The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-01-01
II The Gold Regions.
KANSAS CRY, Nov. IA, 1858.

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KANSAS CRY, Nov. IA, 1858.
Col. JAS. IsBELL-MY DEAR SIR At
the time of my location on this border,
81 years since, was conn ected with In
dian affairs, and was led to form an init
mate acquaintance with many of the old
Indian traders, hunters and trappers.-
From these men it was my practice to
obtain all possible information concerning
the physical geography of the great moun-
tain chain from which descend our noble
rivers. Among these old friends, now
passed away, Cohon, Delaware hunter,
who annually wintered in the mountains,
was in the habit of calling on me and
relating many of his romantic adventures.
He spoke English well, and stood high in
the estimation of all as brave and hon.
orable red man. About 20 years since,
and previous to the discovery of gold in
California, being at my house, Cohon re-
lated to me his discovery of gold on a
tributary of the South Platte. At the
time, having no apprehension of the ex-
istence of gold in those regions, | contro-
verted the idea of gold in that section of
the country, which led my old friend to
the manifestation of much warmth of feel
ing in support of his opinion. He stated
that along small tributary of the South
Platte he had his traps set, and that in
following the margin of the stream, he
discovered that the mud had the effect,
from its gravity, to cause his moccasins to
swag off his feet; that this became so an
noying that he determined to ascertain
the cause, and upon rubbing the mud
between his thumb and fingers, he found
it to be full of small particles of gold
He stated further that he found the gold
In the sand at various other places.
About the same time, and before any
report of gold in California had reached
this country, trapper exhibited to us
about one-quaIter of an ounce of gold,
with adherent fragments of quartz rock,
which he asserted he had procured on the
south fork of the Platte. This gold /
examined carefully and know it to have
been gold of good quality, and that it
indicated Enthusiastically the existence of a
large deposit of this metal. Besides these
evidences of gold in the Platte region, !
could relate many mere of the same i'm
port from the men of that day; but as you
and many friends only desire my "candid
opinion" suffice it to say that have not
doubt of the existence of vast deposits
of not only gold, but silver and copper
within those mountain ranges out of which
flow the Platte and Arkansas rivers
Such was my confidence in the knowledge
and veracity of my old friend, Cohon
that had not doubt of the finding Of
gold in that region from that day until the
present time.
In addition to this, to my mind, posi-
tive evidence of the existence Of gold
through all the mountain gorges of the
rivers named, we must take into account
the long known and acknowledged ex.
istence of gold near Santa Fe, in the sam,
region of mountains, perforated by thu
Arkansas and Platte rivers. The golC
mines near Santa Fe are only valueles
because of the scarcity of water, which il
very abundant further north, and at tn,
new mines, one hundred and twenty mile
from Taos.
With many Of the persons recent!
returned from the Platte river mines an
personally acquainted, and have examines
the specimens they have brought in, AM
am fully satisfied Of the truth of thei
reports. Indeed, under all the circum
stances of the case, it would be as pnrea
sonable to dispute the existence of gol,
upon the Platte as to doubt that of Pike
Peak itself.
| Hitherto / have not said word to en-
courage parties in going out in search Q
gold, but have discouraged every on
from going this fall, deeming il too late /
the season, and believing that the discov
cry of the locale of the gold bearin
quartz must be a. work of toilsome an
dilligent search.
Some facts connected with the sul
region l can scarcely forbeaf 10 mentor
The Rocky Mountains, so called, beginnin
about the 28th parallel of latitude, swee
away enthusiastically to the head of th
Arkansas, thence north westwardly alon
the Wind Mountain range, far to th
north. This long range of mountain
| SohSie w DSlOlO tuC ddNCicL cNclJ WucL
as he moves to the west, like a huge BATH
ment frowning across his way; yet
ascending the Platte or the Arkansas froi
the east, or the Colorady from the ives
the traveller finds himself passing over Il
summit and surrounded by great clumps
mountains towering above the Clouds
Longs Peak, Pixies Peak, the SPANS
Peaks, 1900 feet in heigth, like hoode
monks. sonw-clad, point to these passe
These vast upheayals, rent, torn and fire.
ted as no pen can portray, for ages SUI
jected to the action Of the elements, e,
pose but partially those deposits of Il
precious metals whose abundance Is v
to surpass any previous discovery in Il
world. It is here that nature has forme
mountains on themostwild and magnifcel
scale, whence spring rivers, bisecting
continent which, as mineral region, bo
geology and discovery mark Is the richie
and grandest section Of the earth.
I Another peculiarly Of this region
4 that the vast basis occupying the ar
between the Sierra Nevada and the Roci
Mountsin range interlocating with Il
valleys rolling down the gorges Of q
Platte, narrowing up this mountsin rang
land literally parting those eternal haiti