The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-06-07
NEWS FROM PlkE'S PEAK.
Horrible SNf6erinxs 0f ls Returning Em.
igF0ssass
GREAT WASTE OF LIFE AND PROP
ERIY,
N O G o L D!
From the Chicago Pr sss and Tribune |

Capt. N. Robbins aud Mr. W. j. Boyce, both
of ST. Joseph. Michigan, started with compa-
nv from s.: Joseph, Mich., Feb. l>t, 1888, tor
P,ke's Peak, and arrived at Denver C,ty, April
oath. Returned. arriving at St. Joseph, Mis- i
souii, May 25th, and at Chicago last evening. =
Their account Is as follows, as we took 1t from
their lips:
We were there three weeks in the mines,
and spent all the time prospecting. We had
two experienced Cahtornla miners with U.S.
There was a company OF US TO the number oil
nearly one hundred, aud we divided into small
parties, and started IN fierent directions. We
were over the plains wherever We could hear
| OF gold, up to the canons in the mountains
everywhere that there the slightest rumor
or hope OF finding gold. Ga the low grounds
and IN most OF the streams We could find the
"color." TIE word color is used by miners to
designate a barely perceptibe infusion OF gold
in the soil sand, but nothing that will pay
nor anything like il. In the mountains we sell
dom could raise the 'color' at all, and when
We did, il was in such small quantities that it
was utterly worthless. We first looked TO find
gold on Cherry Creek and the more noted mi
ning region. so much talk ed about before we
went ou;, but we found just nothing at aI;.-
People didn't pretend to mine there, or that
there was any thing more than the "co.ors in
places. We then went up on Clear Greek, IL
miles west of Denver City, to Arrapahoe, (pro-
nounced Rappaho.) At Denver CITY they had
told us we could get from IS to X25 day at
ArrapahOe, aud We found we could hardly get
from five 10 twenty five cts day. Indeed that's
TOO high a figure. The most gold We saw any
one man have was about dollar-that his whole
company bad dug. We saw a storekeeper who
had four or five dollars, and that was the most
gold we ever saw any man have in the gold re-
gions.
Mr.. Boyce-When we started back / had
about twenty five cents worth, and have about
l0 cents worth here yet, as the result of my
uip. (Mr. Boyce showed our reporter u few
grams oi fine scale gold, mixed with dirt, which
he carried in a quill There is what man
makes by gong to Pixies Peak. At Arrapahoe
our company divided to explore the noun
,ains in search of gold. We went in dlt-
ierent directions, following this Clear Creek
nearly to its source. Some Of us had our pro-
visions, &C., packed on mules, and some pacL ed
them on their backs.
Capt. Robbius.-And tell you that's no easy
work. We travelled for sixty miles, going a
" eek at time, over mountains AID streams and
cauons, but We could find gold worth any
thing at all. The weather WAS fine, and there
never was better time Tor prospecting. We
didn't get discouraged, but we're IN excellen,
spirits. and even now don'i ieel dissau fed
We have learned enough to repay us icr our
trouble ana disappointment.
Mr.. Boyce.-l calculate it's worth a thousand
do lars ~ me and it only cot me six hundred
| have this ten cents worth Of gold
Finding at last that there was no gold to
| he found any where, and nothing to De expect
| ed but distress If We STAYED longer, We turn.d d
| tor nome aud then We began 10 see people ~
| trouble. We took out six months provisions n
February, but we could not stand by a,d s-t
| men starving and it Was soon all gone and wt
paid out $72 IN cash besides TO gei u. back
We kept three or four men all the time wt
were there, aud that only the beginning.-
| We saw men in the mountains while W.. were
prospecting who hadn't an. thing but Venls 1
| TO eat sli winter. Tney were old miners ahc
we're waiting Tor the emigraio ion to bring iheu
| the means TO get away. Ou the way back W,
saw great deal Of suffering among the peopl.
| coming down the Smoky Hi, route. The,
would strike the head OF beaver Creek and lol
low It doAn to where II emptirs INTO the Platte
| There ~as 20U miles where there was no watei
| on this route, aud there Vas the most dreadiu
| suffering. We saw several such parties. w.
saw one party that bad been composed Of thr
| teen, who had been five days without water, ant
| ten OF the thirteen were lett dead on the route
| II was awful. The day before they met US the
| had actually killed aud eaten aud drank III,
blood Of a hound, belonging 10 oIe of them. I,
sustain life. Only three OF them were lett alive
aud oh! they looked borrld. emaciated and wori
out, and just ready to die. We were just sit
ting down TO eat our dinner when they came up
and they didn't wait for ceremony, but rushe.
up, ravenaus Tor victuas. One OF these we ha,
seen on our way out Al St. Joseph. aud the mex
thing We saw OF him he WAS coming down tha
creek looking so awful. We saw one youn,
lnan there lying alongside OF the road, unabL
to stir. who was just kept alive by the peopl
who came by, each giving him something to eat
| We made arrangements with four horse team
to fetch him through. to Fort Kearney. Whethe
be lived through We don't know.
| They are treating the emigrants very coldl,
At Fort Kesrney. We understood they ha.
helped some, but we had a man whom we hA,
assisted = great deal, and we told him to g,
th.re aud get help and when be got there th,
officers told him il be would go aud work il
the garden be might have bis food.
! Capt. Robbins.-Sir, have been al over tn