davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04
FIELDS OF DIAMONDS-By. Frank C. (

mond Increases. One provision is that the De Beers company shall sell to no one else during the term of the contract. This syndicate is independent of the De Beers company, although many men be- longing to that company are members of the syndicate.
 On account of this arrangement it is not an easy thing for a stranger to buy a diamond in Kimberley, and any one who might purchase a rough stone of q native would be in danger of prison. The law here provides that he who buys dia- monds must first take out license, and that all diamonds bought and sold must be shown to the government officials in order that they may be valued for ous- toms. In fact, every man who takes a diamond out of South Africa must have a certificate showing where he got that diamond and that he has right to it.
 During my stay have bought rough stone of few carats at cost of about $75 per carat. I have been able to get it through special introduction to the of ficers of the diamond syndicate. and 1t was sold me at about the same price the diamond would have cost me at whole sale in London. I had to go to a half dozen different officials to secure the pa- pers showing that I owned it, and I have paid the customs duty necessary to en- able me to get it out of Cape Colony.
 During the year 1907 the mines of the De Beers company here kept something like 10000 negroes regularly employed getting out the blue and working the floors and washing machines. They had there, all told, more than three thousand whites. On account of the hard times in America, which has seriously cut the demand for diamonds, about 10000 of the native miners have been recently dis charged and also over 1000 whites. There are still 10000 native miners at work, and this number will be increased as the market improves. I have had a good chance to see the miners during my trips about Kimberley. They are Kafirs, com ing from the various tribes of South Af- rica, the company preferring to have it's men from as many different localities as possible in order to prevent strikes. The men work well and are more efficient than the ordinary African labor. They are big fellows, strong and muscular. In the mines they are bare to the waist, al though most of them wear trousers and have shoes to protect their feet from the rocks. Each gang has a white over seer, but the laws prevent any mistreat
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

Jimmy it was all we could do to make her step off the wolf.
 Looks like she's goin' to make her supper outa wolf tonight. What did I tell you?-its what she was raised on. :
 We dragged the other carcasses by the tails and laid them in row be- fore her. .
 Give us your hand, Pardner." cried, catching up her foreleg. You're heroine and dead game sport and I'm proud to fall you friend Member all those things I used to say about your way O life? I take 'em all back, every last one of em."
 same here, Jimmy" said Brandt. skipping her neck. Let bygones be by gones."
 Jinny accepted our apologies and ad- miration with the affable dignity of a duchess; sniffed haughtily in the dl- rection Of her game. smelled the Heir Apparent over to make sure he was all right-and ate grass.
 Which would I rather lose, if had to lose one-Muldoon or Jimmy? Don't ask such questions-I don't know. But I know this: If any one wants to buy Jimmy now my price for her is one mill lion dollars.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

prevent them stealing the diamonds while they are working. Their rooms in the compound are built against a wali around which are marching guards with guns in their hands. One hundred feer beyond this wall there Is a tight fence of galvanized iron about 14 feet high, and outside that are other guards. so that it is impossible to throw diamonds over the fences to confederates outside.
 The greatest care Is taken by the De Beers company to prevent diamond smuggling. No man Is allowed to leave the mine until several days after tho completion of his contract During this time he is stripped naked and put into | room so warm that he will not catch cold. He is kept there for several days and watched all the time. Every bit of his person is then gone over by the diamond detectives to see that he has no precious stones concealed anywhere in 1t. His toes, ears. teeth. gums and hair are ex- amined, and if he has any sores on his body they are probed. While the exam- ming is going on the natives have nit tens of sole leather upon their hands. These are so stiff that they could not pick up diamond if one lay on tho floor before them.
 At the same time the miners are paid for being honest Every man receives $l.25 per carat for the diamonds he dis CONeTS dIQ HdnuS over to luo OYeTSeeT- The other day a negro dug out gem as big as a walnut. It weighed more than 100 carats, and he received a premiums of $50 for it.
 It used to be that many diamonds were swallowed. About 10 years ago one as big as a chestnut was thus disposed of, and the negro kept 1t for more than a week. In 1895 about s4oO0 worth of stones were lost in a miners stomach and after ward discovered, and the same practice would go on today were 1t not for tho imprisonment in naked state and the medical and dietary treatment which all must go through before they are allowed to depart As to other smuggling meth ods, gems have been found in boot heels, in hollow canes, and in dinner pails with false bottoms. The miners frequently make gashes in their persons and try to carry away the brilliants under their skin. They put them in their hollow teeth, under their toes and in every con ceIvable place. The guard grows more rigid from year to year, and the detec- | tives have become so expert that they l know just exactly which places to search.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

