The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-28


is THERE ANY GOLD THEHE?-INTEREsrING LETTER
FROM CAPTAIN MARCY, OF THE ARMY.
The following extract from letter written by Captain
B. Marcy, o. A., to friend in this city, and which
we have been permitted to copy, gives some interesting
facts in reference to the Pixies Peak Cherry creek
gold fields, which perfectly reliable and WILL we doubt
not, be read with interest. It will be remembered that
Capt. H. was, in the spring Of 1858, encamped for o
month at Pixies Peak and several days at the mouth Of
Cherry creek-now Denver Cty-and during this time
he was constantly occupied in examining the country
that vicinity.
HARTFORD, Dec. 2, 1858
In answer TO your interrogatorie concern
ing the gold discoveries in Western Kansas upon which
subject there has recently been good deal of interest
manifested and very many conl.ctng statements put
forth through the medium Of the press, remark that
that there is no subject upon which are more
easily deuded than this The gold fever as you very
well know, generally makes its appearance n the form
an epidemic, which sezes upon all classes Of adven
turous and speculative ci:izens but RACES With greatest
violence among the progressive Inhabitants Of the from
tiers and indeed, it sometimes continues for long time
without shadow Of cause. For instance it is only few
years since that tremendous excitement was created
about the rich discoveries Of gold said to have made
in Western Texas, and much confidence had people in
the reality Of this hoax that several companies were
organized and at great expense and labor made long
expedition to the supposed Ell Dorado; but what was
their astonishmen and chagrn reaching the locality
to find that the rich auriferous deposits had either
vanished, or by some alembc process Of
been converted into mica and IRON pyrtes. You will per-
ceve therefore, that all unauthentcated upon
this subject should be received with great caution.
On the 9th day Of May last while marching from New
Mexico Utah struck head Of Cherry creek (where
ii s raid the gold s found) and followed to It's con
fuence with the South Platte. at this time 10
wagon road known the " Cherokee TRAIL" which had
hopp allrI
Arkansas route for California While we were pass
ing Gown the creek / was informed by an old noun
taneer that the emgrans had upon several occasions
found gold here and had made the experiment OF washing
it, but their success had not been such
TO remain ong-they preferred travelling 300 miles fur
ther and taking their chaucts In California.
While we were upon the creek, several Of my men
with mess pans washed out small quantity Of gold
dust, thereby establishing the fact Of its existence
that not sufficiently abundant to make the working
remaneratve Our experiments were, however confined
to one locality and it seems quite within the bounds
reasonable probability that gold may be found more
plentiful in other parts Of the stream
Cherry creek rises about thirty miles north of Pixies
Peak the summit Of the northern slope of the high
ridge dividing the waters Of the Arkansas from these Of
the South Platte and near where this ridge unes with
the Rocky Mountain chan in about latitude 80 degrees
north and longitude los degrees west
1t flows over sandy bed, in a course north ten do.
grees west nearly parallel with the mountains and about
eight miles distant from them at the point of junction with
the Platte, and is something like fifty miles in length
The country intervening between the base of h
III eeCIou uIu tLe DOruer SetLemenS OF
EisSouri, Kapsas AMI Nebraska, s with few exceptions
one vast expanse Of open grassy PRAIRIE which easily
be tTaveTsed with wagons in all directions and affords
great facilities for making roads along the water courses
There are Numerous spring branchee issuing from tho
eastern slopes OF the mountains In the vicinity OF Cherry
creek which flow to the east into the and Platte
All of these have timber upoa their banks with q rich
sliuyal soil, covered with coating OF nutritious
grasses, upon which animals subsis and remain in good
condition without other forage during the winter
regard mat parti ;ular section Of country which
braces the head branches Of the Arkansas and Plato
rivers near the eastern base Of the Rocky Mountains
ether have west Of the frontier settlements
The inhabitants Of New Mexico have for many years
been detrous Of settling here and have made several at
tempts but have invariably been driven away by the
Indians.
Tie foregoing items, which I have hastily thrown
together are the results Of my own observa
ton, and arc facts which you can rely upon
! wish you, however, to understand distinctly
that do Tot recommend you or any one else TO seek
fortune among the sands Of Cherry creek but you de-
Sire pleasant excursion upon the Plains, where
the atmosphere pure, saubrous AMI nvgorahng as
AIRY upon the face Of the carh you cannot do better than
to make trip to the gold diggipgs upon Cherry creek.
The Cherokee trail ArkaDsas or the Santa Fe
from Fort Lcayen worth via Bents Fort will conduct you
directly TO the Of Pixies Peak, where you drink
the most delightful mineral water from the foatane oui
biie and where your eyes will be RECALLED with The
MOS, magnificent and picur esque scenery that tho maei-
arc fond Of field sports here you will have TIA, 70 your
hearts content ss the country abounds In elk bears
mountain sSeep, deer, &c, &c. Frou thence the trail
will lead you 20 Cherry creek and you can return noms
By Fort LARAMIE or dogn the South Platte to Fort
X carney.