The Toccoa times-news. (Toccoa, Ga.) 1896-1897, November 06, 1896, Image 7

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A $50,000 LUMP. riVE POUNDS OF BLUE CLAY ALL STUDDED SV lTli DIAMONDS. ft Was Smuggled Out of the Kimber¬ ley Diamond .Mines by a Kaffir, and Brought to This Country.* T AKE bluish rongh stick small a putty, truncated good-sized bits knead of white pyramid, it lunfp into and r of a yellow and pale blue glass into the ear face at random and leave the putty to harden, and when it is hardened the result will be a very fair imitation of the most-extraordinary specimen of diamondiferous earth ever brought to this country. This specimen is now in the possession of Benjamin W. Levy, a diamond dealer of this city, v?ho bought it in and brought it from % % m Mjg£ •/ dW & Sig|*M!g? ACTUAL SIZE OF THE 450.000 LUMP OF CLAY. South Africa. The illustration shows the exact size ol the lump of earth. Ou the surface of this hnnp of earth, which is called blue mass, are forty- live diamonds of good size, while many other smaller ones can bo seen glinting through a thin encrustation. Blue inn-8 is the regular diamond matrix, the earth of alt tho Kimberley miues of South Africa. It dissolves like lime under 240 pounds pressure in water. On an average this earth yields about $12 worth of diamonds to The ton. If it were ull as rich in dia¬ monds as this lump supposably is, reckoning from what appears ou the surface of if, the yield would be some- think like six million dollars a ton. Mr. Levy says that until he finds au X ray that, will show up the interior pf the specimen he can’t tell tlie com¬ mercial value of his prize. As a curi¬ osity he considers it worth about $50,000. Of tho diamonds on tho surface of the piece of earth the largest is reck¬ oned to weigh about sixteen or seven¬ teen carats. This one is nearly round, aud almost completely encrusted with tho blue mass. It is not of very good quality. Tho best of tho stones ap- jpears to be of about four carats freight. Several of the diamonds are Almost perfect octohedrous, while oth- ers show almost equal geometrical regul arity, but loss complexity. The owner thinks that the surface value is about $1200. Undoubtedly there are ather diamonds inside the mass, aud what the eutire value of the diamoud yield would be can only be guessed at. Mr. Levy refuses to say what he paid for the specimen, but ho states that, iu addition to the money, it cost him a great deal of worry aud anxiety to aget It out of Africa, as only gems brought through the regular channels m r *1 m Y a. m mm K h Wv.fc -** mi t. few i>’ S2-, |I4;kl W 4A m iPP THE PARTY THAT GOT THE DIAMOND CLAY FROM THE KAFFIR. -can be taken out through Capetown, the customs officials seizing all oth- «re. This little bunch of gems was not brought through the regular chan- nels. It was bought from a Kaffir who was murdered shortly after the sale, presumably because the murder- ers expected to find the proceeds of the sale upon him, in which they were probably disappointed. Kaffirs do not carry large sums of gold about "with them. Here is the story of the blue mass so far as Mr. Levy chooses tote ll it . “It was found,” said Mr. Levy to a San reporter to whom he was show- ing the specimen, “in 1891, in one of the Kimberley mines, 1800 feet below tho earth’s surface. A Kaffir picked it up just a6 it is there. How be man- aged to get it to the surface of the curih is bevond my power to tell; al- most, bevoud it to imagine. Only one who knows of the rigorous watch kept bv the overseers upon the Kaffirs who wmrk the mines can soAipreheud the enormous difficulties of getting out such a lump of earth as that. Why, about the only way they can get single stones is by swallowing them. "Let me digress a moment tc tell you something about the mine work, All the diggers are natives, mostly Kaffirs. They come from their own land four days on foot to work in the mines, and get enough money to go home and buy a wife from their King. All the women are owned by the King, who sells them to the men. That’s the ' the royal exchequer is kept way up. A wife represents a very long term of labor in the mines, eo the Kaffir is not above decreasing bis period of service by secreting a few diamonds about him if he can. To keep the men from getting away with all the diamonds, the company has an overseer for every | six or eight workers. As the Kaffirs work with no clothing other than an extremely small breech clout, oppor- tuuities lor external concealment are very small. Every one of them is