Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1855-07-19
Gge 6lasgolu Gimes,
The Witchitaw Gold Country

country, if only half true, will bring on an
other California fever. Among the gold
hunters there are some old California mi
ncrs who declare that the diggers in the
Witchitaw mountains are getting out as m--.
Of the precious stuff. hand to hand, as they
used to do in the best diggings on Feather
River in the famous 40. Such accounts |
have raised curiosity to know more about
these new gold fields, and, SO it happens,
good deal of the desired information is fur
nished in the Report of the Secretary Of War
made in 1852, by Capt. R. B. Marcy, ex-
plored Red River to the head waters of the
main stream. This Report of Capt. Marcy
has been published within the last year, and
may have helped forward the present excite
ment.
Capt Marcy made his exploration in the
months of May, June and July Of 1852. His
starting point was Cache River where it en-
ters Red River, at about the 9Gth meridian
and the parallel of 34l. Thence he traced
the river to the Tooth degree of longitude,
where it branches. Followingup its North
Fork, he ascended to its source in the cliffs
which from the wall of that elevated table
land now called by the Spaniards Llado Es-
! facade, and is known to us as the Stake
/ Plain;-one of the most extensive and 9TH
erwise remarkable deserts in the world
Along this wall he descended southw0rdly
until he reached the main branch Of Red
River, which, like the North Fork, springs
ont Of this table land. On his return, he
crossed the North Fork at the point where
he struck it on his way out. Thence he
couIsed round the Southerly side Of the
Witchitaw Range Of mountains, giving gthem
a pretty fair examination, and reached Fort
Arbuckle on the 2Sth of July, being about
three months from the time when started
on expedition. He lost none of his men Ell
ther by disease or accident, and though in al
most constant motion, brought bSck his draft
cattle in better condition than when he went
forth.
From this Report and the maps attached
to it, we collect that the Wichita range lies
between the 99th and lOOth degrees OF lon
gitude and the latitudes OF 81! and 35.-
They are situated about 30 miles north of
Red River, $50 south of the Arkansas and
Santa Fe trail, some $50 miles from Fort
Smith in Arkansas, 400 at least from the
southwestern angle Of Missouri, and 10,
less than 700 miles from St. Louis. They
extent east and west about Is miles, with
seemingly breadth North and South of not
over 20 miles. They are described as ris-
ing out of the elevated plain, as we so
often witness in the Plains region, TO height
of from five to eight hundred feet, with oc-
casionally peaks of loltier stature. Thus
the most remarkable elevation, which Capt.
Marcy called Mount Scott, is 1885 feet high.
There is another peak called Mount Web
ster, the height of which Is rot stated
Capt. Marcy repeatedly refers to the
probability that TIE precious metals may be
found in these mountains. lie says:--
''There are veins of quartz, greensboro
and porphyry running through the granite,
similar to those which characterize the gold
bearing formation OF California. This fact
! IN connection with our having found some
particles Of detritus along the beL Of Otter
Greek, may yet lead to the discovery Of inn
portant auriierous deposits i'll these noun
tains."
Capt. Marcy mentions the fact that among
the border people of Texas and Arkansas
there had long been an impression that gold
r was TO be found there.
The immediate neighborhood ofthis noun.
tain region is more desirable than we sup
t posed before reading this report. Il is wei
: watered, and contains many wooded and fer,
:. tile tracts. The air is salubrious, and the
y scenery attractive. We frequently in thi,
/ report meet with such descriptions and re
II marks as follows:
ave find the soil at all places near Tho
- mountains and the country well wOodcC
and watered. The grass, consisting o.
several varieties of grama, is Of a superior
quality, and grows luXuriantly. The almo,
constant cool and bracing breezes of tn
HlbllNiAci W ll4l TIC -IktlC tuNElitt q
marshes and stngnant water, remove al
=, sources of noxious malaria, with its atten
dants, autumnal fevers."
On the 10Th of July, he crossed "fn
II. stream of clear wafer issuing from the noun
b tains;" then three miles further on another
:. and finally at the end Of his days Journey
lie encamped on third. These are describe
ITS as each about twenty feet wide, with ceo
" and rapidly flowing currents, and post-oa
81 and black walnut on their banks.
The next day produces the following er
re try in his Journal
y" This morning we journey along the soutl
eastern base Of the mountains, passing sc,
h, eral spring brooks Of cold and delicious WI
y ter. These brooks are perennial, and tn
- it being the dry season, probably at the
lowest stage, would answer every purpo
. Of farming or milling"