DISCOVERERS DECLINE TO REVEAL LOCATION OF DIAMOND FIELD, BUT
REPORT OF AGENT SATISFIES PROMOTERS.
_Final Proof of Good Faith Is Offered in Form of Bag Filled With
Collection of Eye-Dazzling Gems._
When I arrived in San Francisco I lost no time in getting in touch
with the principals of the diamond deal. Three prominent men only
were concerned in it at that time, W. C. Ralston, George D. Roberts
and William M. Lent. From them I learned that the alleged discovery
of the diamond fields had been known to them for many months. Two
prospectors, Philip Arnold and John Slack, were the original locators.
I had known Arnold previously in California. He had been employed by
Roberts to look into mining properties in the western country. The
later story that he had once been employed by myself in a like capacity
was absolutely false. Slack I had known as a plain man about town, of
general fair repute.
As an earnest of the great value of the fields, the gentleman had,
as near as I can recollect, a large quantity of rough, uncut,
brilliant-looking stones which they said local experts had pronounced
diamonds of an estimated value of $125,000. Among them were several
magnificent reddish-colored stones, said to be rubies. Moreover, they
claimed that the discoveries had been verified to an extent sufficient
to satisfy themselves.
The story, previous to my arrival, I only know by hearsay and I cannot
vouch for every detail of things beyond my personal experience that
happened forty years ago. But as nearly as I can recall the narrative,
as it was related, the main facts were these:
One day, in the year 1871, when I was in Europe, two weather-beaten
men, looking like typical miners, presented themselves at the Bank
of California and arranged to deposit property of great value for
safe keeping. The property proved to be nothing more than some
handsome-looking stones which they said in explanation were diamonds,
of which they had discovered a great store, in the desert section of
the West. They were given a receipt for their valuables and quietly
took their leave. But, of course, in those days of mad excitement
and crazy speculation, such an incident was bound to leak. George D.
Roberts located, in his old prospector Arnold, one of the fortunates,
and introduced him to Ralston and Lent. Arnold was always the
spokesman, the negotiator, in these early transactions. Slack merely
was present and acquiesced. At first the men were exceedingly coy and
cautious, had all the manner of a couple of simple-minded fellows
who had stumbled on something great and, bewildered with their good
fortune, were simply afraid to trust anyone with the momentous secret.
They declined to give the slightest indication of the locality of the
fields, or left the impression that they were distant a thousand miles,
or thereabouts, from the actual spot. Relying on vague hints, several
parties actually set out for Arizona to locate the new Golconda. At the
outset the men refused to part with their rights, except to the extent
of a small interest, and only then for a large sum of money which they
asserted was necessary to secure claims to a very large territory.
Later, however, they became more amenable to reason. They were willing
to part with a half interest to gentlemen in whom they had such
implicit confidence. When it was pointed out to them that negotiations
were impossible, unless the location of the mines was indicated and
some kind of an inspection allowed, they offered a rather strange
arrangement, which, however, seemed fair enough on its face. By its
terms they agreed to conduct two men, to be selected by Ralston and
Roberts, to the diamond fields, and allow them to satisfy themselves
of the general nature of the find, but with this proviso: that these
representatives, after reaching the wild, uninhabitable country,
must submit to being blindfolded, both going and coming back. These
conditions were agreed to and such an expedition was actually made. I
am not certain, but my impression is that David D. Colton was one of
the two investigators, being selected by Mr. Ralston as a peculiarly
level-headed man of large practical experience. However that may be,
the mines were certainly visited and displayed, more diamonds were
unearthed, and the party returned with the most rose-colored reports of
the genuineness of the properties and their fabulous richness. It was
this report that set Ralston and his associates wild.
I had some knowledge of the prospectors. Arnold generally had borne a
good reputation among the mining fraternity. Slack seemed to be a stray
bird who had blown in by chance, probably picked up by Arnold because
of a marriage relationship. It seemed that they had told a straight
enough story. It was impossible to tangle them in any detail. Still I
had a general, indefinable doubt, which I expressed in plain words to
Ralston.
Before I arrived the men made a proposition that seemed eminently
fair. This was an offer to go to the diamond fields and bring to San
Francisco a couple of million dollars’ worth of stones and place them
in our possession as a guaranty of good faith. Such a tender was, of
course, accepted. Slack and Arnold left San Francisco, promising to be
back in record-breaking time.
Shortly after I arrived Ralston received a telegram from Arnold dated
at Reno, stating that he and Slack were on the way and urging that
somebody meet them at Lathrop, presumably to share in the heavy burden
of responsibility. After a hurried conference I was asked to meet our
emissaries as per request, and they were so advised by wire. At the
same time a later conference was arranged at my residence. After my
marriage in 1866 I had bought the fine family home of Mr. Ralston on
Rincon Hill. There my friends were to await my coming till the overland
train arrived.
I had a long wait at Lathrop, but at last the expected overland pulled
in. I located the men without difficulty. Both were travel-stained and
weather-beaten and had the general appearance of having gone through
much hardship and privation. Slack was sound asleep like a tired-out
man. Arnold sat grimly erect like a vigilant old soldier with a rifle
by his side, also a bulky-looking buckskin package.
Slack soon awoke and we discussed the business in hand in low tones.
The men told a rather lurid story, but yet not improbable in its way.
They said they had luckily struck a spot which was enormously rich in
stones, which they estimated to be worth two million dollars, that
these had been done up for convenience in two packages, one for each;
that on their way home they found the water in a river they had to
cross extremely high, and for purposes of safety had constructed a
raft, had nearly been upset, had lost one of the bags of diamonds, but
as the other contained at least a million dollars’ worth of stones, it
ought to be fairly satisfactory.
Slack and Arnold left the train at Oakland, turning over the sack of
diamonds on my bare receipt. It was an awkward, burdensome bundle to
handle on the ferryboat. Arrived at San Francisco, my carriage was
waiting and drove me swiftly to my home. An eager group was assembled.
We did not waste time on ceremonies. A sheet was spread on my billiard
table, I cut the elaborate fastenings of the sack and, taking hold of
the lower corners, dumped the contents.
It seemed like a dazzling, many-colored cataract of light.