Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-13

FklI swd Reliable PssticsI0v'
LETTER FROM GIN. WIN. LARlMRR

T0sS 0vSO ItGssWOeO .
LETTER FROM GIN. WIN. LARIMRR.
DENVER CRY, Feb. 1859.
On our way upon the banks Of the
Arkansas, We found numerous camps
or lodges Of Indians,-kaws, Cheyen
nee, Apaches, Kiowas,and Arrapahoes.
All Of these tribes treated us kindly.
They begged for sugar, coffee, tobacco
and, on one or two occasions only, for
whisky. Sugar is their favorite arti-
Gle. We all gave them something
Our boys found it next to impossible
To trade for their robes and traps ex-
cept for sugar, and then they wanted
good bargain
The different tribes had immense
numbers Of ponies and mules, with
few American horses. As general
thing they were well rugged, particu-
larly the kiowss, one thousand IN
number) who had great many Mex
lean brides on their ponies and horses.
They were mounted in pure silver in
many instances, and stolen from the
Mexicans, it is said. l saw one young
chief have as fine . horse and rig as
an American general. Besides these
were quite number Of others we'll
equipped. The whole party were
about leaving their camp when we
came up. They were moving to Bcnts
Fort, and were passing MS all one at
ternoon. They we're very anxious to
accompany us, and in fact kept with
our train Of sixteen dragons with sew
cnty men Of our party, for two hours
at least, SO you can imagine what
show we made in that romantic prairie
with no house except Col. Bent's with
in at least one hundred miles Of U.S.
and in your direction three hundred
miles. What attracted my attention
chiefly in the grand tournament was
the youngsters of both sexes riding fine
horses and ponies. These little chaps
kept up continual racing. They ap-
peared to have no restraint upon them
by their "fathers" and smother"
The squaws had charge of the bag
gage, which was generally packed with
the nt-poles trailing on the ground.
Occasionally you would see q kind Of
a jumper las we call them in Pennayl-
vania with an old sick Indian, and
some with squaws and very small
children.
On our way we saw at Pawnec Rock
at least twenty thousand Buffalo at a
glance. The buffalo range is princi
pally from the Cottonwood to the
Arkansas. In all the emigration by
the different routes, no one was discom-
NODDED by the Indians. Only let the
redskins be treated civilly, and emf
grants have nothing to fear. Too
much care, however, cannot be exercls-
ed, as the killing of a single warrior
by the whites would involve us in a
terrible and unequal conflict;
After Mr.. Bacon arrived, he (being
an old Californian,) left my cabin and
took trip some six miles up the
Platte to examine the diggings and le-
turned in the evening, and told me
that he saw enough to satisfy him, that
the onc-halt of the California mines
were no better than ours, that he could
with his own hands, make from five to
ten dollars per day.
Quite an excitement was created to-
day on account of some new gold
discoveries made at Vaskey's Fork. 1t
is SAID to be scale gold, averaging from
ten cents to one dollar end fifty cents
in each SCALE Our citizens were
"quietly going out" all day yesterdy.
The new mines is about fifteen miles
from this city, north. have no doubt
of the truth Of this report. Six Ger
mans left from near my cabin to 60 as
they said, to +" the pincs," but they
pent to the diggings. This is the
most exciting story we have had for
some time, but expect every day to
hear of diggings equal to the richest
of the California mines being discover
ed on the sides of our mountains
everything points to it; The Indians
and traders believe it, and we are
bound to get at it in the spring, if not
before.
Every stream running from the m oun-
tains contains gold, and the nearer you
approach the mountains the better the
digging. run no risk in writing let
ters to attract emigration, from this
fact, that all who come here with
few exceptions) like the prospects Of
the mines, and the climate better than
any they ever saw, and are making
every preparation for their families, in
tending to make it their permanent
home.
The country is fast settling up by
claims being taken. There is a town
laid out every twenty miles clear to
Fountain City { Pueblo,) a distance Of
ITO miles.
Auraria is Immediately opposite us,
only separated by Cherry Creek
This is quite town. Committees are
appointed to consolidate both towns.
Auraria is situated on the west bank of
Cherry Creek, and Denver on the east.
Auraria was commenced first. l kim
died the first fire in Denver City, and
now we have one hundred and fiftv
houses built and under way, with at
least five good hotels in the number,
with buildings Of every descrition.-
Messrs. Blake & Williams, OF Crescent
City, Iowa, sre building house "a by
60 foof Thia Ia inAondod e.. = -