Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1914 — REAL PEARLS IN GEORGIA [ARTICLE]

REAL PEARLS IN GEORGIA

Probably Taken From Bame Streams aa Those Obtained by Oe Soto From Indiana. Atlanta, Ga.—There are real pearls to be found in Georgia, and they are fine ones, too. Dr. S. W. McCalUe, state geologist. Is in receipt of a pearl taken from a mussel iq the Chattanooga river, which is a stone of very fine quality and is valued at |I2B. According to Dr. McCallie, there are just as genuine and Just as fine pearls to be fopnd in the humble mollusks of the rivers of northwestern Georgia and eastern Tennessee as may be obtained from the East Indian fisheries. This is not the first pearl to be found, nor v by any means the most valuable one either. Some time ago a magnificent atone, weighing 700 grains, warn found, and, after being dressed, was disposed of to a Mew York Jeweler for 1700. According to Dr. McCallie. as long ago as when De Soto made his exploration trip through Georgia, in the early part of the sixteenth century, the Indians were found to be in possession of a number of valuable pearls, some of which they disposed of to the explorer. This probably led to the reports that vfere current among the Spaniards of the marvellous riches'of the country. Dr. McCallie is of the opinion .that these stones, which De 80to obtained somewhere in the vicinity of Rome, were Chattanooga river pearls. The tradition connected with De Soto’s visit bad long since been forgotten, however, and <jnly recently has

pearl gathering In the streams of northwestern Georgia given promise again of becoming an important industry.