Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-07-16
PEARLS IN THE RIVER
Hunting Craze on the Mississippi
Started by Few Lucky
Finds.
FINE ONES ARE VERY SCARCE
Rush TO Northern Fields Like a
Klondike Excite
ment.

Pearl hunting along the Mississippi
has become a craze. Pearl hunters
are on the river in great numbers.
Pearls are not at all uncommon, but
fine ones and really valuable pearls
are decidedly scarce. Hence the at
traction and the value of the pearls.
The best pearls have been found in
the vicinity of Prairie du Chen, Wis,
but the buyers and pearl spectators
nearly all live in this vicinity.
The black shells contain the finest
pearls. They are found just inside
the hinge of the live shell and may
be of any size from the dimensions OF
pinhead up to a weight of 100 grains
and of any shape from the perfectly
oval or round to the slug an inch in
length. Slugs are much more COM
mon than the oval or round pearl.
They usually have an oval head and
then slope to a sharp point. The
short pieces are of every shape and
size. Buyers pay from IS cents to 81
an ounce for the slugs. They are
used in making fancy stick pins and
for hair ornaments.
But it is the perfectly round pearl
of fair size that makes a genuine sem
sation in a clam diggers' camp when
one is found. There is then all sorts
of speculation as to the value and
only a most expert buyer knows what
can be realized for them.
The Allen Pearl.
What is known as the Allen pearl
at Prairie du CHEN has attracted un-
usual attention. 1t weighed 100
grains and is said to be the largest
perfect pearl ever found in the Mis-
sissippi river. 1t was recently pur-
chased by William NJ. Moore of Ca
manche, Iowa. What he paid is pos
sibly not exactly known. A gentle
man who is closely associated
with Mr.. Moore SAYS he paid
So. 600 for it. He has just re-
turned from New York, where he
So, 900. He sold the Allen pearl and
it is said he received 81. 600 for it,
Mr.. Moore has lived al his life on the
river and has learned a good deal
about pearls. He borrowed money
two years ago with which TO make his
first purchase. Since that time he
has cleared over So, 600. according to
reports of persons who claim to know
something of his affairs. Howes
Bros, of Clinton, and several other
persons are extensive buyers, and it
is safe to say that the pearl industry
between this city and the Minnesota
state line nets the finders more than
$50. 600 year.
The clam diggers are rushing for
the upper river beds. most of them
congregating in the vicinity of Prairie
du CHEN, where there is a bed more
than 10 miles long. 1t is on this bed
that the fine pearls are found in con-
siderable numb ers. The rush up the
river has been like a Klondike excite
ment. The households have been
towed up the river and hundreds have
shipped their tents and gone up on
the boats More than 1000 are now
along the river there, and the |
whole business is overdone. At every |
town along the river scows are being |
made and great is the demand for |
outfits. The finding of q |
few thousand dollars worth of shells |
by the diggers has created a regular |
raid upon the river. 1t is safe to say |
that the man who sticks to his clam |
boat and hooks will do much better |
than those who spend their time hunt
ing pearls.