The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960 Page: 91
684 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Great Pearl Hunt at Caddo Lake
deeper and colder, but the tong method did not seem to bring
in many mussels.0
There was no problem in marketing the pearls. The fresh
water pearls were not uncommon in the lakes of Arkansas, and
there was a thriving business in pearls in that state. In 1909 Tom
Allen and Will Teel, farmers in the Gray community north of
Caddim sent pearls to a Dr. Owen, of Newport, Arkansas. He
confirmed their value and wired that he was on his way to buy
as many as could be found. Dr. Owen made his headquarters at
Mooringsport, Louisiana, a small community on the eastern side
of the lake."' Each morning he would come roaring across the
lake in his noisy, one-cylinder motor boat, which heralded his
approach when he was miles away. According to the Howletts,
Dr. Owen would take up his position under a tree with his money
satchel near by, and would appraise each pearl and pay the in-
dividual owner on the spot with gold, silver, or greenbacks. As
soon as a new pearl was discovered, the finder would call out
"pearl" and Dr. Owen would reach for his money satchel. The
buyers from Newport were a Mr. Street, sometimes called Streeter,
and a Dr. Pepper, sometimes called Culpepper in reminiscences.
A few buyers came from Shreveport, but Dr. Owen and his money
satchel made the most lasting impression.
"Sometimes Dr. Owen would walk up and down among the
people around the lake, carrying his money satchel, which never
seemed to be empty. And he was perfectly safe. You couldn't do
that now-a-days," said Howlett.12
Many of the pearls were sold at $20o or $25, although it is re-
called that Mrs. Jeff Stroud of the Lewis community of south-
eastern Cass County achieved fame when she received $900 for
one pearl, thought to be the most expensive one sold at the lake.
George Allen was another lucky fisherman who received $500
for one pearl. He was a "laker" and was called the "luckiest
hunter."'13 It is admitted, however, that there was some skill in-
lolbid.
11Ibid.; Farm Talk (Winnsboro, Texas), May, 1958.
12Hubert Howlett to Katherine Williams, signed statement, March 28, 1959
(Archives, University of Texas Library).
1sFarm Talk (Winnsboro, Texas), May, 1958.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 63, July 1959 - April, 1960, periodical, 1960; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101186/m1/119/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.