New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
now AN ONYX FIELD WAS FOCyD.
PRISONER FOR DESERTTON WANTED To
REDISCONER IT

ANI@A'i'2NN ~ i'AN l.
One Of Uncle Sans soldiers. who is a prisoner
on Governors Island, is looking forward to the
day when he is to bc set at liberty with good
deal of eaCcrncss and pleasant anticipation. He
holds the secret to an onyx field in the northern
part Of this State and his detention Gov
ernor's Island is the only thing that stands be
tween him and handsome reward for locating
the field for n company that has been formed
by "A number Of capitalists to quarry the stone.
The soldier has a standing offer of 81 600 in
cash. 5000 in stock of the company and
place with the company at salary of 50 i
week as long the quarry pays.
stranger visited Governors Island last week
and obtained permission 10 talk with the pris-
Oner. 1t was then that the offer was made. and
the story leaked out. A Tribune reporter met
the visitor on the boat coming from the
island to the Battery
we have made a substantial offer to the
soldier" he said. IF he will direct to the
onyx field. but he steadfastly refuses to divulge
n syllable until he is released. The sooner he
obtains his freedom the sooner will he ahia
to reap our harvest, We realize that thor
ouehly, and Will make every effort to have his
term shortened. Powerful Influences will be
brought to bear on the authorities at Wash
ington, and hope to free him soon. He is
wide awake to this fact and makes his release
one OF the conditions.
He discovered the onyx field accidentally
Before he enlisted in the army he lived i'm the
upper part Of the State and ardent
hunter after big game. one day while out with
his gun he sped a deer and gave chase The
deer led him over a rocky hill The sides Of
this hill very steep, and to ascend it the
hunter had to cut inches in the stone TO get
foothold He attracted by the brilhaucy
| and beauty of the pieces of stone. and placed
several of them in his pocket When he re-
turned to Syracuse where he lived. he gave
these pieces of stone to some of his friends as
souvenirs piece of the stone, with its history.
into my possession, and 1 recognized at
once that it valuable onyx. l had it tested,
and found that il of the very best quality,
and that The small piece which I possessed.
measuring perhaps a square inch. was worth
30 cents, uncut and unpublished
Il exhibited the stone to a number of experts.
and before long tentative company formed
to exploit the mine if it could be located. Ex-
ploring parties were sent through the region,
and, after long search without success, the at
tempt was abandoned. and we set about to find
the hunter. l had his and address, but
investigation showed that he had enlisted in
the army and gone to the Philippines to fight
for his country. We attempted to communicate
with him there, but learned that he had desert
ed. \ short time ago we read an account of
his capture which said that he had been taken
to Governors Island to serve out long term.
That is what brings me here to-day He de-
cares that he could take us blindfolded to the
spot where he found the onyx. He tramped
over the region much that he is familiar
with every inch Of it. What is the soldiers
name? If l told you that you might get there
ahead of me No. no; will not mention
names for the present. Your uncle is going to
keep this thing to himself"