carefully searched every day before ho leaves the mine. There are three punishments for Kaffirs caught stealing diamonds. One is whipping; and it is no joke tho way it is done there. The second is imprisonment, which is likely to include whipping, and tho third is being commited to the break- water to break stones. In spite of all these precautions there are many diamonds stolen yearly, “Well, to come back to the subject, it is almost inexplicable how a five pound lump of diamond earth could be brought out without discovery. Possibly the tinder of it may have kept it concealed for mouths in the mine before he could get it up; and un¬ doubtedly there was concerted action on tho part ot several men. They generally work together. Anyway, brought out it was, and by this fel¬ low.” Mr. Levy put his finger on the figure iu the photograph, on the far left, then he changed it to the figure in the background on the left. “And that chap was my scout,” said he. “I had employed him before when I was in South Africa, and he told mo of this wonderful lump of earth which a fellow tribesman of his had buried. It was in Christiania, up north of Kimberley. I had gone there by ox wagon with my brother and three other white men. We had about thirty boys—Kaffirs and Zulus, that is, they’re always called boys—with the party. The Kaffir who had the diamonds was to meet my scout and complete the deal, the price having already been set and accepted. None of us whites figured in the transaction as principals. My scout took out the money aud brought back the chunk of blue mass, and that is all there was to it. The other Kaffir—it’s inconveni- ent not to have any name to call him by, but the only ^name any of them have is just ‘boy, so far as their em- plovers areconcerned—the other Kaffir joined our party for a time He told me that he had been whipped for some act of his in the mines, and he felt very revengeful over it. The picture in which you see him was taken outside of Christiania just before that ‘boy’ left ns. On his way back to the mines he was murdered, but it isn’t likely that the murderers got any money,for those fellows bury their stud. They work in combinations ten or a dozen to a combination, and pool their in- j terests. All that they get is buried in some secret spot, and.they tft ' e in guarding it. I have never heard of one of them playing the others false, although they are tricky enough m their dealings with the whites. Ui course, the fact that death m terrible form would be the punisn- ment of any breach of faith acts as a deterrent. “Having got our diamonds, the next thing to do was to get them out of the country. If you go out by the south* ern coast yon have to show a bill of sale for every gem in your possession, and you are searched pretty carefully. too. That is the sort of protection the company gets from the Govern¬ ment. Of course I couldn’t show any bill of sale for my purchase. The thing to do was to get oat of the coun¬ try some other way. We struck across country with onr ox wagons until we came to the river, and then traveled by water to the coast. On the way we had some great hunting. The animals yon see in the picture are wild beasts shot near Christiania. “If I were a writer,” concluded Mr. Levy, “I could write a book worth reading about the diamond trade of the Kaffirs down there; but the most interesting chapter I’d have to leave out because I won’t ever know the truth of it; how that boy got the five pound lump of dirt and diamonds, from the shelf, 1800 feet down, up to the earth’s surface in the face of the most perfect inspection system in the world.”—New York Sun. WOMEN IN HIGH HATS, In Baden Hats Are Always High and the Fashion Never Changes. It is commonly believed that tho high hat is a very modern thing. Iu fact, the centenary is said to be due in 1897. But there is a country iu Germany where it has been worn for hundreds of years, and, curiously enough, the wearers are of the female sex. The women of Elzthal, Schonach and other neighboring valleys iu tho Grand Duchy of Baden wear high hats as part of their best clothes. The hat is slightly higher than the kind usually worn by men of this and other highly civilized parts of the world. The sides are perfectly straight, a fashion which has prevailed among American and English ^men, but has not been seen for several years. It is, in fact, of the variety which has been called the “stove¬ pipe.” In the happy and antiquated community of Elzthal the fashions do not change perceptibly in the courso o! a hundred