERY WON
DERFUL SERIES or INCIDENTS.
A recent issue of the Virginia
(Nev) Enterprise is responsible fol
the subjoined extraordinary nara
tive: A few days ago Mrs Nora
McShane. WHO resides On the Di
vide. near Hickey street. received
Il letter and q 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-con,
cluded to 90 on to the residence
Of q friend who generally reads for
her the letters that come from her
husband. While standing and de-
batting in her mind the question of
gong on at once to have her friend
read the letter, Mrs. McShane al,
most mechanically opened the
newspaper to have glance at it,
she being able to spell out print.
AS she opened the paper she thought
she observed, as she says, "some
bits O dthirt or gravels'' fall ont
, Of it, though she paid but little at
tention, thinking at the time it was
some "schtuff 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
newspaper as specimens, no less
than fifteen diamonds in the rough
ranging in value from $50 to Sl2O
Zach.
Here was q 90, as not q stone re-
manned in the paper. However she
remembered that when she opened
was in a walk-where the snow
was off the ground-just opposite
the residence Of a neighbor, and ac-
companied by her friend she re-
turned to the place. Not q dia-
mond was to be found, but Mrs.
McShane's friend had observed a
lot of chickens about the spot, and
was confident they had found and
swallowed the glittcring little
stones. In short time quite q
crowd of men and women had col
lectcd about the spot-having been
told about the bss-and, as the
place was a regular cruising 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
ncighbor in front Of whose place
the newspaper had been opened,
and this neighbor could not be ex-
pccted to sacrifice his whole flock
numbering thirty fowls-for
nothing. AS no one could tell
which particular chicken might
have q diamond in it's crop, and
which no., it would be necessary to
sacrifice the whole lot. The owner
disliked to lose his chickens, but
finally he said he would let them
90, under the circumstances, at
seventy-fve cents each, cash down.
Mrs. McShane had no money,
and knew not what to do. How
ever, there was no time to lose, and
1 miner of ''sporting" turn, who
happened to be present. agreed to
pay for al the chickens provided
Mrs. McShane would give him any
stone he might pick ont from among
those recovered. Mrs. McShane
accepted the offer, with the proyiso
that she was to have all the chick
ems that were killed.
The fowls were enticed into their
house and the heads cut of the
whole lot. The contents OF their
crops being carefully washed and
examined, twelve Of the gems were
found. Generally they were worth
from $50 to $50, but there were
three worth 500 and over. One of
these, q stone worth 1920, fell to
the share of the speculative miner.
Mrs. McShane was helped out on
her side by dressing and selling the
chickens at from seYenty.6ve cents
to 81 each.
A curious part Of the story re-
mains to be told, however. Beside
the uncut diamonds found in the
craws of the fowls, there was taken
from one q handsome emerald that
was perfectly cut. Mrs. McShane,
of course, thought this stone had
been seen by her husband, though
it was not mentioned in his letter.
While this matter was being dis
cussed, a 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 of home, and present
ly returned with her ring, into the
setting Of which the emerald fitted
perfectly. On seeing this all q
greed that the stone was the proper
ty of the lady.