The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1859-05-26
From the Davenport Nsws.
Late News ffen Rike's Peak.

basc news Iro0 klkeS HOoAs
STATEMENT o. ONE VINO HAS BEES 1nsaE--
We had the pleasure Of csll yssssr-
day afternoon from gentleman, intro.
duced to us by responsible citissn q
this town, who furnished 10 with the 5ol.
lowing article relative 70 his expssisass
in trip to the Gold Regioaa:- 80
A TRIP TO PIXIES PEAK.
As there are many rumors adoat con.
corning the route, treatment and pres
poets Of the emigrants now journsying
towards the above locality, I drop you
few lines containing my own experience
as one of those who has not only heard
Of, but seen the elephant-hoping il will
prove the means, not Of dis,ouraging,
but Of causing the people TO think It
That journey they are undertaking,
and Of the actual expense, provisions and
exposure they must prepare to encoun-
ter in this toilsome march.
l left Detroit January 18th, and n.
rived at Leavenworth City on the 22d,
and having secured . conveyance for
S75, started for the new found Ophir.-
Found myself on the border Of the gold
plain in twenty-six days, and stopping
for the sum Of sl8 per week (pre- -paid,)
commenced ramble over the adjoining
country. Pixies Peak, as it is called, is
not only the mountain itself, but re-
gion Of plain over which the gold il re-
ported, extending sixty miles North and
South, and about five miles broad. There
certainly is gold in the mountain, but it
is in quartz " rock which it is necessa-
ry to crush. Several miners we're work
ing with sledge hammers and melted in
iron bullet ladies, and making from two
to three dollars day, which scarcely
paid their board. Considerable snow
and cold weather prevented them from
working in Cherry Greek, and they told
me they intended to leave - soon - the
weather permitted. I remained two
weeks, and not having the means to meet
the expenses Of waiting till warm wealth
er, concluded to return.
It is necessary to take crushing ma
chimes as we'll as provisions or the par
ties will surely sufsr. The suffering on
the plains is immense. Six hundred
persons are at Fl. Riley without cent,
unable to go on or return, and nota days
rations Of provisions. The officers and
soldiers at the Fort we're allowing them
ten ounces Of bread cut Of their own
rations-barely sufficient to retain life.
Hundreds Of teams, with men, women
and children, are still pressing forward
with few months provisions and Ger.
tainty that there is none ahead and 10
prospect Of making crop. One CON-
pany Of about dozen men had twenty
pounds Of crackers per head, no more,
and VIXEN asked what they intended to
do seriously replied that they intended 70
shoot buffalo and other game to subsist
on, not rejecting that the immense emf
grafton will either kill oil the game or
frighten it southward. There will b
hut little if any provisions q the noun
tain, and Is snow sets in early 10 Sep
tember there will be no opportunity Of
making ; crop. The cattle and horses
will perish Of starvation unless the en-
igrant goes Immediately southward, fol.
lowing the grass or frost-this will lsssd
supplies. So destitute are the people
going that the Government officers are
taking measures to stop his wholesale
suicide, and persons can be assured that
they will not be permitted 70 cross The
ferries Of the Missouri, or Platte rivers,
without ample means to sustain them.
At each Of these ferries is u. !, a.
Ger, Who will examine your wagon losd
and if there is not eight months previs-
ions for each person you will not bs per-
mitted to CROSS. Two hundred wagons
were turned back in single day q
Council Bluffs, the Govsrnnsat o1ees
threatening to seize the fsrry i they =.
tempted to pass On. So s. provi1sd
with everything necessary 1or nlsisg =
vol . living il the nisss, 1br = 10 ~.
turning With your tsan yeu ssssot-is