Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-07-13
41iIp anign & ansritan

From the St. Joseph CAfOl Wess, July ;.

oEy's@@1reat E1re ana loss OK hsAass
Prom the St. Joseph CAfol West, July ;.
We had the plessureof visit on yesterday, from
Mr.. Harry Mccoy, Who left Denver City June 24th.
Mr.. Mccoy Is well knean to many persons in this
community SIS & gentleman in every way reliable
His statements, 80 far as his knowledge extended,
are true beycnd doubt, and from his well known
intelligence and energy, we have no question but
that he learned all that could be known about the
mines up to the zine he left.
Mr.. Mccoy LEFT St. Joseph on the 10Th Of February
last. Hewent to themines with the full determins-
ton to find cut all about hem before his return ana
he has prosecuted his inquiries steadily with that
view, during his four mouths stay there. His re.
port not so favorable that have lately been
received He left because he couldn't make money
enough to induce him 10 stay says that there are
only eight ten claims that pay for working at all
that these are in the Gregory diggings that all the
reports about the richness OF other mines are ebs0
lutely false, and that these eight ten leads OF
claims pay an average, about $50 per day to the
man.
MIR. Mccoy thinks that there we're, when he left.
as many as twenty-five or thirty thousand people in
and about the mines, most Of whom were not, OF
course, making anything. The whole face cf the
country had been torn up by prospecting parties,
most Of whom had become discouraged and Quit
Ali the diggings except Gregorys ., viz: Jefferson
Jackson, Boulder, South Platte, Cherry Creek, &C.,
had been deserted, and the miners were leaving in
great numbefs. Notices. than 2, 500 or 1000 wsgons
Mr.. Mccoy thinks, are the road home al this
tims-Incst Of them making for St. Joseph VERY
many however, have gone in other directions, some
to Califoruia and Oregon, end not few to Sonora
though these last will hardly be able to pass the
several tribes Of savage Indians-such IS The Apa-
cheese and MohRves-Tho are showing disposition
to be very troublesome. Many Of those who remain
ed ct the mines we're working for what they could
get-generaly for their board-tWo meals day.
In regard TO the character of the leads which have
been found to pay, Mr.. Mccoy says that they are
quartz leads, running southeast and northwest and
have been traced as far nine miles. They can be
traced by blossom Of g chocolate color and in the
form Of boulders. The gold is formed Immediately
on the esd-outside Of the LEAD it is impossible to
ind even the celOr Of gold The dirt and quartz is
the color Of yellow clay, and when ii has been found
to pay, psys handsomely; but as a general thing
few are successful-not more than one out of five
hundred. There Is great scarcity of water which
makes mining very difficult and expensive
great FIRE occurred, on the montains a short
time before AT. Mccoy left Il started amongst the
dry pines scattered oser lhs eOunry. and spread IN
every direction. T~eny persons, it was said, had
been burned up. The fire was still raging.
Mr.. Mccoy thinks that the mines that have been
found 70 pay, will support a settlement of about
6,OOO peTsons-not more--and advises every body to
stay at home