Muscatine County, Iowa FAMILY STORIES

Source: The Muscatine Journal, Saturday, June 6, 1903, page 1
Submitted by Phyllis Hazen, February 21, 2020

PEARL VALUED AT THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS IS FOUND IN RIVER TODAY

MUSCATINE MAN DISCOVERS GEM SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE HIGH BRIDGE

HE REFUSES $2,000

OPENS CLAM SHELL AND SMALL FORTUNE FALLS AT HIS FEET.

BERT ROBY LUCKY MAN

Precious Stone is a Perfect Sphere and is Said to Be Flawless –
Finder Was Clamming When He Discovered His Riches.

    Three thousand dollars in the shape of a pearl weighing forty-nine and one-half grains dropped from a mussel shell into the bottom of a boat at 10:30 o’clock this morning and its lucky possessor, Bert Roby, 612 West Fifth street, quit clamming then and there and came to shore with his find. Mr. Roby was offered $2,000 this morning for the gem but refused it, holding it at $3,000. This is said to be one of the largest, if not the largest pearl ever found in these waters. It has been tested and found to be perfectly round and is said to be without a flaw.

     While engaged in clamming a short distance above the high bridge in front of this city this morning, Mr. Roby picked up a unused shell which he had taken from the bottom of the Mississippi river a short time previous. His drag hooks were out and while the bivalves at the bottom of the stream were waiting to fasten their thin jaws onto the crow feet, Mr. Roby, unaware that he had a small fortune in his hand, pried the shell open. Something white dropped into the bottom of his boat and as he gazed at it his eyes grew big with amazement. It was a pearl, a perfect sphere and without a flaw. The lucky man immediately loaded his clamming apparatus in his boat and pulled for the shore where he had his find weighed. It tipped the scales at two places at forty-nine and one-half grains. One man offered $2,000 for it without polishing but Mr. Roby thinks he has more money in sight and will not part with it for less than $3,000.

     The shell which contained this pearl has never been cooked hence, it is said, there is no chance for discoloration and a consequent lowering of its valuation.

     The next biggest find along the Mississippi river is said to have been made by Charles Freeman, of this city, at Prairie du Chien, last summer. This gem is held by a local jeweler and is valued at $2,700. Peter Musser also owns one, also said to have been found in this vicinity, which is valued at $1,000.

     Mr. Roby’s pearl is not what is known as a “peeler.” That is it has no layers of pearl but seems to be a solid gem.

     The Lucky finder of today’s record breaking catch is twenty-eight years of age. He is married and is engaged in conducting a button factory along the river front above the high bridge. His gem, it is said, will require no cutting.