Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-05

LErThh thoh fth&e fEAK--so much hae
been written about Pixies Peak, aud about tho
prospects for gold there that Il Is dHBcu!tto know
whether 70 note the gold mines a humbuF or 70
sell cut and hurry on 10 the new III Dorado. We
give below letter written 10 the Milwaukee News
from Pixies Peak, by a well known citizen Of Wis.
eonsin who, the News says "has the greatest re-
gard for TRUTH We do not doubt the writer's
statements in the least They have an air Of gen.
uine trnth about them refreshing in this ago Of
humbOg, There is evidently gola there.
PIKE's PEAK, March l, 1889
NY DEAR BROTHER
promised TO write you good long letter as
soon as arrived here, and take my pen in hand
to lot you know that we are ali we'll and 10 hope
that these few lines will find yOu enjoying the
same blessing. You know wo left Horizon for
the land Of gold about the LIST Of February, and
we arrived here yesterday. My wife stood the
journey hrst rate but my Ave oldest boys we're
nearly tired out when they reached here. Jane,
the little sis, is happy as lark, and says, "liss
uncle George for me-" God bless her sweet
heart,
We had all the hardships in the world, before
we got here. We lost our horses at Dubuque-
they we're stolen from US. We got some oxen,
aud lost them one hundred milos from Omaha
We then tried wheelbarows, my vito and
wheeling by turns Ii the Indians stole our bar
rows. Then we walked till the Indians stole or
provisions, aod my family got sick, so had TO-
carry them all ON my back. Our money gave out
loug before, aud for two weeks we Travelled
through wilderness where the foot Of human be.
ing bad ever trOd, in this condition. seeing no lv-
ing being, and without money TO purchase even a
cracker at any OF the groceries along the line
We lived on roots till my childrtn all lCOk like pigs
from roofing so long, and Ihave carried my family
ON my,back that am so round shouldered that can
only sec the blue sky and the bright sun, by look
ing between my legs and up to Heavens panoply
that way. l lost two hundred pounds Of flesh
horse meat-when l started from Dubuque, or we
should have got along better
read in the Milwaukee News that Pixies Peak
was q humbug, but it amt, and tue News knOwsit
az well as do. We got here ia the morning, after
walking all night, aud though we are now twenty.
four hours In the country, are not we'll off, but we
have good prospect,
There is gold here--ots Of it. The gophers dig
il ont of the ground by the bushel, aud in the
moonlight the whole earth for miles around looks
like heaven with its myriad stars or like a pretty
girl with yellow freckes The wOodchucBs dig out
bushels and bushels Of il, and the snakes in this
country look like lgold ouos from crawling among
gold chunks, II is found in all sized pieces, from
the size Of hens egg up TO the bigaess OF q large
stone, and of tue finest quality. We have raked
together what lay loose on an acre Of ground, aud
have twenty-five piles about as big as large sized
hay stack. Last night two hundred Indians came
to rob US Of set OF silver spoons aud line comb
that my wife had to use ON the children, and we
barrcaded our house with rocks ol gold till they
could not gain admitauce, and were forced to beg
to make friends with us. The chief lay down his
weapons and came into our camp, when my wife
used the fine comb on his head I'll bis gratitude was
as lively his head was, aud he was ticked that
he offered to marry my wife, aud show me where
gold was in plenty. | loved my wife, you know
that, George, but thinking that might die before
got rich, and feeling that must make some pro-
perty to leave my children, | consented to the
match, and she has gone of with the Indian, who
is great chief, aud taken the fine comb with her
Come out with your wife, and bring fine comb
brother George
l am going 10 leave these diggings for o better
one. 1t is too much trouble to tug aud pry up the
great big chunks OF gold that weigh half ton or
SO, and are 80 thick You can not get them out
without danger OF breaking your legs and / am
going up TO ravine, where all have to do is to
go to the top of high mountain and roll it down
to the river.
The country here is fne, but the winds are aw.
full My boys got so lghi with eating roots, that
can only keep them by me, or together by ping
Jumps Of gold about as big as malleis on their
shirt tails, as the little innOcents sit down OH the
grass to play, Every thing is grown here. l can
raise twenty bushels Of wheat 10 the acre Oranges,
lemons and all such colored fruits grow wild here.
While melons, pears, apples; peaches, apple
dumplings, are so plenty that they find no mar.
ket
Sell of what stuff you have in Wisconsin, and
come out here You can get rich in little while,
add go back in such style that it will astonish the
natives.
Give my love to all the folks around the corners,
and pet notice on the school house, that they can
! get an outfit in Chicago for $780, Come out here
dear brother by all means.
Yours, afeotionately,
| JOHN SMITH