Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-19
ONYX FROM MEXICO.
A Shipload of That Rich Mosaic for
Pittsburg Capitalists
WHO WILL BUILD A FACTORY HERE.
A New and Unique Industry to be Estab-
lished in This City.
STRANGE HISTORY OF THE DIsc0VERER

Pittsburg will soon have new industry,
and one which is as valuable as it is unique.
Messrs. A. G. Carroll and Charles Barr,
the architect, propose erecting factory in
Pittsburg for the polishing of Mexican
onyx and mosaic agate-stones that are be-
coming popular for interior decoration of
houses.
Messrs. Barr and Carroll returned yester-
day from New York, where they had Or
ganized company to build factory. They
. have ordered ship load of onyx from Mex
leo, which will contain between 5000 and
5000 cubic feet. In the same ship with the
onyx there will be a small amount of mosaic
agate, which is rare and beautifully trans
parent stone, supposed to be broken and
cemented onyx. The action OF the water
upon the onyx has given it coloring and
transparency which the agate has never
equaled.
Mr.. Barr said that when the factory is
completed it will give Pittsburgers an op-
portunity to use onyx and mosaic agate in
their houses at a comparatively small cost
The factory will be built in Pittsburg short
", although no site has been decided upon.
AN ADVENTUROUS SPIRIT.
In connection with the introduction into
household use of onyx and mosaic agate,
there has been probably no one to whom so
much is due as to "Senor" William
Cooper, of New York, who has been of val
liable assistance to Messrs. Barr and Carroll
in the purchase of their onyx. The history
of Mr. Cooper is the romance of an adventur-
Gus spirit, who. single-handed started out into
the world to make fortune.
Several years ago Mr.. Cooper became en-
barrassed, and was willing to 60 on any kind OF
an expedition-the North Pole, Africa, any
where so as to get excitement ana chance 70
better his fortune. He managed to go to
Europe, and Travelled through Hungary and
Russia trading and playing the violin to the
natives. From Russia he went to Turkey, and
SO pleased the "Unspeakable Turk" with his
musical talent that rich Pasha invited the
American to play the violin before the women
of his harem. Mr.. Cooper played on IL differ
ent instruments, and charmed the Oriental
women. He then went to Africa, and hiring
number of elephants and suitable escort
started into the interior. He was absent sew
eral' months and many people OF the coast
thought he mad been killed. He returned
however, with ivory valued at several thousand
dollars
Like Pizarro, Mr.. Cooper thought that there
was an Ell Dorado either in Peru or Mexico
and SO he journeyed to the latter country. He
spent his time IN the City of Mexico. Every
day he would wander about ana gaze at tne
relics of a by-gone Aztec civilization.
VALUABLE DISCOVERY.
Byaccident one day he strayed into a museum
and became interested in specimens of onyx
A beautiful translucent stone or agate, part
of the throne Of Xolotle, the first king of the
Aztecs, was shown to him. He recognized the
stone as genuine mosaic agate and came to the
conclusion that it existed IN Mexico, for In
Xolote's time the Spanish had not invaded
Mexico and the blood of the Faithful had not
been shed by the invaders. A burning desire
TOOK possession of Mr.. Cooper to discover the
mosaic agate, so he went to Orizoba and lived
in the mountains with the Indians. One day an
Indian brought Mr.. Cooper a piece of agate
and said that he had found 1t in the crater OF
an extinct volcano where he had gone to look for
sulphur. Senor Cooper descended into the
crater and found big mine of genuine mosaic
agate. He obtained a concession" from the
Mexican Government and Is now wealthy from
the proceeds of the sales OF large quantities Of
mosaic agate.
To-day the agate which Mr. Cooper mines is
sold throughout the world and commands al
most fabulous prices. One rarely perfect
piece of mosaic in downtown office is said to
have cost 600 per square inch.