The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-22
Chickens and Diamonds.

A few days ago Mrs. Nora McShane,
who resides ON the Divide, near Hickey
street, received letter and newspa-
per from her husband, who is in the
diamond fields of South Africa. When
nearing homo Mrs. McShane-who is
not able to read Writing-concluded to
90 on to the residence of a friend who
generally reads for her the letters that
come from her husband. While stand
ing and debating in her mind the ques-
ton of going on at once to have her
friend read the letter, Mrs. McShane
almost mechanically opened the news
paper 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. dirth or gray
els fall out of it, though she paid but
little attention, 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 newspaper
rs specimens no less than fifteen
diamonds in the rough, ranging in
value from $40 to $l2O each.
Here was a go, as not stone re-
manned in the paper. However. she
remembered that when she opened the
paper she was in walk-where the
snow was off the ground-just opposite
the residence of neighbor, and accom-
panied by her friend she 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 women and men had collect
cd about the spot, having been told
about the loss, and as the place was
regular cruising ground for the chick
ems 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 neigh
Dor in front of whose place the news
paper mad been opened, and this neigh
Dor could not be expected to sacrifice
| his whole flock-numbering thirty
fowls-for nothing. AS no one could
| tell which particular chicken might
have a diamond in it's 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 them 90, under the circum-
stances, at Is cents each, cash down.
Mrs. McShane had no money, and
| knew not what to do. However, there
was no time to lose, and q miner of q
sporting" turn, who happened to be
present, agreed to pay for all the chick
ems provided Mrs. McShane would give
him any one he might pick out from
among those recovered. Mrs. Nc
| Shane accepted the offer. with the pro-
| vso that she was to have all the chick
ems that were 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 or over.
| One of these, stone worth $12O, fell
| to the share of the speculative miner.
| Mrs McShane was helped out on her
side by dressing and selling the chick
ems ut from Is cents to 81 each.
A curious part of the story remains
TO be told, however. Besides the un-
cut diamonds found in the craws of
the fowls, there was taken from one y
handsome emerald that was perfectly
cut. Mrs. MoShane, 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, lady in the vicinity
came up and at once claimed the emer-
aid. She said she lost it out of her
ring the day before. No one knew
what to say TO this, and those present
did not wish to dispute the point. See
ing how matters stood, the lady ran Oft
home, and presently returned with her
ring, into the setting of which the ON
erald fitted perfectly. On seeing this
all agreed that the stone was the prop
crty of the lady Virginia (NeU.) En-
terYriSe.