THE GREAT "PEARL RUSH" OF CADDO LAKE

The Indians knew the secret
About the tiny round beads
Found among the Cypress knees
And the tall brown reeds.
A calcareous creation of nature
Nestled in thick white shells
Long before the drilling of
Caddo's famous "over-the-water" oil wells.
In 1907, two men discovered the pearls
While fishing one day.
They used the soft, inner mussel
For catfish bait,
And threw the tiny rock away!
Only later did they learn
For that small round treasure
Men would eagerly pay.
From all over the world the divers came
To the little town of Moorings Port
In search of fortune and fame
Pearls the size of marbles were found
Near the shores of this Louisiana town.
Their colors ranged from light gray
To cream and lake-bottom brown.
Some were shaped like rice,
And some were perfectly round!
The great "Pearl Rush" lasted until 1909,
Etched in Louisiana history
As the ONLY ONE OF IT'S KIND!

Copyright 1999, Reggie Anne Walker-Wyatt
This is a true story. In 1907, the small town of Moorings Port was besieged
by divers in search of the treasure. Some pearls sold for $1500.