The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-04

further in direction nearly east then leaving the Ne
Met with an abundance of grass little timber and
few miles OF fertile land along the river There Is no
water in the bed Of the stream but It may % mao oy
Encsmped without water, grass or wood
July l6-St pur, uiDg northeastern oourss-we ira
ved TO day thirty five miles over level aravelly soil
We have devated due east in order to
avoid region Of fHnd hills that lie to ght and di
recty between US and the Great Colorado Inc weather
So have met with neither Indians game of any
kind We obtained little water about half way in
days Journey; but timber grass.
July 1T.-Made thirty three miles northeast, over
level gravey country about half way obtained little
very bad water No grass timber in sight during the
day but OF night obtained gosd water grass aud wild
game. Prairie mountains lie both sides Of the trail
July ls-Traveed twenty miles still northeast,
level country. Saw but little good land, and timber
After travelling about Eve miles we found coed spring
water bu' sncamped without any.
July l9-Course still northeast distance thirty two
miles country syel soil inferior and water, but no
timber
July 2O-Made twenty miles northeast, over level
gravey country, and obtained good spring water and
grass. Saw timber.
July 22-rravellei TIVE atty miles east southeast most
of the distance through little where found
good grass water and game in abundance and struck
the great Colorado of the West The river at this place
is three hundred yards in width and has from ten to
fifteen feet water in the channel Its banks entirely
destitute Ct timber and grass in fact no vegetation is
met with except small shrub, called cha nezo by the
Nexicans and believe arte mesa by botansts We
very fortunate in striking the river at this point where
there neither canons nor moantans although the
try appears rough and famous both to the
north and south o. it. To the north the rocks black
and irreguhr, and TO volcanic whilst the cliffs
10 the south Of red sandstone. This banks at the
crossing low rocky and unchanging and the current
exceedingly rapid.
We followed the river up for FIVE miles, and select ed
crossing where it two hundred yards wide, and
twenty or twenty five feet deep Wesucceeded in finding
little driitwooo Of which made raft. Four
took charge of it, and it carried three miles
with the current before it could be landed The heights
we're covered with Indians in readiness to shoot do
started down with four TO How the raft and pro
tect the who upon it having ordered the camp
10 move down IN haste Having unoaded the raft upon
the eastern bank the men recrossed the river and
selected camp opposite the place where the baggage
deposited and during the night kept up constant
81 with rifles the river and in this
protected it from the Indians.
The animals were taken the crossing had first Sc
ected to swim the river. took them up with three
the west bank and four received them the OPP
pose side This detained half day and altogether
we were detained FIVE days in crossing the river
The drtwood of VIII ch constructed little raft
appeared TO have been cut by beavers These animals
must be exceedingly abundant they destroy ed during
the first night the ropes with which raft bound
together and carried off the timber The loss of the
ropes was great Inconvenience to US We set guard
afterwards at night over second raft to protect it
from similar fate.
The river showed signs of having been fifteen feet
higher than when we it 1t is here grand and
magnificent stream swift like the Mississippi, and appa
renily as well adapted 10 navigation.
The place Of crossing is well suited to bridging,
ferrage, by steam or otherwise.
We saw no waterfowl about the river and only few
antelope and b .ck tailed deer East of the river
large size They seem to De species, their tails
covered for inches from the point with 81
ernae white and black rings of HAIR or brstles about
quarter Of an inch long
According my observations the Colorado Of the West
is set down upon the greatly too far TO the east
perhaps much MS $50 miles
The Indians constantly in sight and watching our
movements They could not be induced to approach u.s.
but assured u.s. the river that they Mohave
On occasion. whilst az for few minutes in
deep gully, about mile from the crossing, the
side OF the rive Mexican mule boy discovered some
EDd xav,tvn ftpp
proved TO be gold We at commenced washing sand
in tin cups and in every discovered particles of
gold This gold discovered in dark coarse sand
and black heavy sand found in the cup after wash
ing away the gravel The sandy coil compact that
could not dig il up with our fingers The Indians be-
ing still the heights near u.s. and our party bei
separated by the river the danger great that
could remain longer at this spot intended to
turn again but the Indians became that it
impossible to Go This guey is the right bank
of the river and the head OF is in very rough and
rugged mountain.
July 27th-Ws washed sand on the east side Of the
river and found gold in greater abundance than
previous occasion myself washed tin cup full of ye
low clay and about lively five cents worth Of the
pure metal Mexican boy, washing frying painful
Of sand found from forty to fifty PARTICLES Of
We ookibe clay AMI sand from the top of the ground
without digging The appearance OF the country also in
dicates god made no further examination as our ami
mails had subsisted for five days upon the caso with
out blade Of grass and provisions had been dam
aged in he Colorado which must to travel
veral Gays without any thing to eat.
To day made ten miles east. The country ia with
out wotG, water or grass
July 27th.-Two OF being SICK were com
RELIED return 10 the river on their account
strucS it fifteen miles below the crossing, and
found from that point it makes considerable
cate gold, could we find any washing the sands
Ju 29hIhe condition Of sur sick men obliged us to
remain in camp all day Our animals were in starving
condition as there Is MOI particle OF grass on or near
the river.
July soth-Ieft the river, and travelled dfteen miles
east spc five miles northeast sick Mexican WAS so
much exhausted that compelled to make for
mountain north OF u, which indicated water; but we
fou nd neither water timber grass.
July 3lst- travelled eight miles northeast and struck
large stream but much smaller thac the Colorado
coming from the east southeast and running west north
west This stream may be what the Nexcans designate
the Rio Grande de los Apaches and what the Aner
cans have recently called the Little Red River
One Of my M,xcsns followed this stream few miles,
and lays that it empes into the Colorado eight
miles below camp and that there is below valley of
good soil and grass in abundance Where we struck this
stream there il neither timber nor grass.
In the evening travelled Ave miles SOUTH to avoid
mountains and as many east.
The country was level but without grass or timber
The mountains, or perhaps more properly hills that
have thus far met with nothing than eleya
tons OF various forms and imensons, dispersed in de-
tached and irregular vast and otherwise
uninterrupted plateau. Hence, have constantly termed
the country level and very properly as 1t be ira
vsrsed in all directions among the solitary and detached
elevations 81 mountains without the necessity Of cross
ing them
August Travelled twenty miles east, and found
spring Of good water the abundant and cedar
trees the highlands The country is level,
and the soil inferior.
Aug Made ten miles east, crossing a mountain or
ridge where found fine pass, grass and timber Zee
dar and pnon) abundant
Aug s.-Traveled twenty miles south Of east over a
country somewhat broken timber and grass abunc ant
Indians around us in numbers, all day shooting
rows every moment They wounded some Of mules
and my famous mare Dolly who has often rescued
from danger by her speed and capacity Of endurance.
Aug. I've moved ten miles south to avoid noun
tans and struck valley which we left few days since
and which extends TO the Colorado The mountains which
we left co7ered with timber Grass and water
found in plenty.
The Indap rs CONNIE need firing at sunrise and
tinued until reached camp Arrows passed through
the clothes OF several OF the men, and three passed
through my clothes, and was slightly wounded BY
two others in different places An passed through
the colsr Of Dick williams We killed several OF the In
dams and wounded more. Peter Prudon accidentally
shot himself in the right knee,
Aug 5-Trsvelled miles sou.f east in valley. No
water grass and timber ia abundance all the noun.
taips.
Aug &C ntinued ten miles southeast In the same
valley in which travelled YESTERDAY, found water
but good grass and plenty Of timber and below the
mountains. IA sick unable to travel we
suffering for water havi been nearly three days