The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-18
BEr1eR rHAN KLONDIKE.
scraping Up Pearls by the Bushel In the
Lakes Of West Arkansas.

NrrATpUTS TENN. August 1.-THE eX-
element over the Klondike gold discoN-
cries. which for time ragged mere as IN
all other parts Of the country, mas ueth
altogether cclipsed hereabouts by the re-
markahle finds OF pearls IN apparently
inexhausfible numbers I'm lakes ana pay
Gus OF Western Arkansas.
The extent of thc4e pearl deposits can
not be- cstifhatld a COUPE nI VIE iai beSt
lakes. where the most valuable ilnds nave
Ieen made. have already been leased by
pcrsous OF means who are willing 10 risk
their cspital in the venture. They conh-
IDENTIFY hone that these lakes ahlne, or the
rnVriads of lakes in Arkansas VIII iurhlsn
'HT Tbs i'ut two lakss referred 10 are the Miller
and Murphy lakes. not FAR from BAD
Knob ON the Iron Mountain Railroad,
and about ten miles trom searcy' Afk,
only about l00 miles west OF memphis.
Tbe story Of the discovery Is interesting.
A few weeks ago q young man named
r-,rrfouch came down from 81. LOUIS 10
fsb in tha Murphy lake. He had handled
nesri. in his time and was al once struck
bv the appearance of these stones. lte
sent one of them 10 an expert al ~.
Louis. and waited the verdict.
u-b.' rosfffyo assurance came back that
the 'g stone was a genuinef beari and OF ex-
ccllcnt quality. , 81
torlal employment and devoted himself
entirely 10 accommodating a stock OF the
CONS When his money ran short he sent
n few OF the smaller specimens 10 the
Rvrd iewelry house in Memphis. and by
return mail received the regular market
price for such stones.
soon other persons from the same neigh
horhood began 20 cOnsign similar stones
10 the Byrd establishments Ine Mem
rhis people began 20 make inquiries. ana
il was not LONG .eiore me employees OF
the iewelrv house began 10 throw up their
iohs and to make mysterious Journeys
over into the swamp country. They gave
out that they We're going fishing, ana so
by degrees 10 became generally known
that the Arkansas lakes were yielding
fortunes IN precious stones ior al "no
would so after them.
MIR l. 7 Williams, County Trustee or
Shelby county, went over 10 the scene OF
The discOVeTie7 t week $3.50. lft r. 'hl
three DAYS there. ana during that tune
picked up fory-tWo pearls from the sur
face mud ranging v size from pea 10 a
large acorn. and concluded a deal with
the owners Of the property by which he
secured an exclusive lease Of the Two
lakes for q period or iNe years.
Before leaving he engaged force or
deputy sherins 10 guard both lakes day
and night and lights were erected All
around he lakeA 20 that they could not
be approached " depredatOrs at night
on bis return TO this city Mr.. Williams
purchased "A dredge boat and had II ship
ned over by ran in sections. IL Is now
being put fpgether on the shore OF Muir
phv Like and as soon as II is in shape
the work of dredging the lake viii be
taken uD IN earnest.
The u1ussels from which the pearls are
deveIoI1ed "A hound In al the Arkansas ba-
yous Man. persons eat them. but the
meat il too soft and fabby 70 be favored
by the epicure. -.
forms on the surface OF tho meat Inside
the shell. and this gradually becomes a
sort of fancerOus growth. X expands
and lardens ald as Il grows it absorbs
he meat Of the mussel TN AZ last none
of this animal substance Is left. but in It's
stead is n pearl more or less perfect.
m lie shell remains undisturbed II viii
contain the pearl when IL IS picked up,
but IL there has been a current IN me
wster thot has disturbed the shells the
nearlq r5av be scattered over a wide ter
ritory. The alluylum Of the Arkansas
saro ,aKoS hn an ork of dredging and sitting II
h not = serious undertaking.