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

fires bave rsvaged and deciuated them
still pines on the submits, pines on th'
hillsidcs, pines even in the raVines, are
all but universal. The Balsam Fir grow'
sparingly in the rayines; Hemlock, also
is reported, though | have not seen it
but the Quaking Asp or Aspen-whicl
seems but more delicate species of Cot
ton ood--iS thick set in the raviOes, and
sometimes appears on the more moderate
activities, as DO gooseberry bushes in the
ravines. Brooks of the purest water mur
mur and sing in every raSine; springs a
bound; the air is singularly pure and bra
cling; the Elk, black-tailed Deer and
Mountain Sheep are plentiful, except
where disturbed by the thrush of emigra-
ton; Grouse are common and bold: the
solitude was sylvan and perfect until a
weeks ago. All is now being rapid :
changed, and not entirely for the better
We had smart shower, with thunder
andlightDiug, during the afternoon, which
compelled US to halt a few minutes. An
other such this afternoon indicates that il
is a habit of the country. am told
however, that, though thunder is com.
mon, rain is generally withheld this seas
on, or confined to mere sprinkle.
Night fell upon US. while yet six or sew
miles from the diggiugs, and we camped
in the edge of the pines on the brow of q
gentle activity, with prospect of grass
as well as water for our weary, hungry
beasts down the slope south of US. Mine
had fallen to his kness io the last water
cOuse We had passed. very nearly throw
ing me over her head; had she done it |
an sure | had not the strength left to
rise and remount, and hardly TO walk the
rem aing half mile. As it was, had to
be lifted tenderly from my saddle, and
laid on a blanket, with two more above
NE, where | lay while the fire was built,
supper prepared. and lodge of dry pole,
and green pine boughs hastily PIT up. |
was too tired to cat, but the bright, leap
ing fame from the dry pines bcaped on
our FIRE gradually overcame the shivering
which was about the only sign of vitality
| showed when frst laid down, and l ct
length resumed the perpendicular by an
effort, and took my place in our booth,
where sleep but ftfully visited me during
that bright ,hort SUNNI night. But
this left me more time to rub my chafed
and stiffeDed limbs, SO that, when break.
fast was called IN the morning, I was
ready, appetite included, and prepared to
dispel the apprehensloBs of those who had
predicted, on seeing nc taken of my
B ule, that must be left there for at least
a day. By 6 o'clock, we were again in
the saddle, and pushing op, over a stony
but rather level table land, which extend
ded for two or three miles, thickly cover
cred with young Pines and Aspens. to
our next ravine. whence the road leads up
short, steep hill, then down very long,
equally steep one. to Clear eek-being
as rapid aud rock-bottomeG as where We
crossed it the day before thirty mile be-
low, but With only one third the volume
of water, SO that We crossed it easily With
out a wet foot. A little runnel coming
in from the west directly at the ford, with
its natural translucency changed to milk ?
wbteness hy the running of It's waters
through sluces in which the process o!
gold washing was going forward, gave us
assurance that we were in immediate prox.
unity to the new but already famous
workings called after their discoverer,
"Gregory's jiggings.'
| shall not here -peak Of their pecuDi-
ary success or promise, though | have Wis
ited during the day, majority of those
which haze sluices already in operation
and received reports from my feIlow-vis
itors from nearly all the others. Having
united with them in a statement-to be
herewith forwarded of what We saw and
learned, | refer those who feel any inter
est 10 the u after. to that statement. What
| propose here to do is to give the reader
soue idea of the place and its general as
poets.
The little brook which bere joins Clear
Greek from the west starts at the foot OF
mountains three or four miles distant, and
runs in usually narrow ravine between
generally steep hills from 500 to 500
feet high. 1t is hardly worth name,
but that of "Rolstou's Fork" has been
bestowed on it. Glegory's lead i.
very near its mouth; half mile above
seems the heart of the present mining re-
gion, though there arc already sluces in
operation at intervals for at least two
miles up the fork, and others are soon tc
be started at intervals abose them
Three or four miles south west frou the
mouth, are Russell's diggngs, where
coarse gold is procured, but | was unable
to visit them. Prospecting is actively 60
ing forward in every direction, and vague
reports of lucky hits or brilliant prospect:
are started oa this side or on that, bu
| have not been able to verify them L
is 20 disparagement to the others to say
that though mining is carried on at va
rious points within radius of thirty miles
from this spot, "Gregory's diggiugs" arc
to day the chief hope of gold mining il
the Rocky Mountains.
Six weeks ago, this raviDe was soil
tude, the fayorite haunt of the Elk, the
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