The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-20
AMONG RUBIEiS AND DIAMONDS.
Ore Slain, Another Saved-A True Story Of
Diamond.
New York W0rld.J


gentleman OF this city was drawn, by
a report that a prima-donna's pledge OF
great value and beauty was on view among
the Maiden-lane jewellers, to wander for
hours through the wilderness Of diamond
brokers' and dealers offices that stretch
from Broadway TO the river. He saw much
TO astouish him, but even with the aid OF
sun-glasses, il he had them-15 cents each,
two for 25-he could not have magnified
any ruby he saw into ten and quarter.
There were rubies and diamonds in
pIenty. but nowhere could be found the
sougbt-for gem. IT was indeed stated by
one active broker that such stone existed,
and had been seen on the street some
months since, when il had been brought to
the notice Of the trade by wel-knOwn ac-
tor, who wanted to match It, feat hardly
possible save i'm Persia, where such jewels
are often TO be had--at price, and invari-
ably large one.
The finest rubies now in the street for sale
are two of seven and half carats each,
ore of which Is splendid, brilliant-cut
lustrous stone very slightly flawed and val
ued at S3,400. IL may here be remarked
that emeralds are almost never, and rare
rubies but seldom, found unllawed. The
former gem il actually soft when exposed
from the mine, and only hardens on expo
sure TO the air, being at first peculiarly
brittle aud subject TO injury. Another
brilliantly-faced ruby weighed but four
and a quarter carats. yet its price ran high
up in the "four-fgure scale, and warn
ingly indicated at what fearful cost any
piece of the same quality but double the
size must be purchased.
Among made-up patterns In mixed
stones the finest thing on the street was G
brooch or clasp consisting OF u central dia-
mond OF nearly orange tint, weighing
sixty-four carats, surrounded by star
points, in each of which were sapphi-es
and diamonds OF the very finest, the whole
being bound In with crescent OF rubies
and Diamonds OF immense value. There
were in this piece no less than seventy
eight good rubies and twenty-six diamonds
grading In size from three carats to a pins
point. The central stone was found al
Kimberley, South Africa, and weighed be
fore cutting mole than one hundred carats
Chats about the gems on view brought
out odd scraps about the way diamond:
como into market. A gem now In posses
sion OF police captain had. rs too many oil
the more notable historical stones have,
queer, weird, blOod-stained history. A
South Africa. abandoned bis claim because
the walls, huge masses Of rock, left tower
ing above the excayated ground. had fallen
I'm, and 10 such an extent that il would not
pay 30 have the clam cleared. He went 10
another rush, and months afterward found
himself arrested on a charge OF making
way with man named Comyngs, last seen
In his tent on the night before be "skip-
ped the camp"
He was confined on suspicion, and yet.
there being no corpus deficit, was not
brought 10 trial. One day he was sum-
moned on coroner's inquest and marched
from bis prison 10 the courthouse, liberty,
aud comparative fortune.
Tue missing man was found. IL seems
the claim had been taken into the area Of a
strong company, who cleared It of the
dtbris and found, inter ala the dead, de-
composed corpse OF poor Comyngs. How
he had got into the clam was mystery,
but In his dead hand, where he lay crushed
all shapelegs by the huge mass OF rock that
fumbled on him 50 inopportunely, was
I9-carat DIAMOND worth $4,000, piece
OF pufesi .ater. The miner was acquitted
and diggerS Jaw gave bin the diamond so
found In his claim, which could not be de-
clared legally abandoned until one month
expired from bis yacafing his license.
How II trade now 7" asked our re-
porter, when he also went 10 the market IN
Iesfch OF the tcn-carat mares nest that
vas beginning 10 be talked OF everywhere.
Wfetched y said leading tradcsman. |