Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-17
FRENZlED PEARL-SEEKERS.
Sugar River Discovered TO BE Rich in the
Beautiful Jewels.

Iehulitul
An Albany CWis.) telegram says For SIX
DAYS this village has been IN a tumuit OF
excitement over pearl-fnds Sugar river,
until Mt this time people have reached a
mental condition bordering on frenzy. IL
seems strange and almost incredible thae
among the pebbles that lie in the bed OK
SUGAR river there should be found the
most beautiful pearls that ConnoiSse,g
ever looked upon. But it Is feet, and
fabulous as il may seem, there have been
pearls taken from this stream within the
last week which If placed upon the market
would bring thousands of dollars.
The story of pearl-hnding IN the sugar
river dates back about year, when a
voung man came here mn entire stranger to
everybody. No one seemed TO know has
business. but be hired q boat every day and
drew up clans ont OF theriyer. lie seemed
to be extremely secrctiye and after awhile
had plenty of money. Occasionally ne
would become intoxicated, and during
these times would say that he was getting
rich at his business. he spent so much
money that people began to look upon MN
with suspicion. deriding the idea that hsll-
ing tor clans brought him riches. lis
movements became exceedingly mysterl-
ous and he was watched. At last the secret
was out. for on Sunday he again became
intoxicated. and on being pressed Tor an
explanation OF his strange conduct drew
from his pocket q handful of pearls. Whicn
mo exhibited. The gems were beautiful.
Some reflected the hues Of the rainbow
while others were palc-blde. ana others
were of a rich golden tint.
The secret was out, and last Mondhy
mornin, was a time never to be forgotten
in the history Of this quiet country town;
Even at davbreak the ncws had spread
throughout the village that the river was
teeming with pearls, and that every ugly
clam-shell concealed precious gem: An
hour aftor sunrise the village seemed pos
se.scd with an uncomfortable frenzy. Men,
women. and children ran from Their nome,
TO the banks of the river and plunged
into the water, digging for clans. Garden
rakes were used to pail tho clam-sheHs 10
the land. and then the task OF opening nc
shells began. At noon the river was awe
with people standing waist-dcep IN the
water, raking the riyer-bed AMI drawing
the shells 10 the shore or tossing them upon
the bank. As night came on the farmers,
with their families began TO arrive. ana
the excitement momeutarily grew more IN,
tense. Everybody took part IN the mao
scramble for clam-shells until darkness
put an end TO the work.
The scenes Of Tuesday Guido any at
tempt at description. The thrOng OF peo;
/ PIE WAS SNtalt1 ~ lluANl NfAo. 49,
| women became almost frantic IN theiI
efforts to find the shells. They did not
| eat. they did not sleep: they only delyed
| for the Jewels that lay Mt the bottom OF the
! water. Not one shell IN a thousand con-
tanned a pearl and as ono pearl-huntel
! more fortunate than the others would dis,
cover level beneath the rough surface Oh
a shell those who had failed would become
crazed with disappointment and almost
,rss
| this extraordinary scene was witnessed
with its changing variety of intense anc
delirious excitement. Night closed down
once more with the river-banks coyercc
| with people, who slept there To begil
search again in the morning.
Wednesday was q repetition OF the Two
preceding days. At the first gray streak.
Of dawn the pearl-hunters would rise, stli
and hungry, from their bed under the stan
and plunge into the water AGAIN unu
! many fell down from weakness, and there
| will in all probability be- n number oil
! deaths in consequence ofcxposuTe. NOmei
| seemed to lose all reason ia their mac
! search for Jewels, ana many would stani
| in the water for hours without food. No
until they were completely Frustrated Will
| fatigue and exposure would they quit the
water, and even then would SIT on th'
riyer-Iauk watching the other fortune
] hunter 100 WORK. luNISldl tlt tlfM'i bl
gan To thin ont somewhat, Tor no otho
reason than 1t had exhausted itself am
must rest. Friday the women he'd almos
all left. but farmers continued 10 poul
into the village. The VILLAGE Of Monroe j.
eighteen miles away and hundreds OF PEG
ole have como from there and other sur
rounding towns.
There is no means Of estimating how
long the search for pearls will continue
for the river-bed for miles IN both direc
tons u covered with these clam-shells. A
long as there is q shell left IN the waier tn
excitement will not die out. IL Is an ~
tcrestiug study for naturallsts To explain
the existence Of pearls at this point. What
ever the cause may be the fact still re
mains that some If the most beautiful j
the world have been taken from the rive
here within the last six days. IN SIZE the
vary from the Dimensions Of blrd-shot &
a size perhaps as large n a pea. The.
have been sold in New York for SO an
even 800 each, and jewcllcr here La
paid out nearly - 600 for Il large numbe
which he has purchased, and still owes
portion of the purchasc-pr Within th
next few days there viii be returns fror
shipments made TO New York and the tru
value can then be ascertained.