The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-23
THE PIKE PEAK GOLD MINES,

streams of the Arkansas and South Platte AS long ago
as 1885 Eusache Carriere French apper, living
superannuated with the Choueau family in this city,
lost from his party in that region and wandered for
several weeks through tho country during which time
he collected in his shot pouch numerous specimens which
he carried with him TO New Mexico, They proved to be
gold and party was there formed and returned with NJ
Carriere to search for the locality. He unable to
find the streams where he bad collected his specimens
and tied up and severely whipped by the Mexicans
under the supposon that he did not wish to disclose
their location This was the first discovery which
have able to learn The Catholic missionaries have
frequently found specimens in possession of the Kansas
Indians and Others who annually visit the country for
| hunting.
Col. VIM Bent, or, as he is famiarly known,
l Bent has been trading in the vicinity of the
try for many years He says that the existence of gold
has been known the Indians since his residence
among them. He made many inquiries alter the distynv-
cry Of gold in California and has since been satisfied
of its existence The Indians, however, have always
monsrated against the knowledge being made known to
the whites The country is their richest hunting ground
their best wDtering country and old chief told
Bent if the white found the gold they would
| take them from their ''best and last home Their
jealousy has thus far guarded their country and kept the
| secret from the white
The second discovery made by party OF emgran IS
to California in 1851 from Missouri, Arkansas and the
Cherokee Nation. Gold found by them while pass
ing through the country and proposal made ut that
time to stop but having families with them, and no
means aordng them shelter protection they finally
proceeded to California. The development of the
gold deposits in that State prevented their return but
their reports further stimulated public feeling, and
nothing accomplished attempted until last sea-
The settlement of the Kansas difficulty left
many men in the country who had become habitu-
ated to excitement and adventure and looking out
| for field. Parties formed at different
points for explorations Some went to Arizona, some
to Salt Lake City, and Others to California One, how
ever, from the Cherokee country and Arkansas melted
by the accounts which the Cherokees gave of the Pike
Peak region fitted out for that point News of the
DeCition being brought to Lawrence X IT, fitted
out at that place late in May last and company from
Missouri under the direction Of member of the Cali
forna party of 1851 left the central part of the State
| last spring for the same destination.
These parties have been prospecting the country
during the summer and their being in the country and
being discovered by of the tapper and Traders led
Bordeau Richard, Cantre and Others to the waters of
Cherry and Longs creek. The results of their dscove-
res have already given. The great secret Of the In
dans at last discovered and before the Of winter
the country thousand men will be at work in the
auriferous sands Of the mountain streams. 9e
From those already returned from the mines have
generally correct idea of the region in which the gold
is known to exist Pixies Peak which may be taken
the geographical point is about twenty-five miles south
of tho seth parallel of latitude and on direct line
about $40 miles southwest of Kansas city 1t is about
so miles east of Cochcopa Pass and about "a miles
south The Arkansas takes its rise the south side of
the range in which the Peak is situated and the South
Platte the north side. MIR. John Cantre the Law
renee, Georgia. and Missouri companies have prospeced
the South Platte streams pricipally Cherry and Long
creek, which from 40 to so miles from the Peak, al
most in direct westerly course. Mr.. King and the
Cherokee company have in addition pretty thoroughly
explored the Arkansas branches with, in many instan
ces, better than the Platte but sufficient
has been demonstrated to prove that both godpro
ducing The two rivers head together but the Arkansas
peneraes the mountain range to much greater distance
than the other The country prospeced embraces about
10 miles north and SOUTH and following the streams
greater less distances From the South Platte we
have yet only 'foat gold, but from the Ar
kansas have both the scales and the nuggets, as
well as the gold in the quartz. The specimens which
have reached Kansas city are greatly superior in
richness to the first discoveries in California and leave
doubt to the capabilities of the mines when prop
| erly worked. tt
The country in the vicinity of Pixies Peak is we'll
suited to the growth of small grain is well watered
the mountain districts of Pennsylvania and Virginia
and is in the latitude with Baltimore Cincinnati
and st. Louis But owing to its elevation, fall
early in the fall and late in the spring. Trappors and
traders however, who have long been familiar with the
country, speak of much mild than the
try at the South Pass Immediately west and south are
the parks of the Rocky mountains which represented
by Fremont Bcale Leroux Williams, Carson and Good
ale to be exceedingly mild in winter aording abund
ance Of food for stock during the entire winter season.
and the avore winter haunts of the Indians From
all can learp tho seasons mild any in the
same latitude cast and much more SO, considering its
| latitude
The country abounds in timber the prevailing variety
being pine--mmensc forests of both the yellow and
white being common. On the streams tho wild cherry
and timber common to this latitude found Game is
exceedingly abundantthe black tailed DEER red deer
elk antelope, mountain sheep black bear &C., being
found in all portions of the country. 1t ayore
sort for the Indians affords them plenty of game
when of their buffalo hunts and is where they get their
lodgepoes and equipments for their excursions for buff
| falo on the plains.
The country bordering the Missouri river in Iowa and
Nebraska, far Council Bluffs and above probably
the best route would be by Fort Laramie, although the
route the Spanish fork of the Platte is very sandy and
covered for long distances with dense growth of the
prickly pear which is very upon stock well
upon The sand hills greatly retar the progress Of
trains and the prcy pear furnishes susenance what
ever, The streams pumerous, and when full, very
difficult to cross.
To all east of the Mississippi, and for few hundred
miles west of It, the best route by far Is by the great
Santa Fe road and thence following the Arkansas to
Bents Fort and the mines. This is the route travelled
by the mountain traders for half century and we'll
beaten, plain wagon road the entire distance. There
have passed it the present ten thousand
wagons as far the crossing of the Arkansas and
five hundred have left this city the present for
Bents Fort and the different trading posts In that region
of country. These wagons carry from FIVE thousand to
six thousand pounds EACH and usually drawn by six
yoke Of oxen 1t Is also the route which the stock
drovers take to California and give to-day the amount
Of stock which Mr. Thatcher proposes TO start with the
present fall But to those who may not have to
those who familiar with the route they gain all
the information they desire from the reports of Fremont
Beae, and Gunnison Their point of starting and gen
eral direction is the same and although their exploa
tions made for railway purposes yet their description
of the country is perhaps the most reliable to which the
great mass Of people can have
The trip usually made by Kansas City traders with
in "a, dcio ~