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

lsy Although the reputation of Pixies Pc.
e. has suffered considerable diminution with
the past year, the following racy items COZ
corning journey thitler, which we al
!; privileged to extract from letter to gel
! tlenan in this city, dated Orc City, Angus
+. t9t!', will ro doubt, be read with interest,"
The letter L. fron Mr.. John Schock :a 81
!. : left Stu oe on the ID day of April, il
$ company with nine persons. We had yer.
pleasant trip across the Plains the weathe
being iinesnd roads excellent We had ONLY
pLe storm on the way; but that was q regular
'N,ard Old blow" We were compelled t(
stake down our wagons to prevent then
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 II is per-
fect folly Tor man to bring two or three
guns aid pair ofrevolvers to this country;
all had was 25-cent butcher knife, and
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, and 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 go for
ponies. They have some of the finest look
ing nags imaginable; perfect in every respect,
and the "crsses' ride them without brides.
"We 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 as ginger erbread.peddlars on 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 ofDen-
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 mountains 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 lant 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.
sBusness being dull at Denver, conclu-
ded, by the advice of a friend, to visit the
mines in the mountains. | 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 III six days. This
gulch is one Of the richest that has been dis
covered. Its 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 about 400 cabins on
tie sulch, and 1000 persons, variously EN-
pl'yed st 'niaiag, gambling and trading.
Some live by stealing an! plenty by 'doing
notLing."~ Hundreds of poor fellows coming
here with the expectation of making a for
tune have been sadly disappointed, and many
Of them nave gone home perfectly disheart-
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 81 cold that we
are obliged to keep rousing big fire all the
time in order to feel comfortable: Shooting
is a daily occurrence 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 comfortable
living, be decent, and they will save money,
hard trip, and be wise. Thera is gold here,
but there is too much dirt mixed with it and
it is hard to get. "
"All kinds of business in this section is
dull and prices rule low-Flour (Americsn)
800 per 100 los, Mexican $l2 do, bacon 20
@25c, sugar 25c, coffee $50, corn meal 1Oc,
beans l0@l2c, dri-d 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. Venison
sells at 5000 per lb. Dry goods and clothing
very cheap-cheaper than you can buy them
in the States. Trains are coming every day
with provisions and dry goods, ard the mar
ket is overstocked. The roads over the
mountains are so difficult for wagons that
traders are glad to dispose of their goods at
any price sooner than .t ,adf t7eEs- 5ssk Ssekk A.
high as 15c per Id. is charged for freigh
across the mountains, and even at that ratt
few persons like to undertake the job. 1t il
killing on American horses, sure, and moth
ing but mules can stand the travel"
i gBrThe Congressional no ninations of tho Repub
Iicans in Ohio are nearly completed. They are q
follows .,.5sT J
1st District-O. NJ. Spencer. Cincinnati. i
I'd do &Jno. A. Gurley, Cineiunati.
Sd do CraigheAd, Dayton. s-,rs
4th do j. II. Hart, Piqua.
5th do ~. NJ. Ashley, Toledo,