Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-26
The WheeIbarrow Man to Pixies Peak-Im
mense Gold Discoveries. 81
ClTY OF ALAHUs, on Cherry Greek,
Z sHA i4l o. January 10, 1881 .

| DRARSIR LAS much as has been said OF the IN
exhaustible and transcendent wealth OF. tn
Pixies Peak and Cherry Greek gold region, na(
as many doubts as have been cast upon the mea
gre stories of the immense gold deposits here BY
old fogy newspapers in the States, and by in
Icredulous mountain men who obstinately shu
their eyes to the truth, "all the world and the
rest of mankind" must now be convinced that
the thousandth part has not been told, and that
this is the most peerless spot upon the face o.
the wide earth. q efrn 1855 ~. t.i4 +
will not pause to speak of the gold diggingf
or the Peak where nuggets as big as the largest
sized hen egg may be found for the picking up
and where the earth wherever it is upturned
reveals millions of shining particles. | have
no time to dwell upon the scene that presents
itself of a clear morning on the level plain to
the Eastward of Cherry Greek, where the pros
pectors have for the past week been much en-
gagged, and which glitters in the mo rning sun
as you stand on the heights above, like sea Of
molten gold. Here according to an assay made
but yesterday by our spirited, talented and pop.
ular fellow citizen, Mr.. Won Phul who from
many years connection with the mint in one OF
our largest cities, is in emineDtly qualified to
give correct opinion, the soil contains 50 per
cent of fine floss gold.
But it is not of such trifes as these / would
speak. Wonderful as they may appear to our
friends in the less favored parts of the world to
US here in this land of gold they have ceased to
be wonderful and are only regarded as the most
matter of fact commonplace. Our city, how
ever, has to daysbeen placed on the qut oace a
marvel has come to fight, which even to Us
dwellers in the golden land is o marvel, Every
bcdy is completely wild about it, it is so strange
so marvelously, wonderfully strange, that men
can scarcely credit their own senses; and yet it
is every word oft true-just as some OF the
gold stories published in some of the papers in
Kansas and Missouri. The waters of Cherry
Greek convert every thing of metallic nature
submerged in them for the space Of twenty four
hours into the finest gold.
The discovery which makes the adventures
of Sinbad, so long regarded as impossible exag.
gerations, cease to be regarded, came about
quite accidentally. Yesterday afternoon, about
s o'clock, finding that the tire ofmy wheelbarrow
that wheelbarrow which has so long been my
faithful companion-had become little loosened
I left the vehicle over night in the creek to
tighten. This morning when took it out ol
the water Judge of my surprise, and my amaze
ment to find the tire and every nail and bit oil
iron connected with it converted into "A carrat
gold. A thorough test has been made, and there
is no doubt about the genuineness of the metal
The report of course spread like wildfire; and
really begin to apprehend some inconvenience
from its effects. Every gun and pistol, every
stew kettle and pot in Allahum-the name O
our projected great city, have been placed il
the water; and the watchful owners are now
~ ado than
as you have sometimes seen frog watching
fly. There is one blacksmith here; even ht
has taken the implements of his craft and sub
merged them also. How gold kitchen utensils
gold anvil, and gold guns, pistols and knives
will answer the wants OF modern clvllzatlon,
may, perhaps, hereafter write you.
This is certainly one of the most extraordinary
scientific discoveries of this or any other age.
can now account for many things did nos Gn-
derstand until to day. | have observed tina
every one who remained here sny length of tim
began to assume yellowish or saffron tint. z
few days ago the body of an Indian was ex'
humed at the base of the mountain, which wa
found to have become petri6ed, SO to speak, t
solid gold. 1t now surmounts the corner ston
of our projected city as statue.
have much more to tell you about this coun
try, and especially would I like to desoant upo
the magnificent future ofAllahum, in which, b
the way, have several lots; but as | have o
old brass candlestick and tin horn in the creek
l must 90 and see how they are coming on ii
the metamorphoss. By the first opportunity
will send you the latter through which to blo'
the praises of Pixies Peak. Tell everybody t
come out and bring with them all the old iro
they can find. Yours truly.
The WHEELBARRow MAN.