Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-01
Platte Gold Mines.

Platte Gold Mines.
ARRIVAL. OF THE LAWRENCE COMPANY DIRECT
FROM THE MINEs-PLENTY GOLD ON THE
SOUTH PLATTE.
A Lawrence (Kansas) republican Extra con-
tains full and late accounts from the Gold
Mines, as furnished by Mr.. F. III. Britain, of
Burlington. COffey county, Kansas. Mr..
Britain was in company with Mr.. William B.
Parsons, whose full and satisfactory letter in
regard to the gold regions we published last
week. The report of Mr.. Britain agrees in
all essentials with that OF our correspondent,
nevertheless the following extracts will be
read with interest:
sThe company not having found gold at
Spanish Peaks upon hearing these favorable
accounts from the Georgia Company at the
Cherry Creek diggings. determined to imme-
diately go there. Accordingly they retraced
their course. going north, and leaving Pixies
Peak twenty miles 10 the west, arrived at the
Cherry Creek diggings about the sixth of
September
For two weeks the company prospected on
both sides of the Platte, finding gold in suf
ficient quantities so that with n pick, shovel
and PAN from 50 to SIS per day could be made.
This brings our dates down to the 10th of
September, when Mr. Britain, Geo. w. Smith,
Jr.. VIM. B. Parsons. City Attorney of Law
rence.) and Robert Peebles-all members of
the company-leit for Lawrence. Mr. Britain
brings specimens of the gold. which we have
seen, and which have been examined by sew
eral CalifOrnians in our presence. who all
pronounce it the genuine article-known as
the sceale of drift gold 10y miners Mr. Britain
has about three dollars worth Of it, which he
took out in one day. Each of the other gen.
tlemen also have specimens.
Mr. Britain intends to remain during the
winter and will return to the diggings next
spring with full outfit for mining. The
remainder fthe Lawrence company intend,d
to remain in the mines about two weeks after
Mr.. Britain left. and then to come down the
South Platte about forty miles, to Bent and
st. Vrain's old forts, and winter there. The
weather was fine at the mines when he left,
but with very cold frosty nights; and it was
the opinion of old mountaineers, that within
a few weeks the miners would all be obliged
to seek winter quarters. The Georgia CON-
pany had already disbanded, and sought
winter quarters at Fort Laramie. others
at Fort Bridger, and some had returned to the
States. i'
There were about one hundred persons in
the mines, and numbers arriving daily when
Mr.. Britain left Provisions were tolerably
plenty, though at enormous rates-hour sell
lidg at S25 per hundred. The gold dust is
used in the miners as currency, at 81 per
pennyweight.
Mr.. Britain met from 700 to 900 emigrants
en- route for the mines. He thinks that but
few of them will be able to reach the mines
this fall, as probably before this there are
heavy SHOWS in the mountains. 1t is the
height of folly, therefore, for other companies
to start this fall. If those already on the
route do not meet with great hardships, they
will be fortunate.
At the time Mr.. Britain left the mines there
were no houses erected, the miners all living
in tents. The health of the miners had been
good.
The implements in use in the mines are
almost without exception only shovels, picks,
and pans. 1t was the general opinion of the
miners and among them several old CalifOr-
mans, that. with the proper implements, from
So to SIS per day could be made. Mr.. John
Rocker had rough rocker made out a hol-
low log spl t. with which he and his son were
taking out from 81 to So per day. A half
breed Cheyenne boy. John Smith by name.
son of John S. Smith, well known as an old
Indian trader. had been at work about two
weeks when Mr.. Britain left, and had made
sl4 per week with his pan, sfovel and pick,
carrying his dirt from ten to twenty rods.
One mess" found in prospecting pocket"
in the bed rock. where the dirt yielded S1t to
the pan full. One of the Georgia company
washed ont SIC in single day.
- Cherry Greek is a tributary of the South
Platte. 1t is about 35 or 40 miles in length.
is a dry creek with sandy bottom. from 4
to 6 rods wide, and has but little water in it,
The main gold diggings are on the South
Platte, about 4 miles west of the mouth of
Cherry Greek, and about $50 miles little
cast by south from Fort Laramie. The gold
is found on the second .bench" or bottom.
Mr.. Brittan,s specimens were dug about
eighty rods from the river. The South
Platte has been prospected upon both sides
for some thirty miles, and gold found uni |
formly. Water is not very abundant where |
the main diggings are, but can be obtained |
readily by sluicing.
The general face of the country is rolling |
prairie. very sandy, supporting but little |
vegetation save the pr.ckiy pear. The bot |
toms. however, are very rich. and afford an |
abundance of pasture. the grass being from |
three to six feet high. The timber right at |
the diggings is mainly Cottonwood, but |
within twenty miles are extensive pineries. /
The Lawrence company in going up from
Spanish Peaks to .he Platte. passed through /
pinery IS miles in width, and within 20 |
miles of the Platte. There is also an album
lance of pine timber ia the mountains.
The diggings are only ten miles from the
base of the Rocky Mountains. Mr.. Britain
Jays the boys used frequently 10 90 upon the
10 hunt. Game is plenty in the
ricinity of the diggings-such as antelope,
,lack-tailed DEER Virginia deer, brown bears,
Jack" rabbits. Grizzly hears are found in
he mountains. A young one was killed near
he diggings. the skin of which Capt. G.. w.
Smith has with him. Wild ducks and geese
ire found on the river. The Platte at the
liggings is abou: two hundred feet wide, easily
oriabie.
Messrs. Britain, Smith and Parsons, re-
urned by the following route. viz: Down the
south Platte from the diggings to the crossing
II the Leavenserth and Fort Laramie roads,
rs miles; from the crossings TO Fort
kearney, 100 miles; from Fort Kearney to
uarysville, Marshall county, $50 miles; \
hence by the old Independence and California
road, interesting the Lcavenworth and Fort
Riley road at Rcd Ycrmillion, to Lawrance,
100 miles-neariy the whole distance from /
he diggngs to Lawrence-635 miles.
From Lawrence to Marysville the country
5 thicsly settled, and there are frequently
settlements from Marysvile to within 40 /
niles OF the crossing OF tn. Laramie road on |
he Platte. The remainder of the route il
without a human habiiation. On this part /
,f the route the boys ran rather short of pro-
visions, living for i've days on single pan
AXE and cup OF coffee apiece per day.
NICARAGUA ExIGRArIoS.-We learn that an |
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