N the experience of most people who reach adult age there are times when tine spirit is so broken. the heart so crushed. and the mental suffering so ter rible that the sufferers are ready to de- spair of all happiness on this side of the grave.
 It was no mere fancy picture that the great dramatist drew, when, In opening the recesses of a heart laden with grief, and soul wrestling with despair, he rep- resented Hamlet as saying:
 To die: to sleep; No more and by a sleep to say we end The heartache and the thousand natural
 shocks
 That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Deyoutly to be wished.
 Truly has many a wounded and broken spirit been made to feel the force of these immortal lines. Many a heart over whelmed with silent sorrow and weighed down with untold woe has asked: Who would bear the whips and scorns
 of time,
 The oppressor's wrong, the proud mans
 contumely, The bangs of despised love. the laws
 delay.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

HLEVEN THOUSAND acres of dia- monds
 A Hundreds of fields of blue clay sprinkled with jewelsi
 A mighty farm, where the brllliants lie put under the sun and the diamondlferous earth is worked with steam harrows
 These are some of the things you may see any day here at Kimberley. Last year the crop from this vast diamond farm amounted to $S2, 100000. It was equal to more than $10O,000 for every working day the whole year through. It was more than $70 for every minute or more than s1 for every tick of the watch through all the minutes. all the hours of all the days of the year.
 All the soil of this mighty farm has been taken out of the diamond pipes, which I have described in previous let ter There are five such pipes at Kim berley, and each contains a pudding of this blue clay, sprinhled with white cur rants of diamonds. The pipes range from 500 feet to several times that In diameter. Two of them, the Kimberley and the De Beers, have already been excavated, to a depth or more than 2UOO rect. And three others, the Wesseton, the Belfontein and the Duoitspan, are now being mined at BOO or more feet from the surface. In every pipe the blue rock has been found continuous, and everywhere 1t is pep pered with diamonds How far down the deposits go no one knows In Kimberley they have been probed to a depth of more than half mile, so that it is no exag- geration to say that there are hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds in sight.
 As to the origin of the gems, they are supposed to be volcanic and Mr. Gardiner Williams, who managed the mines for 20 years. believes that they were shot up by mud volcanoes. There is no doubt but that the pipes were formed by some convulsion of nature, and that it was al about the same time that the jewels appeared.
 The mining, as I have desribed, con- sists of blasting out and raising to the surface the blue clay containing the diamonds.
 I have spent part of this week in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04

fields in steel cars. There are 150 miles of railroad track which runs from the mines to the floors, and from them to the crushing and washing machines, which handle the earth, after it's melting. Over every car track is a steel cable, and the thousands of cars are moved by the steam engines of the five central plants.
 I saw the process of washing out dia- monds at the De Beers mine. The rock was carried there a distance of eight miles by the cable. In reducing it 1t was divided into two classes, one soft and one hard The hard rock was that which had not been affected by the weather; and 1t had to be crushed to a powder be- fore the diamonds could be taken out. This was done in mighty steel crushers which are so made that they will grind up the rock and at the same time not injure the still harder diamonds within. After crushing, the coarser pieces are crushed again, and at the end 1t Is all re- duced to about the consistency of soft ground, made so by the weather
 Both the soft and the crushed ground are then washed to get rid of the waste, and as a result, out of every hundred loads of the mixture comes one load of gravel containing the diamonds.
 It used to be that all the gravel ob- tained in this way was sorted over by men. Both natives and whites were em- ployed, but the chances for stealing were great, and it was found that many small stones were lost. Indeed some of the gravel which was sorted over in that way years ago Is now being sorted again and at great profit.
 Today the diamonds are saved by tables covered with a grease just like axle grease. The gravel Is run through what Is known as a pulsator, consisting of a series of iron tables corrugated like a washboard. These tables lie at a slight angle, and the machinery shakes them, so that they are always moving as the gravel goes over them. They are cov- cred with this grease, and by the shaking almost every stone at one time or an- other comes in contact with the grease.
 Now, 1t is a curious thing that dia- monds will stick in this grease. and that all the other stones will flow off without catching. Every few hours the tables are stopped and the grease scraped off. It is found to contain all the diamonds and also small bits of iron pyrites, gar nets and pieces of metal from the miners boots and the copper fuses used in the blasting. It is now put in steel bucket
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
WOMEN AT FORTY
IsfPOnTANCE OF PRESERVING TIIf1
HEALTH Ar THAT TIME. q
Proof Of One case in which, n wcnls
Nervous and Discouraged Woman
Was MnrvelonsIy Helped by
the Tonic Treatment.

