Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-11-10

raft and protect the men who were upon it,
having ordered the camp to move down i'll I
haste. Having unloaded the raft upon the
eastern bank, the men re-crossed the river,
and we selected camp opposite the place
where the baggage was deposited, and dur
ing the night kept a constant fire with our
rifles across the river, and in this manner,
protected it from the Indians.
The animals were taken to the crossing
I had first selected, TO swim the river. l
took them up with three men on the west
bank, and four men received them on the
opposite side This detained us half day,
and altogether we were detained five days
IN crossing the river.
The driitwood of which we constructed
our little raft appeared to have been cut by !
beavers. These animals must be exceed !
ingly abundant, as they destroyed during |
the first night the ropes with which our raft
was bound together, and carried of the
timber. The loss Of the ropes was great
inconvenience 10 us. We set a guard az
forwards at night over our second raft TO
protect it from a similar fate.
The river showed signs ct having been
some ] 8 feet higher than when we crossed
it, It is here a grand and magnificent
stream, swift like the Missippi, and appa-
rently as well adapted to navigation.
The place of our crossing is we'll suited
to bridging, or fcrriage, by steam OF other
wise.
We saw no Waterfowl about the river,
and only a few black tailed deer. East
Of the river we encountered a great many
rattlesnakes of an uncommon large size
They seem 10 be new species, as their
tails are covered, for some six inches from
the point, with alternate white and black
rings Of hair or bristles, about quarter Of an
inch long.
According TO my observations. the Colo
RADIO of the West is set down upon the maps
greatly too far to the east, perhaps as much
as $50 miles.
The Indians were constantly in our sight
and watching our movements. They could
not be induced TO approach us; but assured
us, across the river, that they were Mo-
haves.
On one occasion, whilst at rest for few
! minutes in deep gully, about mile from
the ssing on the west side of the river,
Mexican mule boy discovered something
g!istening upon the ground, which on exam
, nation proved TO be gold. We at once
commenced washing sand in our tin cups,
and in every one discovered particles OF
gold. This gold was discovered in dark,
= coarse sand, and black heavy sand was
/, found in the cup after washing away the
i gravel. The sandy soil was SO compact
that we could not dig ii up with our fingers.
The Indians being still on the heights near
us, and our being separated by the river,
the danger was so great that we could not
remain longer at this spot. | intended TO
return again, but the Indians became SO nu-
merous that it was impossible to do So
j This gully is on the right bank of the river,
and the head of it is in a very rough and
| rugged mountain.
= July 9th. We washed sand on the east
side of the river, and found gold in greater
! abundance than on any previous occasion.
| myself washed tin cup full OF yellow
D clay, and found about % cents worth Of the
pure metal. A Mexican boy, on washing
frying pan full OF coase sand, found from
: 40 to so particles of rure gold, some Of
which were as large as the head Of pin
{ We took the clay and sand from the top oil
the ground without digging. The appear
ance of the country also indicates gold.
made no further examination, as our ami
mails had subSisled for five days upon the
, cRdmccO, without blade of grass, and our
provisions had been damaged in the Colora-
do, which must cause us to travel several
days without anything to eat.
To-day we made ten miles east. The
country is without wood, water or grass.
: July 2Sth. Two of our men being sick,
,-p1ln al to IN ,i,r
= on their account.
Struck it some 3 miles below the cross
ing, and found that from that point il makes
considerable bend towards the east. The
country here does not indicate gold, nor
G could we find any on washing the sands.
July 29th. The condition Of our sick
men obliged us TO remain in camp all day
b, Our animals were in starving condition
q as there is not particle Of grass on or near
: ;hc river.
Ju'y Both. Left the river and travelled
|, II miles east, and miles northeast. A
II sick Mexican was so much exhausted thai
, we were compelled TO make for mountain
!, north Of us, which indicated water, but VIZ
a found neither water, timber nor grass.
u July 3lst. Travelled s miles north least
=, and struck large stream, but much smaller
u than the Colorado, coming from the east
u southeast, and running west-north- -
j., TIE stream NAV he what the Mexicans de
signate as the Rio los Apaches, and wha
the Americans have recently called the Lit
y tie Red River.
> One Of my Mexicans followed this stream
Few miles, and says that il empties int
Z, III, Colorado or miles below camp, an,
. ti.at there is below us valley of good sol
and grass in abundance. Where we strucl
:, this stream, there is neither timber no
d grass.
In the evening we travelled 5 miles soutl
h to avoid mountains, and as many east.
e The country was level, but without gras
n or timber.
lc The mountains, or perhaps more proper
At ly hills, that we have thus far met with, ar
IN nothing more than elevations OF variou
"a,