, 1860-06-05

(6H PaA9. eALuUs
FlaO1I PIXIES PEAK.
letter from .zfdfr,udn W"ard-. Great Yield
or Eofds'+11fIo Ufs<orsr5es-.I7srsonai. I'D
fur<s, &es
Correspondence Of the Iscss aad Trisune.l
Missouri Cr1r, Z. T.. My II, 1sGe.
As1 closed my last letter, I supposed was on
the eve Of 4 tour to IN entirely new and une1-
plored region; but it Was notso. Weheard unfa-
yorable news Of SNOW, and the private affairs Of
some Of our party required their immediate
presence at Gregor5's, md the trip, after full
debate, Was postponed for q season and the
next morning, MAY y, the tents were strucl'
several days rest, started eagerly for the noun
tains, the snow capped tops Of which were tow.
ering high above us to the westward, fifteen
miles distant. The road from Denver to Golden
City runs oyer an elevated plain, gradually
rising till it reaches the foot Of the Table Moun-
tains. The road between these two places is
very good, and ne arrived at camp in lonely
spot, half way between Golden CITY and Golden
Gate, at about 4 O'Clock, r. II. wish my powers
of description were sufficient TO do justice to
the scenery which there surrounded us. We
we're in valley between the Table Mountains
aud the main range Of the Rocky Mountains.
Just below us, half mile distant, lay the thriv
ing town of Golden City, consisting Of about
one hundred entirely new aud unpalnted build
ings, full Of noise and business; and aboTe us,
about the same distance away, just at the mouth
Of gloomy chasm, which on the day following
we were to enter, to fud our road to this place,
was Golden Gate, place Of abou! twenty build
ines, whose unpainted sides and new roofs gave
it the appearance Of having sprung up in
single night. To the right and entirely detatch-
ed from the main range, about q quarter Of
mile away, were the Table Mountains, with rug
ged, n1most perpendicular sides, rising some
eight hundred feet aboye us, with mighty ROCKS
resting on their brows, which it seemed zephyr
might roll from their lofty resting places, aud
cast upon und crush US in our camp; while on
the other hand, abruptly resa the main
chain, and piling mountain upon mouu-
tain, and height upon height, stretched
away farther than the eye could reach.
It was scene which must make a Inst
ing impression on any one, but to one just from
the vast plains wc have crossed, those sleeps
by contrast seem to lit their craggy heads to
the very skies, and made NJ feel 'hat VIC were
on tho confines Of rew and different world.
After supper q party Of us started to climb
the steep sides of the nearest and most lofty
Table mountain, and though from the point We
left to tho higtcst peak the distance could rot
be oyer mile, more than a long hour Of hard
toll was required to reach the place We sought;
and as we reached it the sun was just setting
behind the distant, mighty, snowy range. The
| top Of these Table Mountains is almost level,
| and in some places half a mile across, and On
this elevated plain VIC seemed isolated from the
world nc Ind left, and ceuld look far back upon
the plains, trace the course Of the Platte, sec
Denver City, and look almost straight down
We strolled about till dark, plucking beautiful
| specimens Of cactus, many Of which were in
| full bloom, though only two days before ne had
seen the identical mountain covered with three
| or four inches Of snow.
Our descent in the darkness IVES somewhat
| difficult and hazardous, but at nine O'Clock we
| all arrived safely in camp, tired, but highly
! gratificd with our jeuut, and all hands voted
| that the scenery md eyents of this day had
| paid for all our toll, and that to witness what
We lad seen, was worth Journey across the
plains. :.
Oo the following morning, passing through
Golden Gntc, We entered the mountains, by 8
| - ruI a1
rarine, and is called here good road, md com.
pared with the one by which Gregory's was
originally reached, is undoubtedly very fine !;
but have seen better.
It took two days hard labor, tugging up steep
mountains. and holding back cur wagons with
long rope, others sgain lifting them from q
mud hole, or digging away the side Of bill, to
prevent upsettiug, fording rapid streams, to
reach Gregorg's, distance Of only twenty
three miles from Golden Gate.
At f:regory's, We found thousands engaged
in working leads, gulcbes, and tunneling tie
mountains in search Of gold, and finding it, too.
That this country is rich, very rich, in the
precious minerals, there can be no longer q
doubt; md yearly hereafter, for long period,
thousands aud millions of gold dug from these
mountains will find its way to the States. Nc
one eau doubt it after once visiting here, and
seeing the countless lodes, and testing the rich.
ness of the quartz strewn al1 over the mountain
sides-6ut n,an nth bare A1nds here stands d
rtry poor chance. 1t requires capital to work
successfully these quartz mines; aud I hare
seen many sanguine ndsenturer come here
with high expectations, and dreams of fortune
already nnade, look ont upon these mountain:
and quail before the hardship presented, ane
penniless aud disheartened, turn to seek Iii
way homcward, cursiug the country aud all in
it, in The bitterness Of his disappointment.
Every claim from Gregory's to the Snowy
Range is taken; and to get one, requires capi
tai, and to work it requires still more; and any
man in the States, without capital, who ha'
en- opportunity Of making living there, ant
leaves it in the belief that be can better his for
tunes here, will, in nine cases out Of ten, eorelJ
repent the day he ever started. To all such
Messrs. Editors, I belierc it to be your duty X
give thisMho1esome advice, F." Star II home-1ts
al nst0.t, stay at Aome."
Thu climate here is very cold and disagree
able. Yesterday the snow howfed about oul
ears and whitened all the hill tops, and lAs
night WAS bitter cold, freezing water in oul
wash basins and forming solid ice orer two inch
es thick We have heavy frost almost ever
night and cold winds preyai frequently al day
Soon the rainy season will set in, aud for mani
weeks it rains nlmost daily.
hear Of quartz mills arriEing almost daily
md an told there are hundreds more on til
road. l hope this is SO, for there is plenty her
for them al to Go, md they alone can secur'
mud bring to light the hidden richness Of thes'
mountains,
MoxnAT. May e1st, lseo.
This letter, ike some'of lis predecessors, vii
be rather broken.
1have jast returned from trip to the Snowy
Range, and Eel severely the effects of packing
blankets and provisions Some thirty miles ove'
mountains, CULTS, through streams and anow
Last winter discoveries we're made at the foot
Of the Snowy Range, which were believed to b
rich
That region has been organ'1edby the miners
an called the ' 'Wisconsin District" Al the
| SNOW gradually fades away, ncr discoveries