The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-05-30
Letter from the Gold Diggings.
Rocky Mt. Gold Range Diggings,


Territory last week found five papers from
me at this point, which is the only news l
have heard since leaving Denver, and you
may rest assured that they were all perused
with much interest by all of our party be-
sides many other Iowa emigrants who are
residing in this district. s'.h,.' '"s-
After leaving O'Fallon's Bluffs where my
last was dated, we travelled to the South
crossing of the Platte, where we found the
Old Chief Dog Belly who enquircd particu-
larly after the big pipe we had with us last
year, being good evidence think that he
remembers good eating and smoking. All.
A few miles beyond the crossing Ckaun-
cey Brooks lost a horse which is the only
accident that happened to our train until
we reach Denver. ,.s.st.s ..s....
We staid in Denver four days and then
started for the Blue River, after travelling
over seventy five miles of the worst road in
creation, we reached larry All Diggings,
fifteen miles from the Blue, and just upon
the opposite side of the Gulch from this
district, we found there was only from five
to fifteen feet of snow Cor the next fifteen
miles toward the Blue, and none but foot
men upon snow shoes were able to get over.
There being very good digsings at this
point, we concluded to pitch in and sec if
we could not find some of the Root of all
Evil. ..s.-.r ....
We commenced at the foot of the noun
tain to tunnel through, and leaving the bal
ance of the party at work. l shouldered
my pack of provisions and started across
the Snowy Range upon prospective tour.
l got along nicely until about ten when the
snow becoming soft, went through at al
most every step, sometimes up omy neck
and sometimes about half that istance.
tell you Col. it is no small job to wallow
through the snow across the Sn wy Range
with pack upon your back but when you
arrive at the top the view is most sublime,
you can see all over the Peak, as they call it
here, although would say it is beautiful
valley, some sixty miles in length, and
about ten to fifteen wide; you can also see
the clouds beneath you, which accounts for
their telling us in Denver that when it
showed upon the mountains it seldom snow
ed in the valleys.
The Rocky Mountain Lions are quite
plenty; you can hear them roar all around
as you cross the range. One crossed the
trail about one hundred yards in front Of
me, frightening two men, who were short
distance ahead very much. He went about
twenty rods into some bushes and common
ced roaring, (as LION should.) We have
got used to them, however, for scarcely a
night passes but what we hear them roar.
ing around our camp.
slept out with two others the first night
with plenty of snow for a bed, and a camp
fire that sent its blaze up almost to the top
of the trees. You ought to come out here
and get tough; you don't know what q
comfortable bed the snow is. (No, thank
you!-ED.) ~
Iarrived at the Blue the next night, and
found nice, pretty stream with every in.
dication of gold, but SO much snow that
the miners cannot work at present. After
remaining q week looking around the diff:
the severest snow storm have seen in q
long time. I thought the wind upon the
range would carry me clear over, but I got
home all right, and think l will not try il
again until the snow goes off SO can pack
my mule. aaa4agt
Next week Lampson and myself start for
the head waters of the Arkansas, Blue,
Platte and Grand Rivers; they all head
within six miles Of each other, and we arc
promised good diggings if we go up. Fales
and Ennis will remain here until we return
or until they hear from us.
l found our party all well and digging
like good fellows. FALEs says you may
look into the mouth of our tunnel if YOU
come out here-but LAMrsoN says you must
pay your. entrance fee if you go farther.
Last Monday the miners Of this district
held meeting to elect officers for the next
year. Mr.. FRED. CAMPBELL was elected
President, and H. A. ROGERS Recorder
(Hurrah for Rogers !-ED.) think if we
remain here all summer all of our party will
| get into office-at least some one of us has
been upon every committee and jury since
our arriyal--but not one willingly--we
| don't want to be bothered with such things.
The Brooks party with Myers and ours,
remain together. We lost Hubbard in com.
ing from Denver to this point-our horses
stampeded and he drove on while We were
getting them back, arriving here one day
ahead of us we were told by Arnold when
| we arrived that he had gone to the Arkan.
sas; but yesterday Blame, his partner, came
here after letters and says they are eighteen
miles below on small stream about six
miles from the Platte.
For the last few days Lampson has been
out with me prospecting; we start in the
morning when there is crust upon the
snow and 60 up the mountain until we gel
opposite some gulch, when he sits in the
pan and get on the shovel and down we GO
like locomotive, sometimes nearly half a
mile if we don't bring up against tree OF
run into soft snow drift; then 20 nearly
the same distance heels over head, but usu.
ally bring up at the bottom and go to dig
ging. Yours, &c, r.
N. B.-Please say to my friends that all