Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-06-24
From the White Cloud (Kansas) Chief, June 9.
Horrible Tales of Suffering Plains-Three
Hundred EmiRrants Starved

Horrible Tales of Suffering on the Plains-Tbree
Hundred Emigrants Starved.
Two young men named Erastus B. Griffin and Pres
ton Gates, OF Williamsburg, Wayne county, Indiana
have arrived here direct from Denver City They went
out last October and left Denver on the 9Th of
"A gentleman IN this place was acquainted with them
and pronounces them to be perfectly reliable. They
prospected two months and made So 4O all told They
prospected up and down the Platte and on the head
waters of the Colorado.
They think there may be gold in the mountains
but there is no chance to get it. as there is deem snow
all the year round, with the exception of about two
months The best days digging they did paid them 81
No. ms was on another mans claim, who wanted to
sell it and come home. They asked to try it first when
they worked one day at washing dirt which the fellow
had thrown up. They worked with long tom and
slulc2 and washed out 81 06 They then worked four
days longer, digging up the dirt for themselves and in
the four days they took out fifteen cents After that
the pay was still smaller, when they gave it up They
are confident that the fellow had prepared his pile of
dirt as bait.
They report horrible suffering on the Smoky Hill
route which has been so bepued in some of the papers
When they left but ten persons had reached the mines
by that route who reported that three hundred had died
on the way One of the men reported that he had seen
SIX dead men lying within reach of each other and an
other said he had himself buried twelve men, These
men came struggling in one by one. One of them had
lived ten days the flesh of his dog. They reported
that some had lost their way Scouts were immediate
~ SEM out, ana some OF the lost ones found within
ten miles of camp so weak that they had to be fed with
spoons
In Denver City, several months since, lots were SELL
ing as high $3.50. When the young men left, dona-
ton shares containing eight lots, could be bought for
S.. Denver has several hundred small cabins many of
which have no rooms. They are occupied by any one
who chose to do so. The propretors have made poor
speculation as there is not money enough in the coun-
try to pay house rent Provisions very scarce and
bread was selling at fifteen cents per pound. The baker
was the only person who had any gold dust for those
who got any were compelled to buy bread with it. One
OF our informants gave the baker gun, which cost him
$26, for four pounds Of bread
These young men threw their tools into the Platte
and started home foot taking only two blankets with
them. For two Numbered miles they lived on pricky
pears and wild potatoes. They built but two fires from
Denver to Fort Kearney. Once they killed prairie
dog and roasted it. Another time they to where
man and his family were encamped and asked for
bread The at first refused it. but at length agreed
to let them have some for which he took their blankets
as pay They then had sleep the bare prairie and
the Cheyenne Indians taking their coats
! from them.
young man named VIM. III. Joslyn and another
person, from Monroe county, New York. have since ar
rived and report similar to the above, and much more
which would be interesting had room for it. They
spent great part of their time in the company of old
mountaneers who assured them that gold could not be
found there in paying quantities.