Arizona miner. [volume] (Fort Whipple, Ariz.) 1864-1868, 1864-05-11
rHE GOVERNORS EXPEDITION.

- tlet tateiuuF exploring bDe upper FdHeg u l
the san Francisco, we crossed over to the east
side OF the river, Tor the purpose of pursuing our
explorations towards the head waters Of the
salinas, w u ielt the valley on he st Of March.
travelling due east, aud soon struck the chain of
mountains which bounds the valley on the east
and southeast 1t presented the same appear
ance as the mountains We had previously travel
led through We experienced little difficulty inI
our irst days march, and IN the afternoon came
10 a smAll valley 10 the mountains which appear
ed 20 have been a tavOrite camping ground
OF the Indians, judging from the number OF 6Tesl
which had been there Ii affords AN excellent
shelter for stock being bounded on all sides by
mountains and lofty peaks, from which person
can overlook the whole valley. We camped
here for the night, at d spring OF water, WHICH
the Governor called Oak spring. The soil is of
a red sandy nature. bearing excellent feed for
animals he rocks resemble the old red sand
stone and 10 some places rise perpendicu4rly.
similar to Inscription Rock Ga the next day
we continued our eastern course, through large
and almost impossible carous, and numerous
dry creeks About noon we came into small
valley through which ran the main fork Of the
San francisco. IL was a beautiful mountain
stream, by far the largest we had seen ; the
water was perfectly transparent, and from it's
banks at a height Of 20 or 30 feet we could
plainly see the fish 10 she waters below The
sand bars looked favorable for gold, but il was
difficult to tud the color" The water rushed
guriousiy through these mountains, which in
some places rose 20 a great height We crossed,
and began ~ ascend mountain on the opposite
side. which was 10y far the S0rst We bad yet
met Alter great difficulty, we reached the
summit, which proved TO be large mesa. from
shich we had an excellent view Of the surround
line, h. - Erun M,.u 10,
about due north ot us. The stream before men
toned runs from the northeast, and probably
heads 1t the foot Of the mountain. Doubtless,
L4gouxs, New Years, and Volunteer Springs
/ are It's head waters, and are consequently the
4 head waters Of the San Francisco River. and do
not as sOme writer's suppose, empty INTO the
4 west and north- western Fork 10 the north
east ara mountains covered With pine aud piFion.
hey are probably the termination Of the yocan-
Tic range 10 the south aud south vest appears
la broken ms.s Of tm1erless n0autalns stretch
4 lag towards lAe Gila River. whilst the north
stsi portion Ot the upper valley seems 10 ex-
l2nd, presenting rolling couotry 10 the direction
loC Fort Nhipple, which confirms my former as
,srtou. that good wagon road may be made
from the valley. which would be great ilnpe0y
] HenG 10 the iybayez cutoff
! During thu afternoon sumo Of the Californians
!, isurprised a ranchena though Jas they stated
they were not aware Of it themselves, until with
lin few PAGES vi it ; when Us a matter Of course
they gave battle, bat the Indians turned out II
; sieater numbers than they expect ed, and the
) boys beat hasty retreat. AS soon as the in
Z telllgence reached camp, large party set out
but the red birds had gone aud darkness prevent
, ed pursuit
The next day a small party set out 10 orde
to ascertain the direction OF the TRAIL and founC
> Is leading INTO an Immense canon. they followed
u tracing IL to the bottom. and when We made ou
!. appearance at the brink Of the yawuing gull
$ they shouted 10 US TO hold, pn.' bat owing Il
Z The imperfect sound, it was construed com,
d on aud we commenced descending. What
% ,lgh, il was The mules rolling head over heel.
l. and the packs flying oil iuto the abyss below
y soine 800 fret Finally. We got to the bottom
and then found out our mistake. Here. indeed
was qualification for the explorer lie nigh
81 safely say his feet had trOd where the white ma
ls never had been before. As there was no visibl
re means Of getting out the slces OF the cano
n RISING perpendicular, 1t was finally agreed upo
- Ia a. iuw the canon down aud 90 40 tie lows
Z. yaii ~ the san FRANCISCO After lGuumrrab
nt dllu, litles we reached the river, The third ia
cd vlh Aut any serious accident. save The EliilB2
Ia isw mules We followed Us course u II
lloarr valley Dot alDan Il impossible 10 lJllOw !
4 banks ano hud - make detonTs and crossing
at cyntlnaaily W. catne to a small valley whe
~ there acre .4teUo..e RUNS, many ot the wal
W. still standing. IL might have been capital
Nv the AZtecs, but We were in search of capt.
for the Anglo saxon, and finding this would u
zee SOFT passed on leaving it, possibilities and pro-
-, "a abilities 10 more philosophical heads