The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-03
He ARKANSAS KLoNDIKE.
Pen Fishing Proving Remunera-
tive ms Gold Mining.

,rnnhis. Tenn.-When Tiffany says
.it. a pearl the world listens, and imme-
i,,lv the locality that produces the gem
i sought into prominence. At the pres
time the state of Arkansas rivals even
[.off Klondike and its gold fields be-
se of the valuable pearls that have
:, oathered out of its waters. For years
industry has been carried on in linn
III and very quiet way, but it remained
81 Memphis man to turn the eyes of
- world to the value of the gems hid
4, away even in the muddy sloughs, bay
Al lakes and rivers. The world was not
snrised, for the state OF Arkansas has
ofn before appeared in marvellous light
Aa state it is given to doing unheard of
nrs-thngs that are not expected. Its
1rnis It's minerals, its marbles and many
othe things have made the state famous
b4f0p its time.
At resent her pearls are attracting the
attention of the great jewellers in the
world, and her gems are finding market
far tn, adornment of royalty and the
wealth lovers of jewels in this country.
The supply seems ample for the demand,
hit it hkes work to get them, as a rule
suhoug. there are a favored few who
walk along and pick up choice gems where
they hare been dropped by the careless
ea.herer Not long ago an elderly woman
was at Murphy Lake with a crowd of
relghbors ana friends, all of whom were
wishing br large gems, when she looked
down and said, "here's one of them are
things" She was offered SIS for it on the
SPOT Mr. Kelley, who lives near Bald
Knob, remembers when his children, in
getting mussels for fish bait, often found
pretty rocks inside the shells and used
them for marbles. But to the average gath
erer the labor of getting them is worth
Il ell be gets for them. II may seem an easy
ning TO do to gather mussels and open
Them and secure their gems, but it is not
when all the surroundings are considered.
Il A representative of the Globe-Democrat
visited the scene of the White county pearl
fisheries during the week and had the
peasure of gathering pearls, and speaks
from experience on this line. To begin
with there are very few places where the
mussels are found in large quantities that
are accessible. To reach them means
long overland rides in some sort of a
wheeled vehicle over the toughest roads
in the United States. With all her glories
Arkansas has but few good roads.
Bald Knob in White county, was the
place chosen as headquarters. for the
Globe Democrats pearl hunters. Upon in
quiry it was found that the nearest pearl
lakes were Murphy and Walker lakes,
which connect by a narrow stream of wa
ter AT the present time there is so much
drift in the stream and the water is so
low that canoe can not-be roWed from
one to the other, but may be pulled over
the driftwood. To reach these lakes from
pnII rs,.,l, IA
over the toughest road that a four-wheel-
ed vehicle was ever driven over. The
wheels do not make a complete revolution
without one or more running over a stump
or root Then there are deep "chuck
holes that threaten to swallow up the
Ipayeers when the careful driver seeks to
shun them. The long flexible limbs of the
lndergrowth and the stiff, stubby boughs
/. OF the hickory slap the passengers in the
lace and try 10 drag them out of the bug
gy There is some recompense in this
ride in viewing the beauties of the wood
stand. The sumachs and the black gum
pare hanging their scarlet banners on their
pending branches, while the wild wood
Mowers are in all their glory. After an
8nour and a half the scene of the pearl
fisheries is reached. Murphy and Walker
Fakes, two beautiful lakes bordered by cy-
press and other southern woods belonging
10 the loWlands. Murphy lake is only
'aDout a mile long, but it is much deeper.
rs waters are from fifteen to eighteen
eet deep now at low water. Murphy lake
Ss very much shallower and in many places
may be waded in safety. George c. Grif-
nun OF Bald Knob has a deed for a certain
tract of land which he believes contain
'these lakes, and when 1t was found that
Hussels abounded there in great quanti-
hot
Detn taken from them, j. J. Williams of
memphis who CHANGED to be there on a
faeasure trip, hunting and fishing, leased
NE Iakes for term of five years and at
Nee put force of men to work to secure
ae mussels and rob them of their gems
iue dlVers and waders are paid $3.50 a
IT, or rather for six hours work. 1t
aAes man of strong constitution and
ae predisposed to work to stand this
eoIK' Tor it is very hard and trying. The
Nn as 1t were, take their lives in their
5anQs and wade into the very jaws of
rgalh' The lakes are low and are filled
ELL malarial poison in con-
VlSed and distilled form. A
~ days continuous wading
.ngs on low malarial fevers and several
- oied from its effects in these and
,rIar lakes that are being worked for
ais Inc waters give the flesh a pc
naI ana very unpleasant feeling, as
rg!usH one were bathing in a strong So
&oi .Ou ol copperas, or as 1t is known in
1'u'llc terms sulphate of iron. There
springs seeping out around the bank
a, are yellow with iron.
e mussels are imbedded in the mud
l. are grabbed out with the hands. In
,nge Whlle the finger tips feel rough and
S, not unlike one had been grabbing
o, a illne vat. But with all these discom-
',S' there is no scarcity of pearl hunters
st most OF them have been rewarded
"a y. what they deem an ample harvest or
rm 9I return for the time invested Mr.
M I,aIls mas more than paid the hire of
men employed and the amount of his
rs5a oesldes the expense of building a
{4aris ~, 10, Iurther use in searching for
Sib :, Inc banks are thlckly covered
1 we smells, as though paved for driv-
>ro,. Is not merely a little space but
ks. me entire circumference of the
a o's. Nj Williams has sold several
ls sSanus dollars worth of pearls, be-
kerts nose he has had made into orna-
ava lor his friends. Among others who
W. tound pearls are these:
" smith of West Point is a farmer
car ,aIted a crop. He was too poor to
&eait ppAes, and the merchants would not
H. nm lie went fishing, and in get
s1, lussel for bait found a pearl. which
ln,oS Tor $780, Thus encouraged. he
No. I Tor more pearls and has up TO this
Ill arls 'olu Sl,2OO worth. He found his
II so,l ~ SeVen-M Mile lake, which is furth-
M NV IN the county than the Murphy
"e Walker lakes.