The Arkansas banner., 1849-06-05
Cold Placer O, the Arkansas Frontier.

For many years past there have been rumors and legends circulating among us. of the existence of gold somewhere ,pon our western frontier The recent discoveries of this. more than stone of the philosopher" in California, have occasioned in- quires and given sufficient shape and substance 10 these reports, to induce some ot our citizens in the west to seek a ckar demonstration of their truth company is to meet at Van Buren on the l6th June, to make arrangements to proceed to " alnut Creek, one of the trihuiaies of the Arkansas for that pur pose, For some tiae past we have been informed that there were documents in the possession of some of our citizens, giving a minute description of the route taken by aPariy of spanish soldiers, who dis covered and opned gold mne in that region, during the time hat this was Spanish territory.
 The Van Bura IntelIigencer has been furnished with the following facts, which led to expedition in 1926
 "U seems tha in 1925, Captain Pryor, the Osage Agent. during avsit 10 New Orleans, met with a wealthy merehat, wsc represented himself oae of the members pt Plke's iIl-fated party, who taken prisoners il New Mexico, in 1907. He stated that the party taken to Santa Fe, and there in- prisoHed. He scaped in company with another man; and they proceeded towards the waters of the Arkansas river, own the course Of which they con tinued On Wanut Greek, as it IS now called, their attention was attracted to signs of mining operations which led to iuther examination, and the final dis covery of gold They dug out considerable quantity, run itinto bars, and proceeded down the river in canoe and arrived al Natchez, where they separated. Cap Pryor's informant went to New Orleans, where his golt enabled him to embark in commerce and accumulate a considerable fortune His wealthy circumstances were such as to satisfy Capt. Pryor wh he did not desire to penetrate the wilderness, andpeGi his life. at his advanced age. He was particular in describing inc creek on which it was, and gava pretty clear idea of the locality in which the gad might be found.
 "CoI Black ound the golden sands on the creek described by ths gentleman in New Orleans. Me Nar's discovery of gold was on the creek; and all these cmeurring circumstarees contribute to establish in the minds of citizens. the viction that thef will find gold in that region next | August.
 l "Another witness enters, 10 favor the idea that the region abo,' 10 be visited IS a mineral country A citizen of ths State has placed in possession tot pc sal a statement given 10 him in ls34. al Havana, by Spanish gentleman who was a surgeon
 ns Spanish exploring party that explored the Upper Arkansas. in I7s3; and crossed from this rseI to the waters of the Yellow Stone and back again over 10 Santa fe. and who visited this same region where they tosk large quantities of silver ore. Al this place they attacked by Indians, and al the party. excepting himself and eight others. killed. They escaped, afterwards returned, con sirncted buffalo canoes, and proceeded down ih, river with theI On their voyage down ,h' river. they landed, erected furnaces and run thei silver into bars.
 " The places where the furnaces had been erecte, were described. Oar informant visited those places and there found the furnaces He is one of th mo t,eager to go oL inc trip in August.
 .We have, since the publication of Col. Black letter, eonversed with Mr. Pickett who expresses full conyietier that the region in question abound in god and he says tha, the iai of the expedition in 1928, was owing to the entire ignorance of ever member Of the whole party on The subject of miner ais aud mineral countries. We were struck wit the exact correspondence of Mir. Pieketts e;eaefip ton of the creek aud surrounding country with ,ha gwen by the Spanish surgeon in Havana, and rnor than ever became convinced that our friend, wi find gold and silver