The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-09
THE TERRITORY OF ARIZONA.

lOlloWlng eXJracL from leJJer recently
handed us for perusal. It's statements are
reliable, af'ording interesting intelligence
of the new Territory:
Los Angeles, CAL, Feb'y 2, 1859.
CAPT. WHITE, DEAR SIR:-It may
amusc you to hear Of some Of my adven-
lures and perhaps interest YOU in reading
brief description of the almost unknown
Territory of Arizona.
/ left Grand Haven with no definite
destination in view. After wandering
around the country finally brought up"
at Kansas City, on the Missouri River.
This place was filled with adventures
men allured from the East and South by
the exaggerated stories published in the
journals Of the country. Among the
number was the notorious Col. Titus, Of
Nicaragua and Kansas celebrity, col
league of Gen. Walker, and the opponent
of Jim Lane, while in Kansas. He ep-
peared to be the master spirit and leader of
the adventures. He was organizing an
expedition to explore Arizona and pros
pect for gold-as there had been reports
circulated by one Lieut.. Mowrie, represent
ing that the soil was rich beyond measure,
and that gold was abundant. These re-
ports were copied by journals throughout
the country, which served 10 create quite
fever in the minds of many who were
anxious to better their desperate fortunes.
Col. Titus taking advantage of this stale
of things soon formed company. Twas
induced to join by the solicitations of the
Col. | was appointed second in COM
mand. Our expedition was fully equip
ped with everything requisite--arms,
mules, horses and wagons, DC. Our com
pany consisted of about thirty men. We
crossed the Indian Territory and struck
the Rio Grande at San Diego; from thence
we travelled south to Ell Paso, in Mexico.
Here we stopped for rest and supplies for
few days, then entered Arizona pass
ing through Messilla Valley. This strip
of land about twelve miles wide; the
land is very fine and most of il under cul-
tivation. Leaving this rich Valley we
meet nothing but sand; for three hun
dred miles the country presents wretch
ed appearance. The soil is Of tho poor
est quality until we reach the San Pedro
Valley, where there is strip of land
about two miles broad and one hundred
miles long. Here the soil is about equal
to that of the Messila Valley, but it is
not under cultivation neither is it settled.
Leaving this Valley, by the route taken
by Gen. Kearny, in 1s47, we travelled
about one hundred miles passing through
Tucson and reached the Pemo villages,
which are inhabited by branch of the
Appaches. They are half civilized and
are mostly engaged in agriculture. They
raise corn, barley and wheat, and seem to
be in a prosperous condition. This strip
of land is about eight miles square. We
left these villages and proceeded north TO
the Gila River, where our company divi-
ded, in parties of six or eight, to prospect
for gold. For two months we assiduous-
ly searched for the precious metal, but
met with Indifferent success. We follow
ed the Gila TO its confluence with the Rio
Colorado, distance Of over two hun
dred and fifty miles. We found some
gold, but not enough to pay for the trouble
and danger of looking for it. The coun-
try is infested with numerous parties Of
hostile Indians who were very trouble
some. We were attacked at different
times by them, and they stole several
mules from us which they killed and eat.
The country between the Pemo vii
lagos and the Rio Colorado is a barren des-
ert like country, with the exception of two
or three small ranches on the Gila and
the places l have named above. The