years. A girl is happy in the possession of one, or at most two high hats, and her father or husband should be happy in ;.the knowledge that she does not want more. When it comes to the brim there is some difference between the Elzthal woman’s hat and that of conventional man. The brim turns down slightly at the sides, and two ribbons are at¬ tached here, which pass under the chin and hold the hat on the head. Even in primitive Elzthal woman does not go the length of wearing a hat large enough to fit her. It must perch lightly ou top of her hair, and be se¬ cured by soinethiug more than its own weight. These high hats are often handed down from mother and daughter, and are a source of much pride. Although 3 mm la « u I V i £ ■ w I r Y %]f\ w V 1 # FASHIONABLE LADIES OF BADEN. they are in many cases very old, they are kept m excellent condition, aud show less damage than a three- monthsold spring hat as worn by an American woman. They are made of felt just stiff enough to hold its shape. The hats are reputed by ancient tra¬ dition to be very healthy to wear, be¬ cause they interpose an air chamber between the heat or the cold and the top of the head. The women of Elz¬ thal and Schonach do not suffer from baldness, a misfortune which is sup-; posed to be produced among men by the use of the high hat. American Snake With Three Heads. Dr. Shaffer, a noted Iowa naturalist, recently added to his collection of serpents a remarkable three-headed snake. The reptile, the first of its kind ever discovered, is perfectly formed. Its three heads are of exactly the same size and shape, its various necks are joined at the same place to its body. This remarkable reptile was dis¬ covered by William Price, a farmer, about three miles from Elizabeth, Penn. While Price was repairing a fence he found a snake’s nest, filled with eggs. He broke the eggs. To his amazement, a snake with three distinct heads crawled from one of the shells. Price killed the snako and - wm : 22S THE SNAKE WITH THREE HEADS. carried it home. It was afterwards exhibited for several days m Shaier’s drag store at Elizabeth before being sent to Shaffer’s brother, the Iowa naturalist. , j The ugliest man in . England , , is . said j to be bur Richard Tempm, ex-member ! o. Parliament for tne Kingston divis- ! ion of surrey. POPULAR SCIENCE. Chicago has au electric elevated load. The Paris doctors are using the bi« cycle craze as a means of treating in¬ sanity. Italy has more steam street rail¬ roads than any other country in the world—a mileage of about 3000 kilo¬ metres. Luminous inks may now be used tc print signs to be visible in the dark. Zinc salts and calciums are the med¬ iums generally used. A San Francisco physician is pre¬ paring to construct an air ship, which he declares will carry passengers to New York in forty hours. Of about 8000 children in twenty- five schools in London, whose sight was tested by Carter’s method, only forty per cent, had normal vision in both eyes. The astronomers calculate that if the diamecer of the sun should be daily diminished by two feet, it would be 3000 years before our best instru¬ ments could detect any difterence in its size or brilliancy. England has decided to adopt the metric system of weights and measures, and the Government, in the person of its President of the Board of Trade, has drafted a bill to be submitted to Parliament at the opening of th^inext session. The distinguished chemist and ex- Minister of Foreign Affairs in France, M. Borthelot, has calculated that the copper miues in the Mount Sinai range were worked 7000 years ago, uud are, therefore, the oldest mines in the world. Some idea of the vast extent of the surface of the earth may be obtained when it is noted that if a lofty church steeple is ascended, and the landscapes visible from it looked at, 900,000 such landscapes must be viewed in order that the whole earth may be seen. A recent invention is the pneumatic sole fqr cycling shoes. Between the inner and the outer leather is fitted a tube filled with air to the pressure of twenty-five pounds. This has the ef¬ fect of preventing vibration, and will, no doubt, prove a comfort to many riders. The United States Naval Survey, tho University of Harvard and the Civil Engineering College, Cornell, are combining to ascertain the precise longitude of Cornell. Twenty stars are to be simultaneously observed at Washington, D. C., Harvard and Cornell. Those Funny College Boys. Knowing the horror with which the average policeman regards’ a college student, several University