The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1859-01-01

grain and gold to those nations.
Very respectfully yours.
j. LYKINS.
From tie 81. Louis Republican. Noe. a..
Plies Peak Gold Mines.
Messrs. A. French, Joseph Bradt, VIM
Hartley, t. G. Dickerson and VIM. Smith,
arrived in this city yesterday, directly
from Pixies Peak gold diggings. They
left the mines on the first day of October,
in company of fourteen persons, nine of
whom remained at Lawrence, X. T. They
are portion of a company of forty mine
men, which was organized under the
auspices of the citizens of Lawrence, for
the purpose of prospecting in the Pixies
Peak region, information of the discovery
of gold in that section having been brought
into the town by party of friendly Indi-
ans. The company left Lawrence in May
last. On arriving at Pixies Peak, and
finding no gold, they encamped and sent
out prospecting parties in various direc-
tons, one of which met Doch's party on
Cherry Creek, returning from the South
Platte, on that stream. They reported
that but So or So per day could be made
by each man. Both parties returned to
the Peak disappointed.
The day after their arrival Mexican
came into camp, and on his representa-
ton that large quantities of gold were to
be found on the head waters of the Col
orado, imbedded in quartz, party of
about twenty-seven were dispatched under
his guidance in search of the diggipgs, but
after nine days of weary and unsuccessful
exploration, the guide becoming bewil-
dered, they lost their reckoning and came
struggling into camp one by one
Fortunately all arrived safely. An
other party, which had been dispatched
southwark, went as far in that direction as
fort Massachusetts,, or, as it has been
recently named Fort Garland, thirteen
miles east of which they reported having
discovered gold in acknowledgements.
They also found that ore on the head
waters of the Arkansas river. The two
companies prospected on Cherry Creek,
Just above the mouth of which they dis
covered what are now the regular dig
gings. The party from Lawrence left that
place with provisions sufficient, they sup
posed, to last them six months, but which
gave out at the end of four months after
their departure.
In consequence of this, nine of the party
have returned to Lawrence to obtain pro-
visions for their companions; the remain
ing five have come to this city on business
and intend to return to the mines as early
in the coming spring as possible. When
they left Cherry Creek they were under
the impression that the news of the gold
discoveries had not reached the States,
and their first intimation to the contrary
was received on meeting, on the northern
route by which they came, large parties
of emigrants on the way to the Mines
The different trains numbered collectively
about 500 men, with 1877 wagons. The
stock was in good coHdition, and, with the
exception of the loss of few cattle by
one party, no accident happened to any
one of the trains. The emigrants were
in fine spirits on beiDa Uniformed concerning
the true condition OF the mines, for the
various indirect reports received along the
route had somewhat dampened their
ardCr. About an equal number of emf
grants were reported on the southern
road.
Our informant states that there are al
present about 1500 persons in the mines
composed principally of Americans
There are number Of Mexicans and 9
few Indians. Yankee enterprise has al.
ready began to manifest itself in the
founding of two towns-one, st. Charles
situated at the mouth of Cherry Creek
and the other, Montana, about sight mile.
above the former. Buildings are going
up rapidly; provisions, though not super
abundant, are sufficient to supply thu
immediate wants of the miners, and NJ
very great suffering, for want of food o
protection during the ensuing winter, i
, anticipated. The day before our party
i left, a cpecial train had been dispatched
to New Mexico for provisions, in case the!
! should be needed during the winter. Tn
stock may suffer for want Of food at tn
mines, but there is said to be fine pasturag
about thirty miles south, to which plac
it can be driven in case OF e1igsncy.
Z In regard TO the full extent and rich
) ness Of the mines, nothing as yet can b
) known with certainty, beyond what th
! present incipient stages Of the mimi
! operations afford. Mr.. Russell, an oil
] experienced Georgia and California minel
|, who has prospected as far north as Medi
cine and Bow Mountains, reports that tn
J entire section travelled over furnishes evi
i dencs Of rich deposits Of gold. A part
, which went back into the mountains,
Q distance of fifty miles, found gold, but ha
f to return for want of provisions. o.
: informant says the general impressio
b among miners Is, that extensive deposit
] will be found throughout the mountain
J. The best diggings are located short dil
: lance above the mouth of Cherry Creel
: where six men can make from $40 to S.
: day. The mining implements are Il
Q pick, shovel and pan. Washings averal
t about ten cents per pan, though our i
0 formant has known as much as 81 to
1 obtained from one painful Of sand.
It takes from four TO, five minutes TO wash
a painful. In the regular mines the "dus
b Is found from two to six feet below Il
It surface among the gravel and boulder
9 Reports have been started that the ore
5 to be found in lumps, but this, Mr.. Fren
. says, is an erroneous idea, il being seldo
y or newer found in larger grains than tho
9 the dze Of No. 8 shot beaten fat.
. has some beautiful specimens Of the d.
!, in vials. which appears q rich Is any Ca
= foEpis gold We ever saw.