The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-07-30
Letter from the Gold Mines.

arrival in this city, after tedious journey
of sixty-five days from the city of Quindaro
on the Missouri river.
In entering upon the journey, it being
rather early in the season, made choice of
the Santa Fe or southern route, believing it
would afford better grass for my cattle than
any of the other routes which were much
talked of at the time.
From the time started until my arrival
at the Little Arkansas river, experienced
much rough and disagreeable weather; where
the rain and hail caused the road to be quite
difficult to travel on account of the numer-
Gus sloughs, which cross the road at short
intervals, and the continual ascending coun-
try. But from that point, throughout the
journey, l found the road remarkably hard
and level; and from the Big Bend Of the
Arkansas, seldom experienced any stormy
weather
From the crossing of Cow creek-near
the Little Arkansas--until my arrival ut the
Big Bend OF the Great Arkansas river, herds
OF buffalo met my eye in every direction,
as they were migrating to their more north
ernly quarters for grazing; among these
had much sport; selecting, as often as de-
sired, fat and tender two year old, to
pamper the appetite little, which had long
been appeased with nothing of the animal
kind, except smoked sides and hams; some
ofthis meat we dried, andpassedon upon our
journey, leaving countless thousands run
ming in every direction as far as the eye was
discernable.
During the early part of the journey, the
imprudence Of Adventures who had let
their zeal for obtaining gold run away with
good judgment, was lastingly impressed up
on my mind, in consequence of the nu-
merous carcasses Of cattle, which had died
from starvation, beingpresented to my view;
together with the frequent graves of individ-
uals, which were signalized by stake or
stone, at intervals all along upon the route.
To my great surprise, as advanced upon
the journey, | met thousands upon, their way
back to the States, quite discouraged and
downcast in consequence of the dolefnl ae-
counts which they had received from one or
two, who reported themselves as having
been through 60 this point without Witness
ing prospects of obtaining any such golden
l.. L..
to the world. Such II report, being credited
by many, produced n general stampede for
the States, when scene Was presented such
as would be difficult to describe. The road
was literally crowded with returning dis
appointed adventures, whose tongues We're
busily engaged in pronouncing the whole
excitement, regarding the gold existing
there, as a humbug. Fearful anathemas
were, therefore, hurled with feelings of the
bitterest enmity, at those who published and
gave circulation to reports SO damnably
false, as they termed them. But notwith-
standing the general credit with which
these discouraging reports were received, |
continued upon the journey and arrived here
upon the 18th of June, having travelled the
distance of nine hundred miles.
Upon entering this city, was somewhat
surprised at the number of log cabins and
lumber buildings which were being, and had
been erected. There was more, however,
remaining unfinished, than there were finish
ed in the town; for the reason it was said
that many of the owners had gone to the
mountains in search for gold. The city OF
ALraria upon the opposite side of Cherry
creek, from appearances, contains quite
as many building as this city; and, conse-
quently from their proximity to each other
must eventually become one city.
The names of Platte river and Cherry
creek, which from the exaggerated reports
last winter and spring offered the induce
ment for emigrating to this place, arc now
regarded as but little account for mining
Us the discovery of gold in the mountains
has opened an entire new field for the gold
adventures.
II was discovered some time in May,
about forty miles from this city, at a time
when thousands were giving up, having be-
come discouraged with the prospects which
Cherry creek and Platte river presented fol
the remuneration of labor in gold seeking
Since the gold was first discovered in the
mountains, there has been several discoveries
made in different directions and the dig
gings may now be known by the following
localities, viz: Gregory's, Russeps, Jack
sons, and the " Spanish diggings." Besides
these, another locality has been very recent.
ly discovered, known as Missouri Gulch.'
These localities are within circumference,
of thirty miles, and distant from each Other
from ten to twenty miles. There are en-
gagged in the mountains at this time, from
seven to ten thousand men, many of whom
are permanently engaged in mining, OF
prospecting for place to work; while som,
are vending merchandise, and a large mum
Der, discouraged with the success which ha
attended their efforts at mining, have gon,