Arizona miner., 1864-04-06
THE GOVERNORS ExPEDETuoN,

HE GOVERNOR EXPEDETION
we append the first part of report of Gov
ernor Goodwns expedition to the Verde or San
Francisco, furnished us by member of his party
The balance of the report will be given in ou
next
Our whole party numbered 81 men, and We
n n provisions Tor thirty days. We left Fort
Nnlpple on the morning of the 18th of February
ana reached Woo!sey's Aqua Fria ranch on the
lJth. camping over night at Granite creek Or
the ZIst we lett the ranch, striking due East to-
wards the San Francisco. The mules were
many OF them very fractions and tried hald to get
rld OF their packs, but we made about ) miles
the first day. and camped at spring we called
Cotton wood spring. There was an abundance OF
water, and some OF the miners ia the party found
the color"
Next morning we pursued our journey at 10
o clock and came to the main branch of the Aqua
rla' which runs nearly North and South. We
crossed 1t and kept the Indian trail bearing to
the East On the next day We lost the trail 10
a dry creek, and took our course towards a pass
IN the mountain range before us, hoping 10 i6pd
a trail through it leading to the river but in this
we were mistaken. Coming TO an almost mpas-
sable canon We descended for some distance and
Hound that the mules could not get footing.
while some Of them rolled 40 or so feet into the
abyss below 1t was difficult to get back and we
encamped for the night. Some of Che footmen
went through TO the San Francisco and were re-
warded for their pains by having no supper, nor
breakfast the next MORNING Next day the
whele party got through the canon by sending
men forward TO prepare pathw We reached
the river at ii o'clock. Governor Goodwin
named the canon through which we had passed
Cascade Canon. The San Francisco is a larger
stream than had supposed It to be- 1t runs
rapidly through the mountains aud We found il
Impossible TO follow its banks owing to the high
bluffs and rocks. We were compelled to make
detour over mountain ia order to ascend the
river and reach the upper valley, some or 8
miles distant We entered it the next day IL
is upwards OF 20 miles long, varying from half a
mile to two miles in width. The soil il of a
sandy nature and there are heagy deposits from
the ireshets. There are mountains ali about the
valley, except on the North West which IS
bounded by high bluffs stretching 10 the direction
81 Fort Whipple, TO which place good wagon
road could apparently be made. The North
W est fork leads in that direction and probably
he Omega creek at the fert is the head waters
. Sne 80. 'olk no.. "A
he valley, Major Willis saw some Indians ahead
Chavez started IN pursuit aud most of the party
ouowed. rancheria had been surprised and |
he Indians were crossing The river 10 ESCAPE.
There was much firing by both parties. some Of
he Indians standing very CALAMITY An arrow
passed through the ear OF the Majors horse.
Private Fisher Of Captain Pizhons cavalry co.
vas wounded IN the side by az arrow and has
lnce died. This was the only casualty ON our
ide. Of the lrdians five We're killed. and we
'urned the ranchera.
The upper valley of the San francisco is of
title worth for farming purposes the soil as be-
ore stated is candy with little slick and liable to
g flooded by the overflow Of the river at least
n the West side. The East side is far the BEST
nd several ranches might be had there, though
o timber but cottonwood, and not much of that
found upon The stream. 1t would be difficult.
not impossible, to get good wagon road from
ne South or South West which many think are
prove the best mining districts in the Territory
We observed no mineral indications in the
alley. The mountains are volcanic aud the
ountry is much covered with lava as about the
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