Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-22
THEY ARE BEING SCOOPED UP IN
WESTERN ARKANSAS LAKES.
ARE FOUND IN MUsSEL SHELLS.
MEMPHIS JEWELLERS THROW Up
THEIR JOBS TO HUNT PEARLS.
Extent of the Deposits Cannot BE Es-
timnted-Two of the Largest
Lakes Leased and Will
he Worked Sys-
temattcally.

New York, Aug. IA special to the Sun
from Memphis, Tenn. says:
The excitement over the Klondike gold
discoveries. which for time ragged here.
as in all other parts of the country, has
been altogether eclipsed hereabouts by the
remarkable finds of pearls in apparently in
exhaustible numbers in lakes and bayous
of Western Arkansas.
The extent of these pearl deposits cannot
be estimated. A.couple of the largest lakes,
where the Jhost valuable finds have been
made, haveaalready been leased by persons
OF means who are willing, 10 risk their cap
ital in the Eenture. They confidently hope
that these pakes alone. of the myriads Of
lakes in Ahapsas. will furnish the pure
gems.
The two Iakas referred to are the Miller
and Murphy lakes. not far from . Bald
Knob. on the IRON Mountain railroad, and
about ten miles from Searcy. Ark, only
about 100 miles west of Memphis. Tho
story of the discovery is interesting.
A few weeks ago young man named
Furiough came down from St. Louis 10 FISH
in the Murphy lake. He had handled pearls
in his time and was at once struck by the
appearance of these stones. He sent one
OF them to an expert at st. Louis and
awaited the verdict.
The positive assurance came back that the
stone was genuine pearl and Of excellent
duality.
Furiough at once deserted his piscatorial
employment and devoted himself entirely TO
| accumulating stock of the gems. When
his money ran short ne sent a few of the
smaller specimens to the Byrd jewelry
house in Memphis, and by return mail re-
ceiyed the regular market price for such
stones.
Soon other persons from the same neigh
borhood began to consign similar stones to
the Byrd establishment. The Memphis peo-
pie began to make inquiries. and IL was not
long before employees Of the jewelry house
began TO throw up their jobs and to make
mysterious Journeys over into the swamp
country. They gave out that they were GO
ing fishing; and go by degrees it became
generally known that the Arkansas lakes
were yielding fortunes in precious stones
for all who would go after them.
Mr.. j. j. Williams. county trustee of
Shelby county, went over to the scene of
| days there. and during that time picked up
| forty-two pearls from the surface mud.
| ranging in size from pea to a large acorn.
and concluded deal with the owners of the
| property by which he secured an exclusive
lease of the two lakes for period of five
] years.
| uty sheriffs TO guard both lakes day and
| night, and lights were erected all around
the lakes. SO that they could & not be ap,
| being seen.
| On his return to this city Mr.. Williams
! purchased dredgeboat and had 1t shipped
| over by rail in sections. 1t is now being
! put together on the shore of Murphy lake.
and as soon as 1t is in shape the work OF
dredging the lake will be taken up in
/ earnest.
The mussels from which the pearls are
| developed abound in all the Arkansas
bayous. Many persons eat them. but the
| meat is too soft and fiabby to be favored
, by the epicure.
| Under certain conditions a small grit
! forms on the surface of the meat inside the
| SHE'LL and this gradually becomes a sort
OF cancerous growth. 1t expands and
hardens, and as 1t grows 1t absorbs the
meat OF the mussel till at last none of tits
animal substance is left, but in Its stead Is
pearl more or less perfect.
/ If the shell remains undisturbed it will
contain the pearl when it is picked up. but
{ If there has been a current in the water
that has disturbed the shells the pearls
| NAV be scattered over a wide territory.
| The alluvium of the Arkansas lakes and
| bayous is not deep. and therefore the work
| of dredging and sitting 1t is not serious
| undertaking.