Daily national Democrat., 1861-04-10
Another Interesting letter.
TrRoM OUR rRAvElIYG CORRESPONDENT.
IIurFAKER's RANcu, NEVADA Ter,
Murch 3lst 1861

lIurFAKER's RANcu, NEVADA Ter, !
March 3lst, 1861.
EDroE DEMocgAT Taking advantage Of
a stormy day, which promises to keep me
within doors, will endcayor to give you an
other brief cpistlc
This is the fiist storm which has visited
this (steamboaO Valley, since my advent
/ injo it, although W6shoe and other valley
to the South Of this, have during chat time,
received several such yisitations But the
mountains forming tbe southern barrier TO
this valley run Off into two very high
ridges, form an oval plat OF level ground,
about twelve miles in length, by six in
! breadth. And the storms which break SO
heavily at Virginia City, and other localities
in that direction, follow ~ these high ridges,
and hence the lower ground here has an i'm
munity from the heaviest Of the storms which
prevail at this season. Yet we have wind
enough, even here, to satisfy any common
mind.
nce my last writing, have made trip
TO Winnemucea Valley, a long'and narrow
one, located about forty-iiye miles from here,
! in a direction cast Of north, and not far from
/ Pyramid Lake. The trip wG¬ one for the
/ purpose Of prospecting for minerals Sc much
as for the stomach'5 sake We visited the
herd ground of Ilull'aker d Co, to bring
away a lot of milk cows. We found the
valley to be about eight miles long, and in
no place more than quarter Of a mile wide
But it was covered in its whole extent with
Il verdant carpet of bunch grass, which also
extended quite distance up on the noun
tain sides, forming pasture ground capable
of supporting more than a thousand head Of
cattle. Aud the valley will at some failure
time, (not very distanD be covered by the
best ranches in the Territory as it is effect
ualy protected from the high winds, by a
lofty, and at present, snow-capped mountain.
Old Winucmuc1a claims this valley as
portion Of his domain, and lays the stock
owners under contribution for its use, and is
intending to have house built upon it for
himself, SO that he may always be on hand
to collect his revenue.
/ On onr return with the cows, We campcd
one night III large sage brush valley, which
was dcstitude of water, except in one large
/ spring which runs but short distance and
sinks, Here we had an oppo! tunity Of sec
ing fight between two sage cocks They
fought furiously after the manner Of the do
mesic cock.
The people i'll this neighlorhool fear an
other Indian outbreak on or about the first OF
May. The Washoes say that next moon the
Pah Utes will go to wag again with the
whites; and as if this might be the case, all
the Indians who have been living at the dif-
ferent ranches have left to Join the tribe at
Pyramid Lake. The presumption is that as
soon as the fishing season is over, hostilties
will be commenced. My impression is, how,
ever, that old Winncmucca is chief Of rare
good scnse, and knowing the strength of the
whites will not be guilty of the folly of at
lacking them unless mutually forced into the
measure, as he was last spring. Then, again,
although the pah Utes are but little afraid of
the volunteers, yet they have holy horror
of the regular troops, and they also knowing
that there are several companies of them
located at Fort Churchill, will not lightly
risk the chances Of having them moved down
in the neighborhood Of the Lake. Should
they, however, conclude to begin hostilitics,
war of determination will most certainly
be waged against them. For the settling up
of the arabic land in these valleys must Of
necessity follow the building Of such cities as
Virgniaand Carson, not to mention the lesser
towns scattered pcntifully among the noun
tains, some of which are destined to increase
in size, while others will die natural death
as soon as the rage for humJug and spccula-
ton begins to wane.
Did you ever have a LoSGING for fish? |
have been in that condition of mind, ever
since entering the Territory, and to have a
better opportunity of gratifying my desire,
last week joined party of eight, including
our host and hostess. We went in a four
mule wagon to the Truckee, at Stone d Gates
bridgc--my mouth watering in anticipation
of a mess of the delicious salmon trout which
abounds so plentitully in that stream. But
alas for all my fond anticipations. 4 young
hurricane came up, and not a bite could we
get, orrather but one, for one of our number
did catch fish, of about sixteen inches in
length, aiIorling a mouthful each, and only
causing us to wish for more Fishcrmans
luck would have attended our party. only for
the courtesy cf Charley Gates, who prevent
ed one of the prerequisites Of that unfortunate
condition by getting up good dinner.
The river is somewhat discolorcd at pres
ent, in consequence Of its high state. This
has prevented the Indians from fishing thu,
far 1t will soon so down again, and then
my LONGING can be Gratificl for fish will be
plenty, and the Indians sell them for next to
nothing Yours, A1loru
NARDT GRAs-The New Orleans Pieayune
gives glowing description Of the revels of
Mardi Gras, in New Orleans. Themore pub
lie streets were filed with maskcrs singly, in
pairs, and in groups. Men dressed as wo-
men, and women as men, visited the most
central and most frequented places, and the
larger proportion Of them in the most eccen.
trie costumes. Passing 10y one of the st.
Charles restaurants early in the evening, the
reporter saw wild Indian sitting on horse
back, and refreshing the animal and himself
at the counter. The excitement of the dav