The sun., 1898-04-03
CONRAD NUGGETS.
"A Glittcring Collection OF Gold in
the Rough, Unsurpassed in
the World.

Collecting gold nuggets is Il fad that
the kIondike craze, is answcrable for. So
many miners are now going around in
the State exhibiting gold with the un-
concern OF those who are familiar with
it as ordinary people are with common
pebbles that Il new fad has developed in
consequence.
Each man wants to be able to show
finer collection than his ncighbor.
This competition has resulted in some
especial fine collections Of gold in the
rough beng gathered into the possession
of IL single individual, but none eyer
seen can surpass or equal the collection
in the poFsesSl0n of two brothers named
Conrad, who are business. men in Seattle,
Washington.
The Conrad nuggets lave been taken
from various mines, and all are worth
high prizes. The largest nugget in the
cO..,ct on j. valued at %,S1,a and no larger
has ever Ncen taken from Il mine in
America according to the best records
on he subject
1t was -aId that one was taken ont Of
Nelson tnlich once that was valued at
S2,3hl. bAt if it ever existed it found its
way t. the melting pot 80 rapidly that
no one today is able to swear positively
that lie ever saw it. Another story tells
of 81, 700 nugget, but this one is not to
e folnd.
The big nugget in the Conrad collec-
ton came from the Snowshoc digg; ;ngs.
having ori ginalIy been bought from IL
miner named Price.
The nugget next IN vaiue Is worth
800, and is one Of the purcst specimens
Of gold in existence 1t came from Uncle
Bcn's G,ch and found its way into the
Conrad brothers collection after many
years stay III the strong box of a Mon
tana banker. One nugget, worth $3.50,
came from Scratch from the Nevada
Creek placcrs, a rich mining property
owned by W. +. Raleigh.
One of the biggest nuggets has an in
tercsting history. 1t was SO big that it
was overlooked altogether. The miners
not being prepared for the sight OF 50
rich Il find all at once, threw it out of the
boxes with the iorkings, but it refused to
be treated 50 ANONYMOUSLY, and con-
| tinued to attract attention by its gleam-
ing light until found and joyfuly added
to the days profit by the miners.
The weight of each nugget in the col.
lection is as follows
One nugget, 40 ounces; nugget, AZ
! ounces; ! nugget, 45s ounces; ! nugget
2ji ounces; 3S nuggets, 3G Il 20 ounces !
nggct, 10 ounces; ] nugget, l3 3.lf
ounces; nugget, l05 ounces; nugget
| o. ounces; nugget, ounces; nugget
i ounces; 40 nuggets, 1920 ounces;
nugget, 4 ounces; nugget, l-lG ounces
| nugget, ) ounces; | nugget, >, mug.
get, - ounces; | nugget, . ounces;
nugget, - ounces; | nugget, = ounces
lib nuggets, :! ounces. Total, 2O9 mug
gets, "A pounds,S ounces, pennywcight
also one bottle pure dnst, ) ounces, II
pcnnyweights. and one box OF sapphires
The nuggets, when not under inspcc
ton, are kept in the strong room OF &
bank, but the owners OF the collection
are 50 proud at beating the entire colln
try in fad that is growing and canno
be indnlgcd IN by every one for obvious
reasons that they are at all times wilin,
to Produce the collection for exhibition
purposes.
1t has been suggested that the nuggets
be sent to the Paris Exposition in Orde
to give the world an opportunity of see
ing how rich America is in the precious
metals
The lea is pleasing one to the Con
rad brothers, and if the Paris Exposition
managers show desire to endorse it tn,
nuggets will be sent to the exposition
with other Montana products.
The matter will probably be brough
before the Legislature and official actor
taken IN due time. If the decision is fav
orable the nuggets will form handsom
addition to the American exhibition u
the exposition.
The Conrad brothers are by no mean
satisfied with the collection as it stands