of Penn¬ sylvania students started out to have some fun with the blnecoats on Thurs¬ day night. They purchased a barber pole ’from a retiring tonsorial artist, and immediately upon getting posses¬ sion of it dashed like mad along Woodland avenue. Just as they neared Fortieth street, a burly bluecoat, see- ing a chance to make hia reputation, commanded the supposed thieves to halt. Without being accused of any¬ thing they yelled in chorus: “We didn’t steal the pole. Indeed, we didn’t.” This declaration naturally caused the officer to think otherwise, and with drawn club he marched them off to the patrol box. After being taken to the station house under pro¬ test, they produced the receipt for the barber pole and were allowed their liberty, much to the disgust of their captor. Not being satisfied with the success of their scheme thus far, the frolicsome students repeated their an¬ tics on Lancaster avenue, and were again arrested, and proved their inno- oence as before. After performing the same trick in other districts their scheme was discovered by a police ser¬ geant, who telephoned to all the sta¬ tions in West Philadelphia instruc¬ tions not to arrest any crowd seenrun- ningiwith a barber pole. This mys¬ terious order is causing much food for thought by the knights of the locust west of the Schuylkill.—Philadelphia Becord. •Queer Project of a Barber. “A barber in my town has discov¬ ered a new method of making the time pa9s pleasantly for hia customers,” said L. A. Warren, of Owasso, Mich., at the Ebbitt. “He used to be a great talker, but read so many jokes about barbers talking to their customers that he quit and put up a notice, ‘Please don’t talk to the barber, as ho don’t want to talk when at work.’ Some of his patrons did not like thi 3 innovation, and the barber hit upon a novel plan of making the time pass pleasantly while his customers were being shaved. He has three little girls, all of whom are excellent elocutionists for their ages. He has them take turns of an hour each at a time recit¬ ing stirring, pathetic and humorous verses. When no customers are in the shop they can amuse themselves as they please, but when a patron eaters, the barber says, ‘Recite for the gen¬ tleman, Annie,’ and Annie gives him ‘Sheridan’s Ride,’ ‘The Polish Boy,’ or some other favorite.”—Washington Star.__ He Reached the Highest Altitude. Sir William Martin Conway, who has departed for Spitzbergen, can boast of having leached a higher alti¬ tude in the Himalayas than any other climber has ever attained. He reached the summit of Pioneer Peak, 23,000 feet above the sea, after spending eighty-four days on snow and ice, and traversing the three longest of the known glaziers outside cf the polar regions. He states in a recent article in the English Illustrated Magazine, that the rarity of the air at these great altitudes did not affect him so long as he kept himself out of any cramped, position, and kept the chest |free so that the lungs might expand to the utmost limits. SICK NEARLY THIRTY YEARS. BK11.UANT SKKVICK IN THK WAB FOLLOWKD BY FROLOXGEO SUFFERING. High Private Brine* Bring* HI* War¬ time* Valor Into a Life and Death Combat—He Speaks of 111* Struggle* Since the War. From the Tribune, HorneUsrilie, .V. Y. There is no man in Otpeida County, New Tork, * who stands higher ** in the community than Mr. William H. Briggs, ^ wealthy , . a farmer, • and resldeutof Bridgewater, and a prominent member v of f the L G. A. R. Hts statement will not be news to his friends, as they , all „ , know whereof . . „ he writes, , . but _ it is eommended to the consideration of the pub¬ lic. Mr. Briggs writes as follows: ‘‘It gives file great pleasure and satisfac¬ tion to be able to give honor where honor is due, and to that end I make this certificate, hoping it may be the means of others being benefited as I have been. ‘•I am a farmer residing near Bridgewater, One,da Connly, Sew York, my nam. is William H. Briggs, and I am 56 years old. I am an old soldier, and member of the G. A. R-, having York served Artillery, as high private in Co. A. 1st New during the whole four years of the Rebellion. Though not a pensioner, and never an applicant for pension, I contracted through malarial eli- mate, disease of liver and stomach, from which I suffered continuously, in various forms. In 180 I bndth. Jnnndi«. and i, continued for years, to a greater or lesser degree. I never was free from dyspepsia, and palpitation of the heart, and suffered from nervous debility to such an extent that I could neither rest by