Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-21

Interesting letter from an apparently candid and
reliable correspondent, and vOuched to be such,
BY l,nt paper, dated Denver City, June 9Th. The
writer states thst the Platte River washings are
all abandoned as we'll as the Cherry Greek Gold
was not found in satisfactory paying quantities,
and the rich mines discovered in the noun
tans attracted the miners thither. He had just
visited the Gregory Diggings and other mines
up Clear Greek aud some 25 miles among the
mountains, and his account is in substance as
follows:
Gregory and his party followed up Clear
Greek in March two days, came upon two mar
row valleys, the mountainous bonerings Of
which we're covered with pine, and traversed by
peculiar streaks Of burnt quartz rock A pan
Of surface dirt in the immediate vicinity Of the
quartz gave nearly "a in first quality of scale
gold The deeper they dug the richer the dirt
grew, and at the depth Of six feet, bed Of
sand, enclosed in formation Of rotten quartz
yielded regularly from SO to sl6.a pan. The
lead rsn in horizontal direction, presented no
indication Of giving out, and the whole party
took up claims along the lead as indicated by
the burnt rock on the surface. The writer ar
rived seven days after lead was struck. J H.
Gregory had worked four days with three hired
hands, and obtained 81, 100; W. s. Duey, J. W.
Zeigler. G. W. zeigIer and D. +, Spain, had
worked together four claims for FIVE days and
dug out $1,000; A. Defrees, W. Defrees, and
W. Chess had worked three claims for six days,
and realized 81 ,522 All the claims worked as
above are located on the original Gregory
lead
Three persons working at leads across the
valley had t1ken out $3.50 in one day; and four
others worked together four claims four days,
aud averaged $50 per day s. c. G. Jones, a
well known Eastern Railroad builder, was also
working lead, and realized from 81 TO 80
per pan. Some of the claims are located 300
feet above the banks of the creek, the ascent al.
most perpendicular and the gold bearing dirt
has to be backed down to the water. Only
two sluices were in running order. The others
relied upon the wasteful washing pans. Sew.
erll feet Of partly rotten, partly solid rock, to
every foot of rich dirt, has to be removed. The
process of course is slow and toilsome, and the
yield per day under the disadvantages of work
ing, are truly extraordinary. The leads are
generally from 10 to IL inches wide and as
many high, and are estimate to yield $500 to
the cubic foot. The letter says:
Some of your readers may, perhaps, be anx-
iOus to know how l succeeded in ascertaining
the correct amount taken out in stated periods
by different parties, will tell them that the gold
found at the Gregory diggings is all of that fine
description known as quartz golt that il is al
most impeTceptible to the naked eye when
mixed with the dirt and rock, and that the only
way of gathering it is by means of quicksilver,
from which it is again separated by means of a
solitary retort they had up there during my
stay, and then appears in Jumps of various sizes
which are easily weighed. To be certain about
my statements, weighed over three thousand
dollars worth Of gold in that shape with my
own hands, and saw the remainder weighed bv
others.
From the Gregory diggings struck right
across the mountains towards the South Fork
of Clear Creek on which the so-called Jackson
diggings, also named after their discoverer, are
located l got there after most tedious jour
ney, consisting of alternate ascending and de-
scending of all but perpendicular mountains
All along the way l noticed the same streaks of
quartz that lead to the Gregory diggings If
their richness corresponds with their number,
this country may yet become a rival Of Califor-
MIA.
Al the jackson diggings about hundred
men were at work, They wash gold out of
surface dirt found on the banks of the creek and
on the creek-ward slope of the mountains
| The diggers were not very communicative, and
| it was with the greatest difficulty that / could
get to asceytaiu something definite with regard
IN fha raoutta nf fhafr oh The TaoIrgo,,
gings have been worked for nearly two months,
and gold was taken out all tho time, but in
comparative small quantities. The gold found
at this point is the cOarsest that has thus far
been discovered in the various mining districts.
Il consists Of coarse dust, and to a great extent
of nuggets weighing from l to pennyweights
bought myself one worth $3.50. The largest
amount OF gold / saw in the possession of a
single individual at the Jackson diggings was
about two and half ounces. Up TO the Greg
ory as well as the Jackson diggings-the latter
are about forty miles fr IN this points as yet
in an extremely rough condition, and always
impossible for wagons. The scenery is, howey-
er as attractive as the most ardent lover of land
scape could wish it TO be. Game is plentiful
Herds Of mountain goats, RnteloPes and elks;
and an occasional bear can be seen at all times
Luxunant grass and water of crystal clearness
and unrivalled quality is found in almost every
valley.
When l lett the Gregory diggings, about
three hundred men were engaged in mining
Since my return to this place, however, gem
eral rush has returned in that direction. This
town is almost entirely deserted. The new
comers also make for the mountains, with but
few exceptions.
EXECUTION OF WrFE MURDERER--About g.
900 persons attended the execution Of Dr. King