Women approach their fortieth year
with worry and Uncertainty, for tho
manner In which they pass that crisis
determines the health OF their after
life. During this most important time
In the life Of woman her whole aim
should be to build up and strengthen
her system to meet the unusual de-
mands upon 1t. Devotion to family
should not lead to neglect OF self, but
hard work and household cares and
worries should be avoided as far as
possible. Whether she Is able to do
this or not, no woman should fail to
take the tonic treatment II she, Is en-
tering this critical period In a weak.
rundown and nervous condition.
Mrs. Martha Dennis, OF. s23 West
Cedar Street, Kalamazoo, Mich. who
owes her health to this treatment
says:
II suffered for a year with weak
ness. enduring pains which almost
weak. / had pains in my lo!ns and
back and could hardly stoop over or
lift anything. My liver was torpid and
my complexion and the whites of my
eyes yellow. / had palptation of the
heart, my limbs ached and had Sc
we're headaches. / was troubled with
chills, followed by fevers. and would
have to go to bed. I could not rest
at night. and was unable to remem-
| Der anything. I was weak. irritable,
nervous and discouraged.
after seseral months Of suffering
was advised by friend to try DR..
Williams Pink Pills, and the benefit
l received from the first few boxes
was remarkable. I was cured much
sooner than had hoped, and have
been In good health ever since
Drowsiness. feeling OF heaviness.
pain in the front OF the head. nausea
and even vomiting, dizziness. faint
ness. hot flashes followed by chills and
profuse perspiration, are some Of the
signs that Indicate the need of tonic
| treatment as the change approaches.
! II this Is your condition you should
not walt another day before giving
4 DIR. Williams Pink Pills trial. Our
booklet PLAIN Talks to Women" is
\ free on request
| DR.. Williams Pink Pills are sold by
all druggists. or sent by mail. post
paid. on receipt of price. so cents per
box. six boxes for $3.50. by the DR..
| Williams Medicine Company. Science
| tady N Y
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
CHARTERS GRANTED
New Disinfcctant misunderstanding Com.
puny to Open ut Herndon, Va.

New Disinfectant misunderstanding Cons
puny to Open ut Herndon, Va.
Charters were issued by the Corpora
ton Commission yesterday as follows:
Aromaform Company. Incorporated.
Herndon. Va. w. G.. Orr. presidents;
Il. d. Orr. Z. o. Crook. secretary and
trea surer-all of Laurel. Md. Capital
stock: Maximum, 100000; minimum,
100000. Objects and purposes: Manu-
featuring and selling disinfectants.
The College Heights Land Company,
Incorporated, Charlottesville, Va. II. NJ,
Lewis, president: D. Harmon. vice
presidents; a. d.. Payne, secretary and
treasurer--all of Charlottesville, Va
Capital stock: Maximum, $4,000; mini
mum, $4,000 Objects and purposes:
Real estate business.
r. A. Baldwin & Sons, Incorporated
Richmond. r. A. Baldwin, president,
Farmville. Va: r. L. Baldwin, treas
urer, Farmville, Va; B. G. Baldwin,
secretary Lynchburg, Va CAPITAL
stock: Maximum, $4,000; minimum.
$4,000. Objects and purposes: Mercan-
tile business.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
! Spottswood HINT left yesterday for
Amherst where they will spend the

