The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-09-11
PIXIES PEAK GOLD DlGGINGS

PIXIES PEAK GOLD DIGGINGS (!
BUREAU EUREKAll
Gold Mines within 500 Miles
THE BEST ROUTE THITHER.
THE YELLOW FEVER SPREADING RAPIDLY'
The only An.,ds.es-Pick and shsvel!:!
From time to time since tho first overland
emigration to California, the "dear people"
have been RECALLED with highly colored reports
respecting the existence of gold in the noun
tains and along the streams on this side of
the dividing ridge between the Atlantic and
Pacific shores, but up to this time, those re-
ports have elected but little attention, from
the fact, that they were vague, indefinite und
conflicting. Notwithstanding this seeming
indifference, there has ever been settled
conviction in the minds Of those who have
crossed the mountains, that gold existed
along the banks of the streams running
South and East, but to what extent they
were of course unableto say. Yet, not with
standing the very general belief that rich
gold diggings could be found on this side Of
the mountains, up to this time, no one seems
to have had confidence enough in their rich
ness, to undertake to develope them. Now,
there seems to be a fair prospect of remov-
ing all doubts upon the subject. Parties OF
traders and trappers have lately arrived from
the mountains, bringing fabulous accounts
Of the auriferous character of the country
along the tributaries of the South Platte,
and in the mountain ranges North and West
of Pixies Peak, and of Fort Laramie.
While we are far from giving entire Gre
dence to tho thousand and one conflicting
reports now in circulation respecting the
richness of tho newly discovered gold dig
gings, we have no hesitancy in saying, that
we have the most implicit faith in the exis-
tence Of gold within the range of country
before mentioned. Whilcw do not believe
that miners respectively are taking out $4,000
per week with nothing but their knives,
tomahawks and frying paps," we do believe,
that with good outfit of tools and conve-
niences, man might average from SIS to
$50 per day. We base this opinion, upon
the general character of tho country, and
from what we can CLEAN from the various
accounts that have reached US lately.
Last November, we published letter from
the U. S. Indian Agent, for the Camanches,
respecting these same dggings. The Agent
gained his information from a Mr.. BECK,
man raised in the gold region of North Car
DINA, and thoroughly understands digging
for the precious metal. Mr.. B., in 1850, in
company with others, started for Califor-
MIA, sand when they reached the mountains,
he and few others commenced prospecting
in a small tributary of the South Platte
One of the company waded into the creek,
from the bottom of which, he obtained a
pan full of sand, which yielded from two to
three dollars worth of gold, with which they
returned to camp, and proposed remaining,
but, being over-ruled by large portion of
their companions, who had heard such mar
vellous accounts of California, they were
obliged to yield and keep on their way."-
Since his return from California, Mr.. BECK
has been very anxious to return to the South
Platte country, but being unable to raise
company sufficiently strong to protect them
from the hostile Indians, has not been able
to do so. The Indian Agent further adds,
that ''ast spring lS57-one year ago] some
white men and son of Mr.. BECK started
to the South Platte. They had got within
60 miles of the Creek spoken of by Mr..
BECK, camped and commenced prospecting.
Young BECK, from hole six inches deep,
obtained one painful of sand, which he
brought home with him, and which | now
have in my Office. 1t contains white gravel,
black sand and gold dust, and is worth about
fifty cents. They only remained there part
of a day, their company being small and In
diaps plenty, they deemed it prudent to re-
turn.
"Mr. BECK says, that the country three
hundred miles around, indicates mineral
region, and a fine country to live in. There
is considerable excitement in this nation in
regard to this subject. Mr.. BECK and a
large company speak of returning to the
mines in the spring. lie says it will not be
safe for small company to 60 there"
The letter, from which VIC have made these
extracts, was written in October, 1857, so
that the reports lately put in circulation,
may be said to fully confirm the statements
made!o one year ago, and warrant US in saying
that gold actually exists on the Eastern
Slope of the Rocky Mountains, and in guam
titles sufficient to pay for mining.
The section of country said to contain the
gold mines, is that part of our Territory
lying between the 38th and 4lst parallels of
latitude, or between Pixies and Laramie's
Peaks of the Rocky Mountains. We give
some extracts below, for the purpose Of
showing the extent of the excitement, and
the locality of the mines.
From the Omaha Republican.
Tbe St Joseph Gazette has reports the effect that
gold has been discovered not far from F. LARAMIE We
should be surprised this should prove be true
should be still less astonshed gold should be
found in the Platte River, Nebraska.
II the rlvers-SuCh Frazer Rver-wnich take their
rise the Rocky Mountains. and West found
deposits Of gold; why should similar de-
posits be found in those streams which flow Eastward
from the same mounalns?'
There seems be undoubted ev dence that there
is truth in these rumors and surmises. Last Monday
evening party Of three four persons arrived from
Oregon who fully confirm the statements Of gold found
in the vicinity Of Fort Laramie They were at the dig
gings only short time since, and that persons
getting out about day All along the route
between Omaha and Fort Laramie the greatest excite
men exists and large numbers are leaving for the gold
region
company is forming in this city to start for the
diggngs. These all the facts which we have room
for this week. Our readers rest ISSUED that there
is no "bumbug" about these statements.
A correspondent Of the Leayenworth Daily
Times, writing from Horse Greek, NeLras-