Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-30
CHICKENS AND DIAMONDS.
A Nevada Story of Very Wonderful
Series of Incidents.
Virginia (Ner.) Enterprise.

A few days ago Mrs. Nora McShane,
who resides on the Divide, near Hickory
street, received a letter and a newspaper
from her husband, who is in the diamond
fields of South Africa. When nearing
home Mrs. McShane-whO is nota able to
read writing-concluded 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 glace 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
out of it, though she paid but little at
tentiOn, thinking at the time it was some
'schtutf that had worked into the paper
on the road" When her friend read the
letter it was found that her husband
trusting to luck" as he said-had sent
in the newspapers as specimens no less
than 10 diamonds in the rough, ranging in
value from $50 to $l20 each,
Here was a 90. as not 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 residence of a
neighbOr, and accompanied by her friend
she returned to the place. Not diamond
was to be found, but Mrs. McShane's
friend had observed a lot of chickens
about the spot, and was confident that
they found and swallowed the glittering
little stones. In short time quite a
crowd OF mon and women had collected
about the SpOt-haVing been told about
the lOss-and, as the place was a 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 be-
lOnged 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 so
fowls-for nothing. As no one could tell
which particular chicken might have a
diamond in its crop, and which not. it
would be necessary to sacrifice the whole
lot. The owner disliked to lose his
chickens, but finally said he would let
go, under the circumstances, at 70 cents
each, cash down. Mrs. McShane had no
money, and knew not what to do. How
ever, there was no time to lose, and a
miner Of sporting" turn, who happen
ed to be present, agreed to pay for ali the
chickens provided Mrs. McShane would
give him any stone he might pick out
from among those recovered. Mrs. Nc
Shane accepted the offer, with the provisO
that she was to have all the chickens that
we're killed.
The fowls were enticed into their house
and the heads cut off 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 800 and over. One of these, a
stone worth $120, fell to the share of the
speculative miner. Mrs. McShane was
helped out on her side by dressing and
selling the chickens at from 10 cents to 81
each. A curious part of the story re-
mains TO be told, however. Besides the
uncut diamonds found In the craws of the
fowls, there was taken from one a hand
some 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 matter was being discussed 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 10 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 emer-
aid fitted perfectly. On seeing this all
agreed that the stone was the property of
the lady.