night nor work by day. Night after night I walked the floor tormented by vague fears, which I could knew were purely imaginary, and yet 1 not skake them off. I came home iu June, 1865, and from then until 1894 I was con stantly attended by physicians, having employed three at different times during that period. These good doctors gave me occasionally temporary relief, but the good effects of their treatment quickly disap¬ peared, and leit me more despondent and wretched than over. “I did not believe in giving up, and was about to send to Utica for a another physi¬ cian, when Mr. H. Seifert, the blacksmith who attends to my horses, recommended me to try Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills, as he assured me they had done wonderful things for him. I had read of these pills before and felt somewhat inclined to try tnerr, before Sei¬ fert spoke of them, but his recommendation settled the matter, and I became Dr. Will¬ iams’patient. I I took Pink Pills stendily un¬ til have consumed four boxes, growing better and better every day, my liver work¬ ing freely, my kidneys acting normally. My heart no longer troubled me, and I could di¬ gest my food. All that water brash, heart burn, buzzing in the head, as if there wore a great empty space in my cranium, disap¬ peared, aud life began to be worth living, which it ha i not been since my army set- vice. I was cured in less than one year from the time I began to take Pink Pills in 1894. aud have been in fair health ever since. Of course, I have to be careful, as 1 easily catch cold, and it is apt to settle i«. my right side..but a dose or two of the Pink Pills soon set me to rights again, and I shall nevor be without them, unless something very unforeseen occurs. “I do not want it understood that I am easting any stress againstthose who are pen¬ sioners. If 1 were needy 1 should certainly ask for what I urn entitled to, but being am¬ ply provided with this world’s goods, I fo not require it. My old comrades can testify that 1 have helped many a one of them to get a pension. “The above statement is true in every par ticulur. I certify on honor. “(Signed) Wm. H. Briggs.” Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills contain, in con¬ densed form, all the elements necessary to give new life aud richness to the blood and restore shattered nerves. They are also a specific for troubles peculiar to females, such as suppressions, irregularities aud all forms of weakness. In men they effect a radical cure in all cases arising from men¬ tal worry, overwork or exoeases of what¬ ever nature. Pink Pills are sold in boxes (never in loose bulk) at 50 cents a box or six boxes for $2.50, and may bo had of all drug¬ gists, or direct by mail from Dr. Williams' Medicine Company. Schenectady, N. Y. Saw No Inconsistency. Mrs. Wheeler (alone on her bicycle at 10 p. m.)—Well, I certainly am having a delightful ride this evening? These lonely dark roads have a fascina¬ tion for me. Let me see—I have twen¬ ty miles to go yet. Oh ! I’ll be home by midnight. Mrs. Wheeler (the next evening) — What! Can’t go to the theater with me? Go by myself? James Wheeler, do yon wish to insalt me? Do you think I have no more self-respect than to go to a public place of amusement without an escort? Yonr insticts are perfectly brutal!—Puck. Purely Mental. “I am told that he has some mental affection.” “Yes; he is in love with Miss Bine- nose, of Boston.”—Puck. Corn is a vigorous feeder and re¬ sponds well to liberal fertiliza¬ tion. On corn lands the yield increases and the soil improves if properly treated with fer¬ tilizers containing not under 7 % actual Potash. A trial of this plan costs but little and is sure to lead to profitable culture. All about Potash—the results of its use by actual ex¬ periment on the best farms in the United States—is told in a little book which we publish and will gladly mail free to any fanner in Amenca who will write for it. GERMAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau St., New York. ANDY CATHARTIC ham CURE CONSTIPATION 10 * ALL * SO * * DRUGGISTS; 25 ABSOLUTELY GUARAHTEED ‘SZ 1 pie and booklet free. Ad. STERLING REMEDY CO., Chicago. Montreal. Can.. cr Sew Tort. eu. Living in Hope. “I haven’t had a ride in a carriage X don’t know when,” complained Mra. Jayson th. “Never mind,” replied her husband, “Just have patience. Some of th* neighbors will have a funeral some of these days.”