The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-09-09
CHARLES Wins AND HIS OUTFIT.

CHARLES Wins AND HIS OJIFIIs
ment or a plnything for the baby. 1t is
only within the last fow weeks that the
news has begun to spread through the
rural districts of the rich pearl fisheries,
and they now realize that these pretty peb-
bles are likely to be worth from $3.50 to
$500 apiece
Not long ago a young man from St.
Louis went down into the bottom lands of
Arkansas for a week hunting and fish
ing. He left the train and civilization at
Bald Knob and penetrated into the woods
as far as Murrhv lake, famous for its fish.
As he sat there on a log waiting for a bite
a smooth, shining pebble, half buried in
the black mud, caught his eye. He knew
a little about precious stones and hasty
examination almost convinced him that it
was a pearl. The native guide who was
. with him offered TO show him where a lot
of such stones could he found and in few
moments the young man had forgotten all
about fishing and was 6lling his pockets
with the gems, much TO the amusement
of the guide, who assured him that the
people who lived in the vicinity had known
for long time Of tho existence Of tho
stones, but had paid m attention to them.
That same night theft -h,rugu sent TO q
lapidury in 81. Louis u lew specimens and
by return mail came the assurance that
the gems were pearls Of excellent quality,
unusual size and great value. In order to
be dOubly assured, however, he sent two
or three stones to a Memphis jowelry firm,
Offering them for sale. He promptly re-
ceiyed Il check for an amount much larger
than he had anticipated, Then he deter
, mined to follow the pearl fishing industry
for an indefinite period. He kept his lucky
ufRsflv tod, IL Tka
by lakes, finding another in the vicinity of
Bald Knob which seemed to be rich in
pearls.
He was doing well when his secret leaked
out Jewellers in Momphis had received a
number Of fine pearls from Arkansas, and
finally one firm sent an agent, Mr. j. A.
O'Hara, to make inquiries. He no sooner
arrived in the pearl country than he sent
in his resignation, and at once made ar
rangements TO conduct . peaEl business of
his own on a large scale. Then the news
spread rapidly, and now the bayOus of
Arkansas are swarming with prOspectors.
Capitalists have already leased all the
land around the two lakes on White river,
where the first large finds were made and
the property is being guarded night and
day. A large Gordon of special COnstablCs
has been engaged to drive men away from
the shores and at night the muddy banks
are illuminated by the flaring light Of gas
oline torches in order that INSCRIPTIONS
claim jumpers may not sneak in after
dark and carry off the pearls. A large
dredger will soon be at operation on the
lake. This will scoop up the bottom of
the lake and drop great shovelfuls into a
screen. A there is nothing but soft mud
and shells on the lake bottom tho pearls
and shells can easily be screened from the
mud
Among the army of prospectors which
now swarms through the district is Charles
Wins, who represents a Memphis jewelry
firm. He is buying up all the pearls that
the natives have to offer, and is probably
doing better business than any Of the
others He travels on mule back, and is
making thorough canvas Of the bayou
district. Pearls have not only been found
In the lakes, but far inland, where they
have been deposited in previous years when
the great river took a different course.
The possibility of finding rich pearl depos-
Its In their cotton fields is just being real
ized by the farmers, and they are oonse-
quently In feverish state of excitement,
almost as much so as II their land were To-
GATED In the midst of gold country.
S. X. MACDONALD.