Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-05-19
NATURAL DAM. ,
Crawford Cotsnty, Ark, May IL, IS49.

|
TO me- 10 accompany you tc a gold mine on the
| Arkansas river, near the Little Arkansas, has
been at band since the Sd, and have taken the
! time that a n old man like me should take, 10 con-
slider on making trip of 800 miles into the will
derness. The time has been when | would have
asked no odds, to make up my mind in an hour,
ard then with weeks preparation grid on my
! trappngs, and take to the woods but great chan
ces have come during the last twenty
wears they not only appear shorter, each one than
its predecessor, but in that time infirmties have
come over my once vigorous and hardy frame,
and now an. an old man. living with tolerabe
ease and some comfort, surrounded by my chill
dren and grandchildren. ..
! Notwithstanding my Gnfness for the trip, in
consideration of the many applications from your
county and from this, and in regard OF your KIND
offer to furnish me all the outfit inci udng spring
carriage to travel in, and TO crafty my sons, l
have concluded once more TO {" take the pl'alrles,
and will 90 with you 10 the auriferous regions that
we discovered % years ago.
| You have requested me TO fix the lime and place
of departure Of the company. Nv busiEess, con-
neced with the interests of several other persons,
| require me 10 remain at home until after the first
week in August next, and therefore have fixed
upon the 18th of August the time Of departure.
! Those who are used 10 travelling in the praires
know that there is always a breeze in the day
time, and that in August the nights begin to get
cool. The green fly is destroyed by the drought
which generally precedes this season, and there
fore will be no annoyance to our animals; and
all will agree that it is the most pleasant and the
healthlesl time 10 start on prairie trip.
The place of rendezvous is the town of VAN
BUREN, and It is the most proper place for many
reasons. The outfit necessary for the trip can be
procured cheaper than any where else in this
country and it is the nearest and most convent
ent point the river for the trip, where other ci
tizens of our State can join But my advice
10 you, gentlemen, is not 10 start with hun
dred persons. And from what can learn, those
of the Cherokee Nation with our citizens in this
and your county, will make up that NUMBER
There are many reasons for gi wing this advice.
The first and greatest is. that company over
that number is unwiedy, and hard to manage on
the rip--insubordination, dissatisfaction, and mu.
tiny will spring up. The next is that those per-
sons from abroad. who may be disappointed in
their big expectations, will have complaints lay
up against whereas, if they should be success.
ful, will receive no benefit from them.
The route will take is from Van Buren, to
Evansville, thence 10 the Grand Saline, on Grand
River, thence almost north west over the waters
of Big and Little Verdigris, to Walnut Greek,
about Is miles from its mouth. This creek empties
into the Arkansas river, about 40 miles below the
Little Arkansas, making distance of about three
hundred miles from Van Buren. By drawing a
% bee line'' to our destination over hill and rock
swamp and prairie, where water could be
found. sometimes in whole days march, it might
be shortened 10 240 $50 miles but the route
propose is the one know, and where abun-
dance of grass and water can be obtained all the
way. By going 10 Evansville and thence to the
Grand Saline, we will avoid dreadful rocky
road and not lose over l5 miles. Persons in the
nelghborhood Of Evansville and Fayetteville, who
wish TO JON, can fall in with US any where this
side of Grand Saline, or at that place, where we
will organize.
In regard to the outfit. it is hardly necessary to
say much TO people living on this frontier, who
know how far they have TO travel, and how long
they are going to stay. But that subject AT
another time. | will issue card, stating what |
think IS necessary.
In regard to the gold region, have not sha.
dow OF doubt of It's existence in the neighborhood
whore have pointed out. In addition to the vague
and apparently romancing rumors that have been
afoat in this country in regard to it, facts. SUBJ
stantlal facts. golden facts, that have seen with
my oocn eyes 60 to prove it.
l was one OF a party of twenty persons. induced
by representations made by hunters and Indians,
that started from this county in September, 1896,
that went in pursuit of gold, and contrary TO our
expectations, where did not expect 10 find il
came upon beach filled with shining particles
which evidently were washed down some creek
from its orig ginal bed and although we were in
pursuit of gold, we did not look for it in the sand
whee we would be compelled 10 dig, sift and
wash for it, and even did not care for it. believing
as we did that would cost more labor to procure
II than we were then in the habit of devoting to
any purpose. We went out TO get gold in Jumps
big as hens eggs, and we could not reconcile our
selves 10 work here, we explored further. until
fatigue, sickness. and disgust. tired down a maio-
rlty of the party; and returned 10 be laughed
at by our neighbors. although all of US continued
III the belief that gold was there, and that we had
acted foolish in not stopping and gathering the
dust.
1t may be asked, why did we not wash the
sands | can only answer, that at this time,
when things are so altered, it is hard TO explain
In the days speak of. no one worked-money
was plenty in comparison 10 what it is now, and
we turned oct to make our everlasting fortunes
In month. We started with these high expecta.
tions, and we found it impossible to come down to
The reality. Then again the want of knowledge
upon those subjects, as we were entirely ignorant
about minerals, and believed that washing sand for
gold would not pay; and further, we felt certain
OF getting it at some other place in larger quan,-
ties.