—Bay City Chat. It Tank the ltibbon. Dear Sir:—"Having used several bore* of S’ 001, Ttc-rritHisr, I I can *ay that it is the beat remedy have ever found for skin diseases, After failing with through Cut cura and other similar preparation-, the recommendation of a friend 1 tried a box of Tkttxrin*, and two complete applications was all that it took to effect a cure of a hr anine out on my foot of long standing. 1 think, it 1 * the best salve lu the world for skin di-eases." Yours truly. R. B. Alxx ASDEK. Mt. Selma, Texas. 1 box by mail for 5<to. in stamps. J. T. Shuptrink, Savannah, Ga. Don't Tobarro Spli and smoke Your Life Jf you want topu f t ^Xcco using easily am* forever, regain lost manhood, be made well. strong, No-T'>-Bac, mngneric, full of new life and vigor, lake the wonder-worker that makes weak men strong. Mmv gain tea absolute ^^liSff^S^SSSS^SS guarantee to core. Book ami sample ^ ter ^* nK Remedy Co., Chicago In Senrrh of lleirn. The heirs of the following persons (all of which person- once Jived in Georgia, ami in the counties set next their names,) namely; Tickle, Clarke County; John Stroud, ^ ounty; John braves Sr. Jasper Bland, Washington ElK^'dS Wins'low "? 1 fifSSSS Elbert Countv: will County; Row-ee. find something of inter- est to them hv addre-sin?Georgia Title Guar- antors Co., 702 Temple Court. Atlanta, (ia. Mrs. Winslow’s soothing Syrup for children teething.softens the gums, reduces inflamma¬ tion, allays pain.cores w nd colic. 25c. a hotiia. Just try a 10c. box of Ca-carets, the finest- liver anil bowel regulator ever made. fits FITSstopped after first freeand permanently cured. No Nerve Restorer. day’s use of Da. Ki.inb’8 GhbaT Free %S trial bottleand treat¬ ise. Send to Dr. Kline. 931 Arch St.. Phila.. Pa. f! B&. m m *rf A n 1 1 Gladness Comes ■\X7ith V V a*oetter understanding of the transient nature of the many phys¬ ical ills which vanish before proper ef¬ forts—gentle directed. efforts—pleasant There comfort efforts— in rightly is the knowledge that so many forms of sickness are not due to any actual dis¬ ease, but simply to a constipated condi¬ tion of the system, which the pleasant family laxative, Syrup of Figs, prompt¬ ly removes. That is why it is the only remedy with millions of families, and is everywhere esteemed so highly by all who value good health. Its beneficial effects are due to the fact, that it is the one remedy which promotes internal cleanliness, without debilitating therefore the organs on which it acts. It is all important, in order to get its bene¬ ficial effects, to note when you pur¬ chase, that you have the genuine article, which is manufactured by the California Fig Syrup Co. only, and sold by ail rep¬ utable If in druggists. the enjoyment of good health, and the system "is regular, then laxa¬ tives or other remedies are not needed. If afflicted with any actual disease, one may be ccmmcndc l to the most skillful physicians, hut if in need of a laxative* then one should have the best, and with the well-informed everywhere, Syrup of Figs stands highest and is most satisfaction- largely used and gives most general or Commission to a good agent in every town or city, ft does not make nny differ¬ ence whether yon have ever worked at the business or not. Ladies can do as woll aa gentlemen. Paper devoted to the upbuilding of the South. Address The Southern Real Estate and Financial Journal, 205 Kiser Building. Atlanta. Ga. DON’T BE CUT knife. We can cure you without it. If you hava the PlLESuse Planter’s Pile Ointment- We guarantee to give instant and - permanent relief. Send nve two- cent stamps to cover postage and we will mail FREE package. Ad¬ dress Dept. A. New Spencer Medicine Co., CHATTANOOGA. TENN. TTT 111 t=d STATE AND LOCAL 111 AGENTS, Male and Fe- lly male. Those having had | sufficient experience to I I warrant their taking I charge of large territory, will do well to address us at once. We are in a position losuit almo-t everybody, both as to territory and term-. A modern and taking plan. Sick and death benefits. Write for terms. UNION BK N K FI CIA L ASSOC! ATI Olf, Ribssin Building, Trenton, N. J. 4 NEff CATALOGOE li Is interesting, ^specially when it tella all about the NEW FRUITS as well as the old ones, and offers all at very low prices. It's Free. Send for It. Addre» W- D. BEATIE, Atlanta, Ca. IfPGUNS 32 IterolTore below for Send Action, or ca 38. oto t: 91; Pr try tamp* DbL cM X2, D. FOLSOM. .Tr.. SB Cue Bldg.. CUraUnd. O. MONEY GOLD, Han Danehy, 8ILTEK.... ....BOOK Columbn*. FRKS. O. OPIUM and WHISKY habits cured. Book son* Fr*«. Dr-B. M- WooLLXT.ATLa.»TA,o*. COSTUMES C. A. HOWARD. Marietta 8C. At anta, Go, A N.O Forty-five, ’95.