spottswood Hunt left yesterday for
Amherst. where they will spend the
sumner.
Misses Ellen Ball, Edith Donnan and
Mary johnson are guests at the "Wav-
erly," Virginia Beach.
The Misses Hoskins, OF Washington,
are the guests OF DIR. and Mrs. Hugh
NJ. Taylor.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Etchison have re-
turned from Ashland, where they were
the guests of Mrs. Anna Carr.
Miss Frances Wood, who has been
the guest OF Mrs. NJ. y. Tompkins, of
Fredericksburg, has returned to the
city.
Miss Julia Timberlake Is visiting her
sister. Miss Genevievc Timberlake. on
Kcswick street. Clifton Forge.
Misses Marjorie and Fannie Kim
brough are the guests OF Miss Maggie
Henderson. of staunton.
Mrs. Walter j. Blunt, accompanied
by trained nurse. left on yesterday
for the Hot Springs, for stay OF
several weeks.
Miss Mary Crunp is visiting rela-
tives at Ma Airy. Richmond county.
Mrs. Frank Williams and children
have returned to the city, after a visit
to Mrs. Leigh Williams, ofNorfolk.
Mr.. and Mrs Harry Gaskins are the
guests of Mrs. Edward Charles. at the
Monticello, In Norfolk.
Miss Therese Nurney. of Suffolk, ia
the guest of her sister. Mrs. T. A..
Smith.
Mrs. Thomas Armistead has left for
"Grantland," where she viii spend the
| summer.
| Miss Mary Peasants, of Louisa. coun-
| ty. Is visiting relatives In the city.
The Rev L. 3. Betty. OF Norfolk.
attended the commencement exercises
of Richmond College, of which his
daughter. Miss Leila Gilmore Betty,
was graduate.
| Mrs d. W. Roulten has returned TO
her home. in Fox Hill. Newport News
latter a delightful visit to the mountains
tof Virginia and Richmond
Mr.. William Valentine Keller has
returned to the city from Suffolk,
where he has been visiting relatives
| Mrs. Harvey Moon is the guest OF
Miss Emma Muse, No. 345 Chautauqua
Avenue, Port Norfolk.
Mr.. George Watson, OF Petersburg
is In the city for few days.
Miss. Grace Neal leaves to-day to at.
tend the finals at washington and Lee
! University. Lexington.
hrs. c. w. Astrop and son. Mr.. Rob
ert Astrop, of Randolph Macon College
who have been spending several weeks
with Mrs. Astrop's sister, Mrs. Wood
OF Fork Union. Fluyanna county passed
through Richmond, spending Wednes'
day and Thursday. returning TO theii
lhome at Surry Courthouse.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
C;rIHlth--NIOorc.
1snecial 10 The Tilnes-Dlspatch,

n Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
BROOKNEAL, VA, June ll.-At the
Presbyterian manse, at Hat Creek,
Campbell county, Mr.. William II. Crit
fifth, of Keyser, ". Va, and Miss Myra
Moore, daughter Of the Rev. j. H.
Moore were Joined in marriage by the
des> father No cards We're issued,
The happy pair boarded the northbound
train, leaving this place at 1881 A. NJ,
and expect to visit Baltimore. Albany
and take trip up the Hudson, and
thence to Niagara Falls and other
points. The home of the bridegroom
at Keyser is expected to be reached
near the LIST of July,
Mr.. Griffith is an attorney at law and
a graduate Of Richmond College.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Electricity Exposition.

Arrangements are being made by
the light and power department OF
.the Passenger and Power Company
for general electrical exhibition to
he held in this city soon. The object
OF ITO exhibition Is 20 teach all resi-
dents the advantages in electricity
from standpoint of economy and
5comfcrt.
Among the various uses of cleo
tricity to be thoroughly explained. as
we'll as demonstrated, will be electric
lights OF all kinds. This part of the
exposition will be directly under
charge OF John w. Foster. of New
York, an expert lighting engineer. II
addition to showing all kinds of eiec-
tr!c lights for all places and purposes,
Mr.. Foster will tell all visitors how
to use these lights with view Of
getting the best results with the least
expenditure How to reduce your light
ILLS to minimum cost and raiSS the
lights to maximum of results will be
the feature If Mr. Fosters part Of the
exhibit.
Contractors in the electrical bust
ness are entering into the plans for
the exhibit and will take part in show
ing how houses can be made more
comfortable and safe with electricity.
The contractors will also show how
to have houses OF all kinds wired to
save cost and be free from posi-
bility of danger.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Da,yson-Nen..
Especial to The Times-Dlspatch.

