Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-05-19

" ~ Gays TRAVELLING =
about 20 miles day. We went nor,6 'T
leaving CIermo's village on the VerGinu; "e''
struck Inc Arkansas in the Big Ben55 :, uN
days travel from the mouth Of r irlo aOoal
Here we travelled due north up the ,;raS aSaO'
and camped on the beach of The ;f o0'
mouth OF little creek, for the nur,oso :, neg
TO repenish our stock of prov;.io,,S VI 11l
camp here, two men, who had yodoI w
creek on the opposite beach, discover rod ,s acro'
lliIes OF shining particles in the sand tb,,
like SO many sPnngles. They filled ,Sg
kerchlefs with the sand containing ,beso 'g u
objects, and brought it TO camp. prros
Pickett, myself, and probably soma ~. \
were there. The parcels were snb,o;,
examination, and Of course excited n
discussion, as we were so manv ooiJ
Opinions were various as TO the cerIoin,,''s ivy
ing gold, where it came from. md -,
would be paid for our trouble in wosbir",i =.
packing 1t home, under so much uncerioin,'
It's being gold. look one of the small 81:
my hard, and viewed ii with a mappifyaS
that unsrrewed from the end Of a sny
requested TorHlnson TO try it with b;: s.A
indented it and CIT it, which convinced ma y"
was metal, knowing that isingIass and sn.o.
would mash and crumbie before il wo,J ]
bend. But Mxen, who ca me from No,,b
ma, and claimed TO know a great deal sbou,
said he had never seen any in that ssns
influenced us TO abandon the idea of g,ibs
here, bur II was proposed that we trace !, J.
bed where it flowed from for upon invest; !
we found that the shining particles ve,o /,
sand only out to the high water mark a, Il J.
kansas river, and down 10 the waters el,.
not at all on the shores of the creek NJ
knew il must have washed down the AHA
yer, from some creek above. II was then No
TO divide our party, some 10 go on foot and F
up these shiny sands TO their source. ub ]
others were 10 90 round and meet them
J horses, as the horses could not follow tho II
/ of the river on account Of cliffs and so,gB +
as it was intiguing trip up the margin Of /
yer, and a party could not be prevai.d M T.
volunteer, we all went around on horsesck
proceeded up the creek some distance. mn
got miles or so from the river. when We II,
ed two days, crossed Walnut Creek, and g, /
one days travel above it, on the beach Of h !,
kansas. but here ali trace of the gold sand.
gone. We were now satisfied that they mus,
been washed down that creek.
/ Here we turned out and hunted, and bepr
out, we made preparations 40 return drec, I
We killed sixteen elk, cured the meat, and
second day turned homewards, without o
further for gold ; our party was sick, faded
tired out. We passed near the mouth Of " 7
Creek. where we saw Il beaver dam. but 4
first glittering sand. The examination wss
though, and was not salisfaclory-ou faces
turned homeward, and nothing could stop Us.
got there after seven weeks absence.
feel fully satisfied that we had reached 4
region, aud no doubt. If we had explored % |
nut Creek, we would have found The origina
posite from which these gold sands were wal
AT the bluffs where we killed the elk. we
large quantities Of chrysial quarlz, and I
flint. We brought home some of the quartz,
knowing what it was and at Fort Gibson.
Nix, the SutIer, told us what il was. aud "a
us how It would cut and score glass. We a.so
white flint on Walnut Creek. where we cros,1
going up, and at its mouth the sand was n
with black dirt. All these, learn since
returned, are evidences of gold. But my "a
tions are strengthened by the evidences ST
have received from various sources, thu! 81
abundant there. Since my return ! have s.
pure stuff, piece brought in from 20
1888. by Mr.. Carter, who lived near FortI
son. He stopped all night al my house in
showed me the lump, which weighed 4
ounce. ! certainly believe that if we 90 n
with proper outfit. and not be IN loo great
ry as we were before. we will get gold end
pay US well for our trouble.
So fully impressed with the evidences Z
in that region, Mixen soon after our return
up small party, and tried it again, thong
out success. Richard Bean, of Cane II u
with him on that occasion, who is not sm'
with his failure, is willing TO 90 again, ana oe
TO 90 with us this summer. Mixen, then, ~
party of Cherokees, made another exporouou
in vain. and have no doubt, if he is hvoG
learns that We are about TO try II again,
Join us.
In the summer Of 1917, James McNaa|
Nicholas McNair, of the Cherokee Navd
live about & miles from the Grand Saline,
ChiIders, and James CalIan, Of the Creek
who live on the Nerdigris, were out in ihs
ries, up the Big Bend, and found some o.
gold sands on Walnut Greek, Is miles al
mouth, and brought some of the dust
qulIs. which proved 10 be pure gold. Tha
went down the creek, and there saw the
dam. which Identifies the creek. They also
Walnut Creek 10 be about 35 miles se
Little Arkansas. | have no doubt but i
same creek, and down it were washed the
sands we saw. These men also express
TO 90 with us this summer.
shall make my arrangements 10 star
18th Of August next. You shall hear
again. Respectfully, your friend,
And obedient servant
-.. r..., VIM BIZ
Messrs. James Shannon, Jonathan Allen,
and others, Euapsrills. Ark.