The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-11-07
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS
CRAZY OVER ITS
NEW DIAMOND FIELD

.ah ttnh
southwestern Arkansas has gone
diamond crazy. The cotton crops are
spelling for want OF picking, farmers
In all directions have abandoned their
p.ows and are rushing OH to the Lit
lie Missouri river from whence comes
fthe story OF the diamond finds. Labor,
heretofore far In excess OF thed demand,
us impossible TO get. The harvest
fields arc being tended by the women,
while the male members OF the family
are out combing the banks OF the Lit
tie Missouri In search OF wealth. Other
pursuits languish during the rush for
precious stones, and the once slow,
stolid, old fashioned native OF Arkan-
sas has been transformed into q .
tier.
Everyone has a pocket full OF smooth
crystal pebbles which he stoutly de-
clarcs are genuine diamonds and re-
fuses to part with at any price. Ev-
cry day a dozen or more farmers dash
into Murfreesboro at breakneck speed
and pull up at h office of Judge"
Pinnix, the local diamond expert, to
deposit with him a number OF clear
pebbles for examination; a majority or
which prove to be bits of worthless
crystal.
Where Real Diamonds Are Found.
But there are real diamonds in Pike
county. Two and a half miles south
east OF Murfreesboro Is the crater OF
an extince volcano in which occurs
peridotite the South African diamond
bearing rock, n up 10 date more than
140 stones, ranging in size from n
TO six and one-half carats nave been
found. These stones, according TO the
geologists who have examined them,
are Of the finest quality and luster.
The volcano is located on the north
shore OF the Little Missouri river, the
cone rising out OF the
level plain to an elevation OF about 200
feet. II is covered with q dense growth
of pine and oak trees n the peculiar
formation would not be noticed by the
casual passerby.
AS far as development has gone, 1t
has been shown that the crater Is at
least one mile In diameter. Ten shafts
sunk within this radius AVE tapped
the diamond bearing rock and as many
more are being sunk for prospect.
owing 10 the fact that the Little
Missouri has cut part OF It's channei
through the base Of the cone OF the
volcano a number Of prospectors are
working the shoals along the river oea
and are getting good returns. A rev
diamonds have been foun along the
river bank, undoubtedly having been
wished from the volcano. Several
prospectors are now erecting screens,
through which they are washing the
pebbles. This work so far is very prim-
tive.
Owing 70 the fact that all o so
far found were either on the surface or
directly under IL, the properties In the
vicinity OF the flnd are patroled by
armed guards. Signs posted In con-
spicuous places read: Armed Guards,
Don't Trespass."
According to the biologists sent here
BY the government to investigate the
diamond field, the Gulf or Mexico ex-
tended at some emot period as far
north as the volcano in which the dia-
monds are found. During an eruption
beneath the water. the sudden cooling
OF the earth, together with the great
pressure, formed the diamonds, they
say. The stones frequently are found
about twenty feet below the surface,
just under a bed OF gravel. No drill
has vet beer sunk deer enough to de-
termine the exact depth of the peri
dotite.
A Poor Farmers Lucky Find.
. The story OF the original discovery
is Of more than passing interest. John
w. Huddlestone. a poor Nashville farm
er, two years ago purchased 243 acres
of what was considered very o % land
on the banks OF the Little Missouri.
He paid $500 for the land. About six
months later. while planting corn, he
noticed a shining pebble and picking it.
up. dropped IL in his pocket.
He forgot about the pebble until sew
eral weeks later when he vas at Muir
freesboro, trying to negotiate a loan Of
money. Recalling the story OF his odd
find to Judge" Pinnix, a local lawyer,
the latter asked to see the stone and
UPON It being produced he suggested
that 1t be sent to Little Rock for ex-
animation.
The result has already been told.
Huddlestone sold his 5000 farm a few
weeks age for $4,000 and last week
phia, Ark, a college town. Huddle-
stone is an initerate man, unable either
to read or write, but he says he is
going TO give his children all the adj,
vantages OF a college education.