The Nevada Democrat., 1862-03-27
LrTTER FROM wAsHOE.
Y1na1NIA CIrY, March 10, l862.


ED. DEMOCRAT: About one week since three
horsemen might have been seen vending their
way down what is called the "Cork-screw
Grade. lust up from Van Slckles' Ranch, and
before reaching the valley of the Carson. Their
countenances told plainly that they had been
over the Placeryille route, and that their trip
was anything but pleasure excursion. Lem
mons was one of the three, and from this out,
he will always be in readiness to tell anybody
that the "cork-screw grade" is the least dam
aerous piece of road on the whole route from
Strawberry to Carson valley, and If man or
horse should make mis-step at the top of the
grade, before camping place" could be found
there would not be hOof or toe-nail left. There
was mud in huge abundance all of the way from
Placeryille to Webster's station, and from that
place to "Yanks," in some places, you could
see the insulatofs OH the telegraph poles, and
really, | even saw them as much as two feet
above the snow-showing conelusively, that
snow never falls to depth to impede travel on
that "natural road" from Pacerville to Carson.
Suffice it to say that have fully satisfied my
self as to the practicability of the Henness
Pass over this much-talked of route, either for
winter or summer travel.
Since my return, nothing has transplred wor-
thy of note, except the escape of VIM. IL. May
field from the Territorial prison. He "leaked
out" sometime during the night of Saturday
last, and up to this time nothing has been heard
of him, although immediate search was institu-
ted and kept up until now Numerous stories
are aAoat as to the mode of his escape, the
most plausible one appears to be, that some
friend had taken the dimensions of the key that
unlocked his cell door and had a facsimile
made, with the aid (which he (Mayfeld) was
enabled to free himself and leave everything
as natural as life. His chains were cut with
care, and everything in his cell, such as blank
cts, ETC., we're neatly folded and presented to
the iailor. Mr. Curry, when he entered late in
the morning, of Sunday, saw something like
unto Bill-but it wern't him! A little note from
Billy told the tale. In these words:
FRIEND CURRY: l have received such kind
treatmcot from you and your family, that al
most hate to leave you; but when man has
chance to secede, when coercion" is about to
be instituted, feel I'm right IN so doing. Give
the "Goy." my regards
BY this time, no doubt, he is afar Oft, beyond
even the smell of our officers, and the manner
in full, in which he made such clean escape
will remain a mystery for some time to come.
Mr.. Curry was no doubt reminded very forcibly'
upon entering Mayfeld's cell and finding him
gone. of the two first lines of that sweet little
song:
"Thou art gone from my gaze,
Like a beautiful dream" &c.
Business begins 10 assume its wOnbed busy
aspect; in fact everybody is making big calCula-
tons, and think not unfounded ones, for the
welfare of the Territory this coming summer;
all are at something. j. C. BirdseYe was en-
gagged at the lucrative game of pool, four bits
ante, two bits "priv," as / passed through
Lights saloon to come home this morning-it
was halfpast two, and he was in the FIVE hole,
waiting for chance to "bust." He ex.specs to
win the next pool, and l think if he had a.
"globe sighted" cue he could have ''knOcked the
Chinaman" off his pins.
Numbers are going from this Territory to the
Salmon river mines by land. A party Of fifteen
started few days since from Gold Hill, with
riding and pack animals, expecting to make the
trip in about 20 days. Another company, under
Capt John b. Newman, will start between the
9th and llth of April.
The weather for the past few days has been
beautiful, the sun shines forth in all its efful-
gence, and much desired spring is opening upon
us in all its splendor. LEMMoNs.