The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-30

The PIXIES PEAK SwNDLE.-It has been no
uncommon affair, ever sioce the discovery Of
gold in California, to have false stories set afoat
about gold fields here aud there and everywhere.
For q time these stories gaio credence, and hum
dreds and thousands Of people are attracted to
the new "El Dorado" only to find that they have
been made the victims Of gangs of spectators.
Last year Fraser river was the great point of
attraction to which focked diggers and traders
and spectators, not only from the East, but even
from California. So besetting was the Fraser
river fever for time that there were serious
apprehensions Of California becoming depopu
lated; and, as it was, claims in the mines became
almost upsaleable. But the fever soon subsidized.
The Fraser river stories were found to be grossly
exaggerated. Real estate in Victoria fell back
to the old point, and the California miners re-
turned to their old diggings, sadder and wiser
men.
4 This wear it has been Pixies Peak that doomed
up in the dazzled eyes of the gold huosers.
Fabulous stories of the richness of the gold
fields in Western Kansas were sedulously set on
foot, and irdustriously circulated through the
country. Cities were laid OUT, and town lots
were quoted ut absurdly large figures. Denver
City and Auraria sprang into existence, and mail
routes were established to these points. So in
tense was the excitement created by the circula-
ton of bogus reports that it was estimated there
we're 10 lees than.a hundred thousand people in
aid about and OIL the route to Pixies Peak. And
wat was the experience of the emigrants
H,w were their golden dreams realized? Sad,
inteed, was their experience. They found that
thes had been made the victims of most stu
.penaous swindle, perpetrated against the COM
munity by gangs OF Spectators. Gold, indeed,
there was there, but in such minute quantities
that the result ola days labor ranged from three
to fifteen cents, while the cost Of q days
living was three dollars As the real
character of the swindle forced itself on
the minds of the emigrants, they retraced
their steps, but still fresh bands kept pouring
across the plains, undeterred by the reports of
those who were travelling eastward.
The sufferipgs endured by these deluded peo-
ple have been horrible in the extreme. Many
have died from absolute starvation; and one in-
credibly shocking Incident is related, Of three
brothers two of whom were reduced to canni-
balism. That story, however, may probably be
classified 60 far as truth is concerned, with the
cold stories that led to all this. Still, there is
no doubt that there has been fearful amount
of human suffering undergone by the emigrants;
and they we're represented as being SO terribly
exasperated that apprehensions were entertained
lest trey should wreak their vengeance on the
people of the border towns of the Missouri, who
are supposed to have been chiefly instrumental
in circulating the gold stories. Our news col
umns contain copous details of this villainous
swindle. The worst of it is that the Pixies Peak
experience will not even act as warning to the
adventurous portion of our people, but that
sanil,r scenes will be repeated whenever an
otaergold hunting excitement is got up.