The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-10-14
WEALTH ON BEACH.
Men Who Search the Sands Are
Richly Rewarded.

How 90 you live IN the Wlnter!
The question was propounded to
harry old boatman at one of ou,
most popular seaside resorts, says
London Answers
"Weil, we simply search the sands
for the valuables that have been lost
by holiday-rnaking crowds during
the season. You can form no idea
Of the amount Of jewelry, money, and
other knicks-knacks that are lost at
places like Margate, Lowestoft or
Blackpool. The visitors lounge O,
lie about, or play with their children
on the sands when the tide is low, and
many little things fell out Of thei,
pockets, or rings slip off their fingers
without their being one whit the
wiser. Then, when the tide comes
up, the articles are either washed
into the sand or carried by the reced-
ing tide little distance out to sea,
and there deposited.
when the winter gales set in the
sea bed IS churned up, and the arti-
cles concealed by the sea during the
summer are cast up on the beach.
my finds during the last winter
comprised fifty rings, mostly ladies',
three pearl and gold necklaces, ten
gold bangles, two brooch watches,
thirteen breaches, purses, one pair of
marine glasses, and innumerable
charms Of all descriptions. Money
is the most prolific, and I unearthed
three sovereigns, one half sovereign,
coins amounting to 5 pounds, II shil-
lings,, 6 pence. One peculiar fact I
observed among my silver coin finds
was the predoninance of the humble
three-penny-piece
"The copper coins are for the most
part lost by children. You see, the
fond parents give their little ones
copper. The child, immersed in the
delight of digging in the sand, lays
his copper down and forgets all about
it.
"The other coins are lost by the
parents, the father being the most
luck1ess in this respect. He helps
his children in the erection of their
sand castles, and, in stopping, the
coins work their way out Of his pock-
ct. AS they fall on to the sand with
out sound their loss is not discover
cred until the tide is up.
Ladies, however, are the most un-
fortunate in the loss of jewelry, es-
pecially rings. They delight in
burying their hands in the sand, and
the consequence is that the rings, es-:
pecially if they fit loosely upon the
fingers, slip off unawares.
us there a market for the discov-
cries we make? Well, as a rule, the
finds are valued by a jeweler, and
If the offer is what we consider fair
one it is accepted. AS a rule, how
ever, we generally wait until the fol-
lowing season, when we can dispose
OF our finds to the holiday making
customers while out for row. The
rings found averaged in value from
IS shillings to 20 pounds apiece. The
latter was specially fine one. 1t
was diamond hoop. and had evil
IDENTIFY never been worn, for when
picked up it was still wrapped in the
jewelers. tissue paper. If quick
market is wanted for the valuab1es,
uncle is always available.
'When is the best time for scaven-
gering? After a heavy storm, when
the sea has considerably disturbed
the foreshore. But it needs certain
amount of skill to scent out the like
ly spots. We follow the tide in,
and watch the result of every wave
The heavy breakers churn up the
sand to depth of several inches, and
anything that may lurk beneath it is
picked up by the water and cast
ashore
Corners around the groynes, the
bases of the pier pillars, and other
little hooks are the most profitable