The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1858-11-13
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tIcount 0f the origin OF tbs discoveries, and other
particulars of Interest 70 inqnirers. What ii
Says about the best road to the mines, We our
SELVES endorse from personal knowledge Of a
portion Of the route:
FIRST DISCOVERIES.
Az long ago as 1885, Eustache Carriere, a
French arallJer now living, sunerannuated
withsthe GkkSsKtean fumily III this rifv, was lost
FROM bis 4sarty III that Fegior, and wandered fol
several weeks through the country, during
which time he collected ii his shptavpich
numerous specimens, which. He carried aith
him to New Mexico. They nrovedfo Be u
and q lpaptta was there formed To ret,ss4 with
MI. Gnli&gNre 10 search for the local@Ea8 Ie
was unable to find the streams wbeINSje had
collected bis specimens, and wssl tied1 p and
severely whipped BY the Mexicans, der The
superstition that he did not wish disclose
their location. w. @sf I
col. BaNT's KSowLEDGsg. fs4 z
Col. VIM. Bent. OF az he is more familiarly
known "a AaSRent," has been trading HI the VI
cinlty Of tRassauntry for many yeses He says
that The existence OF told has Md ssspwn to
the Indians ever siDcelis Residence III them.
The Indians, however. have aiwaysS cmon-
stratcd against acknowledge being made known
to the whites.
THE SECOND DISCOVERY.
a aAkassfeasSf2 discovery was made by a party
SAsRsgsa@@g@Hhis to California, in 1851, from Mis-
sonri, Arkansas and the Cherokee Nj ion.-
Gold was found by them while passing thsnngi,
the country, and n proposal made at Ina lime
to stop; but having families with them, and no
means of Attending them shelter or protection,
they finally proceeded Oh to California. TIE
development of The gold deposits of that Stat.
prevented their return. RaEsAheiir reports slim
lalated public feeling, yet nothing was accom-
plisted Or attempted until last season, when
THE PRESENT DISCOVERY.
Was made. A party from The Cherokee.
country and Arkansas, incjled by the arcnnnts
which the Gherokees gave Of the Pixies Peak
region, fitted oFt for that place. News Of the
expedition being brought to Lawrence, X. r..
n party fitted osi at that place late i'd Nav
Inst. and a company from Missouri, nnder#theI
direction of member Of The California party
of 1851, left the central part of$fhe state ilasi
spring, for the same destination.
These parties have leen prospecting tijeI
country during the summer aud their being III
tie country, and being discovered by some sof
the trappers aud traders, led B0fdeai, Rich.
ard, Cantrell and others 10 the waters If Her
~ and Longs Greed. The results Of their diss.
coseries we have Already given.
THE COUNTRY.
From those already returned from the mines.
have a generally correct idea Of the egi0n
in which gold is known to exist. Pixies Peak
may be taken as The geographical point.
il about 70 miles south Of the both parallel Of
and on a diect line about $40 miles
south west Of Kansas City. 1t is abont 81
east & Gachetopa Pass, and aboui "a
niles south. The Arkansas takes its rise Oh,
The south side Of the range in which the Peak
is situated, aud the South Platte on lie North
Mr.. John Gantrell and the Lawrence.
Georgia and Missouri companies have 1r,,spec
Fected he South Platte streams. principally
Cherry aud Longs Greek, which are from 40
% 90 miles from the Peak, almost in a direct
westerly course. Mr.. King and the Cherokee
have m addition pretty throughly ex.
liored lie Arkan as, BRANCHES. in many
better success Than nnibe Platte; bni
has been demonstrated 10 prove that
'oth are oid5prndiciug. The two rivers head
bht the Arkansas Ienctrates the
mountain range to a much greater distance
nan The Other. The cpultry lrospceted en-
traces about 20 miles nortl, aud stntl,. and fol-
owing ihe streams greater or less distances.
'fom the South llatie we have as vet seen
MY the 'shoat gold but from the Arkansas
Fe have both The scales and nuggets, as well
$ the gold in the quartz.
THE COUNTRY AND Innate.
Irappers, aud traders, lmweyer, who have
'ng been familiar with the country, speak of
as much more mild than the country at il,e
'outh Pnss. Immediately west and soutI, are
parks OF the Rocky Mountains, which are
presented to be exceedingly mild in winter,
abundance Of food for stock during
le entire winter, and are the ~Iavorite winter
aunis Of the Indians.
GAME, TIMBER, ETC, |
The country abonnds ii Timber, the prevail.
g variety being pine, immense forests ofbo1h
re yellow and white being common On the
reams the wild cherry, and timber commun ta
latitude are found. Game is exceedingly
oundant, the black tailed deer, elk. antelnne.
oantaln sheep, black bear, etc, being found
all PORTIONS OF the country. II is a ~fayorite
sort lof me Indians, as il affords them plenty
game when OH their buffalo hunts. and Is
here they get their lodge poles and equip il
eh'S Tor their excursions Tor buffalo on the
aims.
TIE ROUTE 10 THE MINES.
70 the country bordering the Missouri river
IOWA and Nebraska as far as Council Bluffs 4
I'd above; probably The best route would be
Fort Laramie. although the route nm the
'nth Fork of the. Platte is very SANDY and 4
'vered Tor long distances with a dense growth
IN prickiy pear, which is very severe upon a
ock, as well as upon men. The sand hills !.
eatly retard the progress Of the trains. and a
G prickly pear furnishes no snsteuance what
ef. The streams are numerous, and when
u very difficulty to cross.
70 all east Of the Mississippi, and for a hun. I
miles West of it, The best route by far is |
'ie great Santa Fe road to Pawpee Fork. 81
% thence following the Arkansas to Bent's 81
,f, and The mines. This is the route Travelled +
the mountain Traders for half a century. and i
a wei beaten, plain wagon road, the entire Ii
stance. There have passed over it The pres.
l season over ten thousand wagons. as far as 3
e crossing of the Arkansas, and over i've VI
idred have left This city The present season o,
bents Fort and the diiel ent trading posts
that region Of country.
ne trip Is usual made by Kansas Civ tra.
rs, with their heavily laden wagons, in % to T.
days, and starting any time from the mid. a,
OF April 10 the first of October, plenty of v.
ass, is to be found throughout the who,e ey. m
1t OF the route. ot