Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-05-27
More about the Gold Mines.

we have received from Mi. McAllrry, OF
this city, copy of the Leavenworth Ledger
Of the 2lst inst, which contains, in all prob
ability, the latest news from Pixies Peak.
1t announces, with flourish, that Jones
& Russelrs Express and Passenger Coaches
arrived at Leavenworth from Denver City,
on the Goth, making the entire distance in
ten days, including stoppages. The Ledger
states that the Express brought through three
passengers and three thousand five hundred
dollars worth of dust and shot gold. a let
ter from John S. Jones, one of the propric-
tors of the express, dated Denver City, May
Sth, contains an account of the privations
tand suiierings of some of the cmigrants,
which is horrible, if true. We quote por-
ton Of it:
At station twenty-five, the Indians brought
us a man by the name of Blue, from White
side county, Illinois, who started from Leav-
enworth early in probably abou,
the middle of the month-in company with
two brothers and several others, taking the
Smoky Hill route. Their provisions soon
gave out the company separatcd-one of the
brothers died; the two survivors lived upon
his body for some time. The other brother
finally died, and the remaining one was com
PEELED to eat him also, until the Indians found
him and kindly took him to their lodges and
gave him food. When he came to us he was
but shadow. We found the remains of the
last one he had eaten, and buried them. The
bones were gnawcd perfectly clean, and the
brains were taken from the skull
| | have seen man named Thomson, who
came the same route, and who lived twelve
days upon prickly pears and wild onions
He, too, is a mere walking skeleton. There
are others here, too, whe, for three weeks
had nothing to sustain them but one hawk
and the remnants of dead OK, whose bones
the wolves had almost entirely cleaned.
\ lady and gentleman from Leavenworth
City informed us that on the same road il
one camp, there were five human beings w.
ing dead, wrapped in their blankets. This
is indeed, horrible, but not in the slightes
degree exaggerated.
There are many other cases equally as
heart-rendng. Those who took the Platte
have been more fortunate, generally getting
in looking well, excepting the wear and tear
of the trip, which was, in most cases, Very
! long.
| 1t is true that there has been large emf
grafton here within the last month; and also
true that nearly all have gone back to the
States. THEIR REPORTS CANNOT BE RELIED O,
FROM THIS FACT, if no other-a large majority
Of the emigrants who lacked energy and in.
dustry, with no means-almost starving
finding no provisions in the country, (the
Mexican supplies not having yet arrived, J
seeing no gold lying upon the ground dis.
covering Cherry Creek to possess properties
similar to other waters, and not one bit vel
low-wanting the "vim" to prospect ard
prosecute what they had undertaken to do -
became dissatisfied, discouraged, furious and
raving mad-took down the Platte-somc in
boats, some on foot, and some with their
teams turning back all who We're on their
way here that would listen to them.
That there is gold here, the dust which
send with this letter is sufficient evidence
AS to the quantity, no man can form an idea
| have had but little time to investigate the
matter, but | have endeavored to improve
that little, knowing your extreme anxiety to
be informed reliably in reference to this
country. | have had conversations with
good many persons, and have met some who
say there is no gold here. Others say all that
is necessary to develop the country and open
out and lay bare the rich treasures of the
Platte, Cherry Creek, Plumb Creek, and the
rich gulches of the mountains, is for men of
untiring energy and perseverance, with means
sufficient to keep them until they can open
claim, to come here and 60 to work and
work faithfully.
One of the passengers in the stage went
up the Platte six miles, washed out two
pans Of dirt and got 25 cents, and I saao the
money! He is an old California miner, and
says he is perfectly satisfied.