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l
HEATHSVILLE.s a, June l1.-Coan
Baptist Church was on Wednesday
evening the scene OF very pretty
wedding, when Miss Mabel Neal be-
came the bride of Mr.. w. a. Dawson.
of Healthsville.
To the strains Of the "Lohengrin"
wedding march. impressively rendered
by Miss r. Louise Anderson. the bridal
party entered the church in the fol-
lowing order: Tho maid of honor. Miss
Annie K. Shirley. followed by the
beautiful bride. who We're met at tho
altar by the groom and his best man.
Dr. Meade S. Brent.
Rev. DR.. w. "A. Dunaway performed
the ceremony.
Immediately after the ceremony a
reception was rendered the bridal party
at the home of Mr.. G. G. Neal. of Yoko-
mic.
Mr. and Mrs. Dawson will reside
,ear Heathsville, where Mr.. Dawson
is very prosperous farmer.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
PowelI-Spain.

SUTHERLAND. VA. June 11.-At
II 80 o'clock A. NJ. yesterday. at the
residence of the brides mother. Mrs.
John c. Spain. Miss Katherine Mildred
Spain became the bride of Mr.. AleXan-
der Kennedy Powell. The marriage
was a quiet home wedding. The beau
tiful ring ceremony of the Methodist
Church was performed by the Rev Mr..
Watts. The parlor was beautifully dec
Grated with ferns and roses. and pre-
sented a lovely scene. Miss Julia CAL
houn Spain. sister of the bride. was
maid of honor, and Mr. George Powell.
brother of the groom, was best man.
The bride was dressed IN handsome
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
n,nricjn-.-RXrnc.
ecial-to rhe rlmes.p lspatch.

NORFOLK. VA, June 1l.-At St
iPauls Catholic Church, Portsmouth
last evening, Miss Bridget Ryrne
daughter of Mr.. James Dyrne, OF Henry
Street. was united in. marriage to Mr.
William j. O'Brien. the ceremony be-
Ing performed BY the Rev. Father Don
ohue, pastor. The bride, was attended
By Miss Virginia Byrne as maid OF
honor, and Mr.. Michael oBriea, bro
ther Of the groom, was the best man
Following the wedding a receptlon was
held at the home of the brides par
}entS ,7
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Observation-Disclosures,

Rs5 N Specialize The Times Disnatch.1
NORFOLK, VA, June ll.-At the
home OF the brides sister, last night,
In South Norfolk, Miss Essie Bell
Daughtrey and Mr., James Clifford Ben
ton We're united In marriage, the Rev.
Nv. w. Bargamln. pastor or the Liberty
Street NJ. H. Church. officiating, nv,
and Mrs. Benton will max their home
at No. % Walnut Street Rerkley.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12

going-away suit of navy blue, and car
ried lovely bouquet OF Brides roses.
Only the members OF the families and
few friends were present.
The bride is the lovely popular and
accomplished daughter of Mrs. John G.
Spain. of this place. and the groom a
young real estate man of Petersburg,
Va. The couple left on the midday train
for Washington. Baltimore, New York
and other Northern cities.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Files Deed Of Assignment.

A deed Of assignment was filed In
the chancery Court yesterday by the
American Coal and Wood company,
Frank n. Sutton Jrn as truss
tec.S The yards of tile company are
located at No. North Seventeenth
street, The liabil ties are placed Il at
about So 800, @ sS
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Hnrwcll-Buchanan.

An early home wedding took place
at quarter to o'clock this morning
at the residence of the brides parents
Mr.. and Mrs. John Mes. Buchanan.
where their daughter, Miss Lille F..
Buchanan. was married to Mr.. Samuel
B. Harwell, the Rev DR.. ]. S. Foster,
pastor of Tabb Street Presbyterian
Church performing the ceremony. Miss
Agnes Buchanan, sister Of the bride,
was maid of honor. and the groom's
brother. Mr. Thomas j. Harwell, was
best man. The wedding marches We're
beautifully rendered By Miss Lucy
Weisiger. The groom is prominent
young business man of this city. Mr..
and Mrs. Harwell left for the North
en- their bridal tour.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-12
Daily Court Record
Law and Equity Court.

j. Henry Brown VS.. W., p. Veitch.
Judgment for s156.02.
Suit BROUGHT. S. Kohler VS.. Jane
Lacy, for damages. laid at 500.