Freeman's champion., 1858-07-15
From the Lawrence Republican,
Pixies Peak.


Pixies Peak.
Extracts from Col, Fremont's Narrative
Of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky
Mountains, in the year ls42.]
"July 9Th, We continued to-day
to travel up the Platte; the morning
was pleasant, with prospect of fair
weather. We caught this morning a
view of Pixies Peak; butt appeared
for a moment only, as clouds rose
early over the mountains and shroud-
ed them in mist and rain all the day.
While travelling in this region, re-
marked that always in the morning,
the lofty peaks were visible and bright,
but very soon small white clouds be-
gan to settle around them-brewing
thicker and darker as the day ad-
vanced, until the afternoon, when the
thunder began to roll, and invariably
at evening we had more or less Of
thunder storm"
"July 0, This morning we turned
to the eastward, along the upper wa
ters Of the stream on which we had
encamped, entering country Of pic
turesque and varied scenery; broken
into rocky hills of singular shapes ;
little valleys, with pure crystal water,
here leaping swiftly along, and there
losing itself in the sands green spots
of luxuriant grass, flowers of all col
ors and timber Of different kinds
everything to give it a varied beauty
except game" u II N
"July IL. [ turned this morning
to the southwark, up the valley Of
the Bejou. We followed the stream
to its head in q broken ridge, which,
according to the barometer, was
about 1900 above the sea. This is a
piney elevation, into which the prai-
ries are gathered, and from which the
waters flow, in almost every direct
ion, to the Arkansas, Platte and Kan
2as rivers the latter stream having
here its remotest sources. We had
an excellent view Of Pixies Peak from
this camp, at distance of 40 miles
This mountain barrier presents itselI
to the mountain traveller on the
plains which sweep almost directly
10 its basis--an immense and com
parativcly smooth and grassy prairie,
in very strong contrast with the black
masses Of timber, and the glittering
snow above them. With occasional
exceptions, comparatively so very
small as not to require mention, these
prairies are everywhere covered with
acloso and vigorous growth Of a great
variety Of grasses, among which the
most abundant Is tho buffalo grass
The soil of all this country is excel
lent, admirably adapted to agriSul'
turaI purposes, and would support q
largo agricultural and pastoral popu.
lation. A glance at the map, along
our several lines Of travel, will show
that tho plain is watcred by many
streams"
We give the above extracts for tht
benefit of those of our readers whc
think that the reports Of tho recent
gold discoveries in the vicinity Of
Pixies Peak, are of q character Ia
warrant them in taking trip to thai
region. The reports Of good diggings
in thatlocality have occasiohod some.
thing Of stampede from Kanzos
Arkansas, Texas and the Indian Ter
aritory, and II Is probable that not q
long period will olapso, before that
section Of country will abound with
"a largo and industrious population.
We have been shown by gentle
man Of Lawrence, aome 6no speci.
mems of coarse placer gold said &c
have beon picked up by tho Indians
in tho vicinity Of Pixies Peak. The
California papers mention tho dis
covefy, Of new and extensive plocori
OH o stream making out of The cast
icrn slope Of the Sierra Nevada Noun
tainA. From the evidence before u.s.
thefo seems but little room loft for .
doubt 10 the existence Of the precious
metal, in considerable quantities, IN
tho region ofcountry above described.
Pixies Peak is about 400 miles near
a.. I..a ,.ant ~ Iatyraurn