The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-01
JUST LIKE MONTE oR1sTo.
A Police Sergeant Finds Bushel Of
Diam onds.
From The Ns,o York World.


From the Ns,C York World.
Diamonds by the handful set everybody
about police headquarters almost wild yes
terday. Everywhere one looked in the
various Offices the gliJtering gems could be
seen in little heaps upon the desks. Acting
Supt. Steers had pile upon his desk. In-
spector Conlin had a handful In his coat
pocket. Inspector Williams had paper
match box full.
Nearly all the clerks and other officials
went about excitedly and nervously clutch
ing haIf q dozen or more gems in their
hands, ever and anon allowing friend to
gazs upon the lustrous stones. I5 was q
veritable diamond fever that prevailed,
and gave one an idea OF the excitement that
years ago might have been witnessed in the
! South African diamond fields.
"But where did all these diamonds come
from2 Where is the Monte Cristo that has
30 suddenly come into possession Of and was
| distributing the precious gems among his
friendsT were questions that were asked
on every side.
! True, the sparkling gems that rendered
| Chief Steers room abage with light as
| bright as the noon-day sun were as yet in
! the rough, or uncut and unpublished. Never
| theless, many of the stones would require
very little polishing TO dazzle the keeuest
| eye that was allowed TO rest on them.
Visions OF wealth and affiuence rose up
| before the distant gaze Of the few that knew
| the secret of this rich treasure, and couriers
were dispatched hither and thither among
| lapidaries and diamond merchants in quest
| Of positive information as to the real value
Of the stones, which could be had by the
| peck.
It finally leaked out that they we're found
on Mount Hope, In the annexed district.
There a veritsble diamond mine has been
! struck, say those specially interested, and
already the few lucky ones who were let
into the secret by the fortunate owner of
the land are talking Of organizing stock
| company to rob the earth of its fabulous
wealth,
IL happened to be a police sergeant that
owns the little tract of land. He has lived
up on Mount Hope for years, and by hard
work-for the department. by day and
for his home by night-has made
it a most picturesque and charm
ing little home. But little did he
dream as he toiled early and late that he
was daily walking on a treasure trove, on a
real diamond mine. And now that he is
satisfied his working days are over he has
suddenly became too modest to reveal his
name, but is anxious that all his old-time
friends shall benefit by his lucky find.
Mount Hope is a lovely little town on the
Harlem railroad, only ten minutes distant
from the Grand Central depot. For many
weeks past miners and la6orers have been
! engaged in cutting new street, called
Burnside avenue, through that district, and
| lately have been at work on the Buckhout
| estate, right on the highest ground, known
| as the Mount
The ground djoins the police sergeant's
| house, and he spent all his leisure time In
watching the progress of the improvements.
| The excavations have led through various
| formation Of earth, sand and stone. Friday
| evening, long after the laborers had quit
their work, the sergeant, with an old hickory
stick for divining rod, passed along the
| outskirts of his little possess ons
Suddenly his step was arrested and he
drew back open mouthed as his vision beheld
a most dazzling sight The rays of the
| setting sun had caught upon pile of black
| sand and large chunks Of stone. from every
crevice in which there gleame a pure bright
light
1'By ginger, what's thisFn exclaimed the
sergeant to himself, as he picked up hand
full of the shining dirt. well smother my
CATS" he continued a moment later, ''if
faint diamonds, blow mep'
Then he looked cautiously around in
every direction to SEQ that he wasn't no.
ticed and alled all his pockets with the ''pay
| dirt, carrying rock as big as a coalhod
back home wish him. The moro he looked
at the stuff the brighter it became, and he
could not resist the temptation to go after
more.
There was lump IS big as beer barrel,
composed about half-and-hslf Of rock and
black sand, which looked like myriads of
taken home, thought the sergeant,
but 1 can't carry it," Then he
| hit upon an idea. A small mud-pud-
die close by served for a supply of ready
made paint, aad he lost no time in painting
the surface Of the stone SO as TO subdue the
| fire in the chunk. Then he hailed a couple
of Italians aud gave them dollar TO carry
| it to his house.
1t was carried to the cellar, where, unseen
and unheard by prying reighbors, the SER
| geant spent half the night demolshiIg the
stone with a sledEe-hsmmer, and, as a re-
suit, he picked up about two quarts of what
he firmly believes to be hrst-water dia-
monds. And they look it, He brought a
pint of them to police headQuP rters, and in
head and gave away his secret.
he distributed the crystals gingerly, how
ever, keeping the bulk Of them In big safe.
The stones, as said before, require very little
cutting, nearly all Of them having perfectly
polished facets and only wanting setting.
Everybody who saw them went nearly
wild. The gems range in size from a small
pea to q hickory nut, and II genuine
diamonds, will serve TO glut the market
They are said by competent authorities to
be pure carbon. Almost every window-pane
was cut or scratched by the posssssors, Go
try them.
Detectivs-Sergt Heidelberg, who is quite
a connoisseur 10 precious stones, was traas-
ported by the sight, aud at the sergeznt's
request took a handful down 20 Maiden
lane and to other lapidariss for the purpose
of having them rested and valued In
spectors Conlin and Williams and Chief
Steers are talked of as the iucorporators of
a company to work tbs mine.
IL it should prove what is expected many
Of the police officials are to be let in on the
ground floor aud general exodus from the
police force is expected to take place.
Whats the use OF working like slave,
with no thanks for doing good work !" they
say, when we can make our fortunes in
the diamond minesf'
Everybody will be wearing diamonds as
big as nuts, while money will be more
plentiful among 1.-THE finestn than ever be-
fore. and DR.. Parkhurst aud his co-workers
cannot say that 1t was obtained by bribe-
taking or protection. A number of the lucky
ssrgeant's friends will take advantage Of
the Sunday holiday by visiting the new
Eldorado.