Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-07
I ettcr from, Pixies Peak.

| Il u
is Although the reputation of Pixies Pea
e has suffered considerable diminution with
the past year, the following racy items COZ
49,. corning journey thitber, which we al
/; privileged to extract from q letter to ger
tleinan in this city, dated Orc City, Angus
4. t9tI', will 10 doubt, be read with Interest,"
. The letter il from Mr.. John Schock 81. @.
. Il loft St. Joe on the ID day of April, il
S comp ny with nine persons. We had a yer.
} pleasant trip across the Plains; the weathe,
being iinasnd roads excellent. We had only
pLe storm on the way, but that was regula,
Ward old blow" We were compelled te
stake down our wagons to prevent them
from blowing away; our tents were enc
whar." began to think, that is to say, my
slime had come" Besides this, one accident
happened us at the Big Blue River the best
fellow in the company, Capt. Hicks, of Chi
cago, accidentally shot himself. We made a
rough box and buried him. We passed a
number OF fresh graves on the way, the oc-
cupants of which had nearly all met their
death in the same manner-a reckless use of
firearms under the excitement occasioned
perhaps, by the sight of buffaloes 1t is per-
feet folly for man to bring two or three
guns and a pair ofrevolvers to this country;
all had was 25-cent butcher knife, and l
never had any occasion to use it but for cut.
| ting meat. The indians on the Plains are
very civil and friendly, and gave US no trouble
except occasionally stealing little whisky
and provisions. | was perfectly delighted
with them, aud visited some of their camps
every night. | made several very good trades,
with them for buffalo robes. A large tin-cup
OF sugar and little whisky will buy good
robe. But | did not succeed in getting
pony from thein-it takes hard stuff to buy
them ; nothing but half-dollars will 20 for
ponies. They have some of the finest look
ing nagsimag perfect in every respect,
and the "crsses" ride them without brides.
ave arrived in Denver City on the Sd OF
May, with sore feet, tired and dirty. was
much disappointed with Denver City, as it
was far ahead of my expectations. 1t is
indeed "city." The buildings are very
good, the principle ones of brick; the streets
are wide and regular, hotels good, saloons
ditto, and plenty Of them. The latter are as
thi k as ginger bread-peddlars on a muster
day. Gambling houses any amount the
principal ones having each band of music
playing constantly, and from three to four
"females" who deal cards. Gods there is.
everything and in every shape to get few
dimes. Whisky is cheap-10 cents per drink
but is certain death. The situation of Dem
yer is beautiful on plain, at the mouth of
Cherry creek and Is miles from the noun.
tains. The scenery-a view of Pixies Peak
and the snowy range of noun tains- is per-
fectly enchanting. There is one great draw
back to the prospect of this country ever
amounting to much - the land is not good
for agricultural purposes, the seasons are too
short and dry. All the LAND under cultiva-
ton around Denver is and must be irrigated.
Should the mines fail, then goodbye to all
the cities and towns in the Rocky Mountains.
Cuisines being dull at Denver, conclu-
ded, by the advice of a friend, to visit the
mines in the mountains. l made out to get
some flour and bacon, and with pack on my
back, in company with two others, started
for this point, which is about $50 miles from
Denver. We made it liz six days. This
gu!ch is one of the richest that has been dis
covered. It's about six miles in length. Some
claims pay big, and some not cent. The
gold is very spotted aud only one claim out of
| fifty pays. There are alb put 400 cabins on
tie gulch, and 1000 persons, variously EN-
pl'yed st lniniag, gambling and trading.
Some live by stealing an! plenty by "doing
nothing Hundreds of poor fellows coming
here with the expectation of making for
tune have been sadly disappointed, and many
of them nave gone homo perfectly dsheart-
ened with Pixies Peak. This climate is too
cold tor white man it has rained and
showed every other day regularly for the
last two months, and is now 8, cold that we
are obliged to keep rousing big fire all the
time in order to feel comfortable. Shooting
is a daily occur renee here - this country
beats the deal for murders, Say to any of
your friends that talk of coming to Pixies
Peak to stay at home and have o comfortable
living, be decent, and they will save money,
a hard trip, and be wise. Thera is gold here,
but there is too much dirt mixed with it and
it hard to get. s
CAN kinds of business in this section is
dull and prices rule low-Flour (America NJ
800 per 100 los, Mexican Sl2 do, bacon 20
@25c, sugar 25c, coffee $50, corn meal 10c
beans l0@l2c, dricd apples 25c. Game Of
all kinds - such as buffalo, elk, black tailed
deer, antelope, bear and ssge hen - is very
plenty AS high as $50 deer have been killed
and brought in here in one day. Venisor
sells at $3.50 per Id. Dry goods and clothing
very cheap cheaper than you can buy then
in the States. Trains are coming every da!
with provisions and dry goods, and the mar
ket is overstocked. The roads over tn
9 mountains are so difficult for wagons tina
traders are glad to dispose of their goods a
q any price sooner than aaui them. back back "A
= high as 15c per Id. is charged for freigh
, across the mountains, and even at that rat
> few persons like to undertake the job. 1t
killing on American horses, sure, and notl
; ing but mules can stand the travel"
q g-The Congressional no ninations of tho Repu1
:, leans in Ohio arc nearly completed. They are
- follows: ...r5af
= 1st District-O. NJ. Spencer. Cincinnati. 1
y I'd do @Jno. A. Gurley, Cinciunati.
sd do Craighedd, Dayton. a-
e 4th do J. H. Hart. Piqua. -