, 1860-06-09
LATER FROM PIXIES PEAK,
An Indian War Apprehended.


GATHERING OF SIX TRIBES.
ALAAMOF The m.NfRs ASD ElIICRANrs.
Letter From J. D. Ward, Esq.
Correspondents Of the Press and Thaune:1
DEsvsx. NAy eslh, 1t61
To-day we arc wea.her.bound. A party
Of us had everything ready to start early
this morning for tho South Park ria the foot Of
Pixies Peak and. Colorado City. when 10! tho
cl7uds lowered and the rain Is now pouring
down in torrents, accompanied by strong
wind. The exciting topic here just now il not
gold or silver, but 1ndiaus-derce. bloody Indi-
aos. Before this arrives. no doubt rumors of
towns burned and sacked, families butcbered,
and sca1ps taken, will hare reached you in great
aumber1.
During the last two or ttres days, there cer-
tain1y has been large number of Indians,
with their fquaus and papooses, about the town
and its yic1nisy. some six nations are here
the Sioux, CheJeAnes, camanches, Kiowas,
Arapahoes, and Apachees-and rumor says
they are camped in on, large rillsge Soma Eve
or sig miles below here on Clear Greek. have
heard ths number OF their wigwams variou.ly
estimated at fire hundred and two thousand,
I have no doubt the first named number Is
much too large, for, to the excited imagiuations
Of many newly arrived, each Indian counts q
"heap." 1t is said that jim Beckwitb, Mr.
Baker and Mr.. Pine, Ill worthy men and Indian
traders of many years experience, say there is
great cause for alarm, because the nations
named were never before known to meet On
friendly terms, and that the whites should pre-
pare for trouble
The rumor has ais, just arrived that one ma
ton sent away their women aud children yes
terday. and that other nations were doing so
to day. Whether this is true or not l don't
know, but don't believe it.
The citizens have taken some steps and held
several meetings in regard to the matter,
but no general alarm prevails. and I
think none but those remarkably weak
in the nerves are At all frightened. Some per-
sons occupying ranches in the vicinity Of the
1odian encampment h.ro come into town for
safety.
1t il also said tho Indians hare taken posses.
sion Of one rancho md Kivcn tho occupants no.
tce 10 quit, and that ono Of the Chiefs has said
It il better to die bY the bullet Of the whita man
! than by starvation, which must certainly fol-
low il the whites succeed in taking possession
Of all their country and drive away tue game.
have given from among tho thousands of ru-
mors naoat those most ,frightfut aud best au-
thcuticatcd-and do not see in nil / bear any
cause for alarm. It may he true. that in gone
| instances the indians arc saucy. and pay no
very strict regard to the laws regulating tho
right of property-perhaps ha*c stolen few
horses and mules. 1t may be strange, a1ao,
to sec so many natisns, implacable in their La
tired for each other for ages past, meet al broth.
| ers around the newly found home Of the whites:
| but do not, cannot believe, their purpose in
thus assembling is to make war, contrary to
their professions Of friendship, and with the
consciousness which they must feel-for they
are not fools-that if they strike hut one blow,
destruction the most terrible awats their whole
race, and will most surely and speedily conc +;
for there are to-day armsd men enough, almost,
within hailiug distance Of the Post Office in
this city, to wipe these unframed savagcs fror,
the face Of the earth.
Don't believe word, then, about anv trouble
with the Indians you may hear of from this
section, nor don't let any one in the Suites get
frightened about friends they may have here.
For my part, be1ieve these "rumors Of wars''
no1 so -thickly floating, are gotten up by a
class Of spectators, who desire to make money
from frightened returning emigrants, or By
reckless adventures who have nothing to lose,
and would like to get up good fight With tho
indians just for excitement.
hare written so much about Indians, feur-
ing WORSE rumors might reach the States by
the mouths Of discouraged returning men. I
hare taken considerable pains to enquire after
the matter, and I do not believe there are
grounds for a bit OF alarm and hops our friends
in the States will not worry.
Emigration is pouring in here with wonderful
zapidity. Hundreds Of teams have arrived
within the past few days, and white tents, and
covered wagons are spread over all available
camping places any where near Denver. In
coming frou6 Golden Gate to this city a few days
ago met one hundred and fifty wagons on the
road, and the distance is only fourteen miles.
| What the thousands can DO who are 1nadly
rushing here, with such nigh hopes,1 don't sec,
for an satisfied there are as yet no placer OF
gulch diegings discovered sufficient to give cu,-
ploynent pEoftably to one-half Of those already
here.
| Almost all who arrive and 60 directly to the
mountains, meet there, not the r1ch scenes their
fancies have fond1y pictured, but are awful
/ crushing Of their hopes. There is gold, gold
| in almost exhaustlesss quantities oil through
strongly imbedded in its long resting place, rc.
fuses to ,ield to the, 4naided labor Of the h,..
man arm, and c,yill and machinery eau alone
profitably obts'& it.
There has beer, ,and still is, Just cause for com
plant on tho part Of emigrauts against many
who have written aud still write letters back
they are too fapeif,l, too full Of dreams, and
speak Of things>in mauy instances, which The
writer never saw, and the newly arrived emi-
grant will never realize.
| What nay be developed in the South Park.
and On the head ;9aters of the Platte, the Ar
kansas, aud the Blue, and still further South,
remaiss to be SEEM That that section is rich
in precious minerals, there can be but little
doubt. but The streams named fay h;ob upon
the 7e,y fee. Of the snowy ranges. and run
| through country where SHOWS deep and dreary
reu1aia the greateH portion Of the year and ab-
so1utelv prdnf6fS mining operstions. and the
III 80 .h;1,. -.,.:-- a.. ~ -
&Fe 0o14 Blu Su'4'yb W0Alu8 tut 4'le ol uneF
there anything but delightful, and scarcely
pnrinp for all his toll and nYirntious