New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-23
PIXIES PEAK.

Perhaps the poorest use to which mortars can
be put is the traying of fools in them-the differ
ence between brayed fool and merely brayiog
one not being at all worth the cost of the opera
ton. Last year, one hundred thousand people
started on a gold.hunt for pixies Peak, not
one-third of whom ever got within sight OF the
Rocky Mountains, while not half the residue
ever stuck pick or spade therein. Tens of thou
sands squandered their little all in wild-goo'e-
chase wherein they did not allow themselves the
least chance of success. But they had the poor
excuse OF inexperience, transformation, bad ad'
vice, false assurances, first that gold was abund-
ant and easily obtained on the head waters of the
South Platte and then that there was no gold any
where in the Rocky Mountains. 1t is thus posi-
bic to palliate, though not to excuse, the gold
hunting follies of 1859.
But what can be urged in mitigation of those of
1862 From all we can learn, the number who
have started for "Pikes Peak" this year is scarcely
less than last year; while not one in ten of them
has been taught anything by the sore experience
of his predecessors. Thousands have started
across the Plains with barely means to take them
to Denver, where they arriye-in case they do not
get homesck and turn back at some point this
side-with waywOrn teams, scanty stock OF pro-
visions, few tools, and an intense desire to see
their wives and children once more. They now
find, Of course, that gold is not to be had for the
askiDg-that the yers and guches already discoy-
cred are all taken up-that they must either buy
90 claim" at round price, and pay part cash down
for it, or must go prospecting and digging through
wild and rugged mountains, fariDg cOarsely, work
ing like oyertasked slaves, and sleeping through
cold and often stormy nights on pine bough, under
the open sky. SO they turn back without striking
stroke, or peck about little to no purpose, pro-
nounce Pixies Peak" humbug, and strike
bee line for the Missouri and civilization.
Now, we know full well that the truth will be
lost on those predetermined not to hear it, yet we
will once more proclaim that, while there undoubt-
edly is gold in the Rocky Mountains, some Of which
has been and more will be extracted at profit,
yet not one in ten of those who have, up to this
date, started in quest of it, has brought back or
will ever return with so much as he took away
that very large proportion of those who diligently,
resOuely seek it will seek in vain, while not one
fourth of all who 60 in quest of it would secure any
if it were ten times as abundant as it is--that
there are too many poor men in the mines already,
and no chance for more until great deal of capt.
tai in the shape Of steamengiaes, saw-mills,
quartz-crushers, &C., &C., shall have been sent
up-thst no man has any business to be prospect
ing without at least six months provisions and
clothing, two good pack.mules, and the very best
tools--and that, for man without means and but
moderately effective and skillful, there arc not
many worse places to find himself than within the
broadcast shadow ever cast by pixies Peak"