Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-06-23

II II IL
The following letter has been handed to
us by Mr.. JAMES ELLIOTT, of this place,
for publication:
AURORA, X. T.. May 18th, 1859.
Dear Father: | wrote to you from Den
yer City. May 9th. stating that when w.
prospected to our entire satisfaction wo'
give you the result On the 5th of May
we went up the Platte, above the Spanish
Diggings, near Montonia. Here we fell in
with Capt. Sopris, of Michigan City, who
was sent here by a company to prospect the
country. He has been here several months
and is we'll posted in regard to the digsings.
On the 9Th half our company, with Capt
Sopris. went up the mountains to prospect.
We camped at the foot of the mountain AMI
took a big hunt-killed some antelope and
a deer. Next day we started up the noun
tain at Boulder City-this town has 40
houses and is beautifully situated. We
were accompanied from Boulder City by
Alan Vinnedgc, son Of George Vinnelge.
of Marshall Co.. Ind. Mr.. vinnedge owns
a claim here at Deadwood Diggings, 80
miles above Boulder City. Here we pros
p"cted the creek mp and down for several
miles. but could no. make a show, only on
Mr.. VS. claim, which is on bar in the
creek. The gold is food gold, and is not
found in the banks OF the creek We were
at Lang'ies disyins. Jefferson City diggins,
&c.. but could not find any thing that
would pay. Jefferson city is large pine
tree we'll blazed on all sides, and is situa-
tel by beautiful lake on the mountain.
The snow in many places here is three
feet deep. and on the 18Th Of May it snow
ell FIVE inches deep at Dradwoo diggings
We crossed several ravines onthe Ice, and
the lake is nearly covered with livery
cold too AMI will not be warm enough to
work there before the middle. of June
We have not found nia here who has
ma lc dollar at any place IN all these dig
gings. We were in the mountain nine
days. Goll has been found near the top
Of Longs Peak, on top Of the ground. in
small quantities, We can get coloring
at almost any place we dig; but nothing
has yet been fonnd that will pay any man
for staying. Mr.. V. came down with us
to haul some things for Enoch, he having
concluded to stay all Summer and see the
last end ofthe great hrmbug. Mr.. V. gave
Enoct an interest in his claim. viii IA they
will work out as soon as the weather is
warm enough
"A man who has not heen in the mount
aims can have but little conception of the
appearance VIII ii it preSents,--the road in
many places ascending at half pitch over
rocks and logs. DC. DC. never saw any
place which looks SO wild.-rocks in ma
ny pies pccrins mp several hundred feet
so that one can scarcely see out. This
place is some-that's so. North Boulder
city is % miles from here; Rappaho 10
miles. both at the foot of the mountain.
Our Bh"ys that remained on the Platte
prospectei the same for many miles above
and below the camp; also Dry creek. Low
err Cherry creek. &c. and could get only a
coloriny--that's all. We spent to day in
selling and dividing our provisions. 1--WE
hal six months suppE.) We sold the
most Of it 10 Enoch. We think he will
have fine time of it for several months at
any rate. We viii leave here to -morrow.
May Is. cn-route for home via South
Platte to Plattsmouth.
Auraria and Denver cities are both on
the South side of the Platte, the former
above, the latter below the mouth of Cherry
Creek. about $50 miles from. Wyandotte
at the mouth of the Kansas. The two
cities contain about 500 houses, one fourth
of which are covered with sod and board
roofs, the others are only walls. mostly Of
hewed logs. They are on handsome loca-
tons for cities. but arc now almost depop-
ulated, because there is not trade enough
to keep them up. $500
From all that we can learn of the coun-
try, it does not rain here to amount to any
thing. consequently there can be no farm
ing to advantage.
There are hundreds of Indians of the
Rappahoe tribe campcd here; they are
peaceable. and come to hunt and beg.
The emigrants are returning in crowds.
with teams. on foot. and down the river on
boats. Many have suffered on the Smoky
Hill Route. some persisted. A man told
me that he had passed 5 dead men one
morning in two hours He saw man
who said that he had ate part ftwo OF
ofhis own brothers on that road J A num-
Der have been to our camp in furnishing
condition. They say they cannot get any
thing to do, nor any thing to eat. We
never sent man away from our camp
hungry. es,,
Many are here who cannot get away
having spent all their means to get here.
God shovcls are selling for % cents each,
picks and pans the same price.
There appears to be general stampede
for home. as almost all consider the war
at an end. The Battle of Cherry Creek.
fought with Picks, Shoyels and Pans, will
long be remembered by many poor fell
low. as it is certainly the greatest Aum6xg
battle which has ever been fought on the
American continent Yours, &C.. -
ALVIN g. ELLIOTT.