The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-08-11

proposed new Rocky Mountain State.
Temperance, Gambling, &C.. &c., were
discussed with force and freedom. Such
gathering, of men uddenly drawn htb-
er from every section and nearly every
State, in glen where the first ak was
raised, the frs tent pitched by white men,
less than six weeks ago, should have in
spired the dullest speaker with earnest.
ness if not with eloquence.
Mining quiCkens almost every depart
ment of useful industry. Two coal pits
are burning close at band. A black.
smith has set up his forge here, and is
making good thing of sharpening picks
at 30 cents each. A volunteer post-ofice
is just established, to which au Express
Office will soon attach itself. A Provi-
sion Store will soon follow; then Groce-
ries; then Dry Goods; then Hotel; &c.,
uutil, within ten years, the tourist, of the
Continent will be whirled up to these
diggiDgs over longer but far easier road
winding around the mountain-tops rather
than passing over them, and will sip his
chocolate and read bis New York pa
per-not yet five days old-at the "Greg-
ory "House," in utter Inconsistencies
that this region was wrested from the
Elk and the Mountain Sheep so recently
as 1859.
Denver June 10, 1859.
We left the diggings yesterday morn
ing, and came down to the foot of the
N mountain, in spite of drizzliug rain
from noon to 3 or o'clock, which at one
time threatened heavy shower. We
made poor shelter of buffalo skin and
a rubber blanket, stretched across fall
len tree, and their waited half an hour,
bat, finding the rain neither stopped nor
grew violent, we saddled up and came on.
Two accidents which might have proved
serious happened to members of our par
ty-the first to Mr.. Willard of Cincinu natl,
who, riding at some distance from all
others, was thrown by bis mules saddle
slipping forward and turning under him,
SO that be fell heavily on his left arm,
which was badly bruised, and thence
dragged rod with his heel fast in the
stirrup. His mule then stopped; but when
l rode up behind him, l dared not sp-
proach him lest | should start her, and
waited moment for the friend who, hav-
ing heard his call for help, was coming
up in front Mr.. V. was released with
OF, further injury, but his arm is tem-
porarily useless. The other casualty
happened to Mr.. Kersbaw Of New.York,
who, riding to my assistance at Clear
Creek Crossing at uightfall, was thrown
by bis mules starting at the rush of
savage dog, and considerably Injured.
though be is nearly we'll to-day. 1t would
have been to me source of lasting sor-
row had his fall resulted in more serious
damage.
When we reached Clear Greek on our
way up three mornings since, though the
current rushing from the mountains look
ed somewhat formidable, l charged it
like Zouave, and was greeted with
three ringing shouts from the assembled
Pixies Peakers, as l came up, gay and
dripping, on the north shore. But now,
though the water was but few inches
higher, the starch was SO completely ta-
ken out of me by those three days rough
experience in the mountains, that | had
neither strength nor heart for the pas
sage. | felt that the leas. stumble of my
mule over the round, slippery stones that
Gil the channel would fling me, and that
| was unable to stand moment in that
rushing torrent. So, driving in my mule
after the rest of the party, and seeing
her reach the south bank safely though
with great difficulty breaking girth and
spilliDg saddle, blanket, &C., into the wa
teri betook myself to spot, half
mile up stream, where the creek is split
by islets into three channels, and where
rude fOot-tridgc of logs affords dry
shod passage. Here was met BY my
friend with his mule, and in few min
utes rode to our wagon, beside which We
found supper in an emigrant tent and
lodging in several, and at o'clock this
morning harnessed up and drove into
Denver-just three whole men out of
party OF six, and all as weary and care
worm as need be, but all heartily graft.
fed with our experience OF three days in
the Rocky Mountains.
HORACE GREELEY.