The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-22
WISCONSIN PEARLS.

Pearl oysters were gathered by the mil
lion and destroyed, often with little or
no result. \ large round pearl Weighing
400 grains, which would have doubtless
been the finest pearl of modern times. was
ruined by boiling TO open the shell With
IN year pearls were sent 20 the New
York market from every State IN 1851
fully $1,000 worth. The excitement. how
ever, began 10 abate with the next year
and did not revive TN 1858, when many
Inc pearls were obtained from the Little
Ma nj river I'm Ohio Some Of the finest
An dcan pearls that were next found
came from near Waynesvlie. Ohio $1,000
worth being collected in the vicinity of
that town in the pearl excitement of 1876
Since 1850 pearls have come from COM
parauyely new districts further west and
south, the supply from which is apD0-
renty Increasing. Al first few were found
or rather few were looked for west Of the
Ohio but gradually the line extended. and
Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas became
the principal pearl producing States. and
some pearls were sent north from FlOri-
da. A few years later the interest eX-
tended TO the Northwestern States.
In the summer OF 1889 a quantity Of
magnihcently cOlored pearls were found
in the creeks and rivers OF Wisconsin.
More than $1,000 worth Of these pearls
were sent 20 New York within three
months, including one worth over $500,
and some Of them were equal TO any ever
found for beauty and cOlOrng. The coll
ors were principally purplish red, copper
red. and dark pink.
These discoveries led to immense ac-
tivity in pearl-hunting through all the
streams of the region and IN three or
four seasons the shells We're almost ex-
terminated. In 1880 II extended through
other sections or Wisconsin, and also ap-
peared in Illinois. The pearl fisheries OF
Illinois have produced at least $4,000
worth Of pearls since 1888
The northwestern pearl excitement SUBJ
sided In few seasons as the others had
done I'm turn before. by the exhaustion or
the mussel beds, and the consequent stop
page Of product. Every ten years or so
q fresh wave Of excitement arises in con-
nection with new discoveries at some
point where the shells have lain long I'M
disturbed.
THE ARKANSAS FINDS.
In 1897 there was q widespread out
break OF the pearl mania. the chief CEN
ire OF the excitement being Arkansas,
which had never before known It. There
II extended west Into the Indian Terrific
~ and north into Missouri while Georgia
and portions Of Tennessee were largely
affected.
A peculiar circumstance connected with
the Arkansas discovery was the cause Of
increasing tenfOld the fever for pearl
hunting. A large number Of the best
pearls were found not by opening the
shells, but lying In the mud on the shores
or at the bottom OF shallow waters. Of
ten they were found In or upon the soil
at some distance from streams or lakes.
This was due partly 10 the wide extension
of the waters in flood times over the low
regions Of the State and the shifting OF
the streams. Another reason. too was
found In the fact that in some circum-
stances. probably OF agitation by foods
and freshets. the loose pearls are lost or
shaken out OF the shells This was Ike
picking 10 nuggets in the Kl0ndlse
Farmers found pearls IN digging post
holes and fishermen picked them up by
leaning from their boats and fishing them
out OF the shallow water. Boys found
pearls and used them as marbles This
indeed happened many years ago as well
as recently. but II was so common an oc-
a quarter OF n century AGO that
nothing was thought OF II then.
FARMERS WORRIED.
So complete was the absorption OF the
people in Arkansas over pearl gathering
that farmers worried over their poor pros
poets for crop gathering. BY the middle
OF September 1897. the St Louis jewelers.
began 10 be flooded with Arkansas pearls
and A lot of stuff which was not pearls ,
and had no value. The extreme disat-
polntment OF those who forwarded pack |
ages which were not worth the postage |
and the clearing out OF all the Accessible |
shells led 10 the decline OF the craze.
Connecticut had its share OF the pearl |
lever and several valuable finds We're re- !
ported from the head waters OF the Mys- /
lie river as well as from the other end OF. 1
the state. along the Shspaue river. I'm |
Lltchfeld COUNT. The methods OF one |
methodical and careful hunter In this /
county could be followed With profit else