The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-01-11
SALTED WITH DIAMONDS.
A sHAHPER's PRETENDED DIS
CovERY OF VALUABLE MINES.
Capitalists BlindColded and Led
Zigzag Through a Wild Region
of fArizoua-The Scheme EXuOSPd

Capitalists Blind folded and Led
Zigzag Through a Wild Region
ofArizona-The Scheme Exposed
Among the countless schemes to which
the great banker, Ralston, who loved to
be called the Financial King Of the |
Paci ic Coast" devoted no small share |
of the California Bank, of which he was /
President, was the exploiting of mines |
in the Pyramid range of mountains, close /
to the border line which divides Arizona |
from New Mexico. This was early in
the eos when speculation was rife |
and the discovery of bonanzas an every |
day event. Among the employees of
Ralston in the Pyramid mines was one
George Arnold, a man of meagre educa-
ton, but bright and ambitious. In his
shanty on the wide mountain side and
over his bacon and beans he was ever
dreaming Of some plan that would
bring Dame Fortune at his waiting feet
and shower upon him her princey
| favors He saw men making fortunes
by single cast OF the die and losing
| them by single throw. While yet
dreaming his dream of wealth there
came to him the bright-colored story of
the great diamond dis, oyeries of Cape
Colony. His teeming brain at once de-
/ vised scheme which, in his way,
equaled Lows South Sea Bubble. He
had grown INSCRIPTIONS in his desire
and had come to believe that, with him
at least, the end justified the means.
The soil around the Pyramid district
was rich in color and had character
enough to inaugurate any mining scheme,
however wild and impracticable. So
10 liz, rtr NTH
whom he had long associated, Arnold
made long tours over the surrounding
country. After a few weeks of this kind
of work he resigned his place in the
mines with the given intention of seek
ing the fairer fields of Mexico.
HeneXt turned up in San Francisco in
the fall of 1871. He Immediately found
Ralston and astonished even that bold
operator by re.ealing that he had dis
covered in Arizona rich diamond fields
. quite as extensive as those of Cape
Colony. rom the gripsack he had
, brought with him he poured forth a
wondrous display of rough diamonds
which had been washed from the yield
ing soil of the new find. They were many
and apparently of value.
: Ra'ston, ever ready for a venture, espe-
cially one which promised such dazzling
results, entered at once into a proposed
exploration of the new diamond fields.
He introduced Arnold to several leading
capitalists who at once became enthusi-
astie over the new Golconda. With the
rapid action peculiar to Californians, the
, clique who had been led into the secret
D Immediately determined to visit the
mines and if found to be all right to pur,
: chase Arnold's claims and titles for the
modest but snug sum of $1,000, 900
Arnold reluctantly accepted the offer.
= In due course of time the party of cap
itaists interested left San Francisco foi
, the promi ed land. At Camp Ralston
the headquarters of the Pyramid mining
3 speculation, the eager capitalists wer
; met by Arnold and Haggerty, the latte
d being introduced as a sort of side part
: ner, like the silent mariner of the Ad
G miral of II. NJ. S. Pinafore. The tw,
c worthless were to conduct Ralston anC
e his associates to the diamond
a fields, The party was led by
e route rs zigzag rs a snake fenc
r and as rough a, a corduroy road. Par
y of the way was along the ella river t
S where the Rio Prieto empties into it. A
{, this point the eyes of the jaded capital
e istic visitors were carefully blindfolde,
Il and their animals were led by thei
guides for some distlnc further Whe
q they were permitted to see dayligh
II again they were in the midst of a clum
.e of trees which stood on the rivers bank
IT They were given shovels and picks an
,e told to dig anywhere about the clump c
il trees Each of the visitors did so an
p each in turn brought forth one or nor
" of the precious stones they sought fol-
il They were everyw here, a d the million
t. aire miners wiped the ciinging soil fror
|. off their hands softly, as though it was
er sacred deposit.
,. On their return to San Francisco tn
If capita lists wished to form a company
T. In ten days it was accomplished. Arnol
II was paid his 81, 90 3 000 and made supel
le intendcnt OF the new mines. lie at ono
q made known the location of the d anon
d fields and they were visited by severt
d stockholders in the company. diamond
% were found by each and all of them, an
" all Went merry as a marriage bell unit
@ Arnold skipped for the East.
le It was then thought best to call an e.
ID pert, and Professor King, the wel-know
" geologist, was selected He first discO'
in cred that the ground around the clum
,d of trees on the bank of the Rio Priet
Ia had been cleverly "saltedn with refu'
diamonds such as may be cheap
bought in the marts at Amsterdam.
was also found that the diamonds foun
by the capitalists had been "tried" {
n Amsterdam, and, as Professor King sale
q, while diamonds may exist in Arizon
K, it is hardly to he expected that natu
p will produce them partly cut or Pc
We ished.'
The members of the new damon
d, company were both thunderstruck an
is indignant, and steps were quickly TAXI
es to bring Arnold to justice. lie was
rs his home in his native Kentucky, al
the machinery of the law was brought
III bear upon him there. He was arreste
but was never taken out of the blue gra
,ir country for punishment In some ma
ty ner he secured his release and enter
upon a life of wild enjoyment. His e
cesses were of short duration, and aft
lg five years Of feastng and rioting Wi
in ill-gotten wealth his life went out.
IN How much his side partrer Jim Ha
gertv, received for his share Of the plu
H. der WAS never known, although IL mt