The Placer herald., 1865-03-11
TRAVELLING THE CIRCUIT IN ARR
IONA.
[rnoM AN OCCASIONAL coRREspoNDENrl

I 4
tory, by briet description OF a trip recently
made by me for the purpose OF attending a term
OF our District Court at La Paz. don't expect
to surprise any Californian, being we'll aware that
nothing short OF an earthquake will afford 49er
a sensation.
On the morning of the 30th of January, 1863
three travellers might have been seen. two of them
mounted on mules, and one Of them driving one
loaded with pack containing provisions, blan-
EctS. saddle-DagS, packa oes, dc.. &c., Wendin &
their way out through the pine forest and over
the mountains Of Prescott. All were we'll armed
and each one kept wary slances into the dark
| gorgcs and over the snowy peaks as they passed
along | am not aware that either Of these
persons are in love, and therefore l will drop
the style Of Mr.. James ronances and inform
you tnat your correspondent was one Of this
party, and the cavalc&dn en- route for la Paz.
Our path led US southwest for about eight miles,
when suddenly we stopped down from the heights,
in which arise the waters OF the flasscgampe and
Williams Fork. and other streams, into sandy
washes. over grassy wlterless valleys. and by
IRON volcanic hills. our course changing to 4 little
south OF west. One night we passed Skull Val
ley. so called from a settler there having cXhum-
ed aquNntity OF human bones supposed TO be re-
mains OF Indians. One oi these skulls was OF cX-
tUordinaYy dimcnSions-a about the size OF half
buShel measure, and not unlike q few such re-
mains as have been found at the depth Of twenty
or thirty feet below the surface in California;
Unfortunately ior the antiquarian the curiosity
OF the rlnchero was 30 exciting that he mashed
the Skull into fragments 10 grati!y his great
/ thirst Tor Know ledge. There is however in Cali
Iornia, q legend of race Of giants among the
Indians. and these fossils probably belong to
that oeN3lS h0niO
We were travelling over one OF the crossway
grounds, much used by the hostile Indians in
passing from east to west in their lorays upon the
white settlers, but we saw not sign nor heard
n 1 1,a cf
After twenty miles travel we struck upon run
ming stream called kirkland Creek. one Of the
tributaries OF the Santa Maria, and camped about
sun down 1t a ranch. Here We were informed
that the Indians. on the day previous had driven
oil all the stock Of the ranchos thercabOuts. and
OF some prospectors, and advised US to vigilance
party went in pursuit Of the thieves, bat they
had got too much the start OF their pursuers, and
so escaped with their booty to their country
farther cast For greater security we lay by our
mules in the corral. but in the night We're driven
by rain storm to the shelter OF the house, in
which the rain was descending in spots through
the rool. About a. NJ. the storm held UD lit
tie and the sun shone out we determined TO make
q start, and saddled and packed up for the road.
We had not got out Of sight Of cur camp when
the storm came on again, cold and furious. and
as we pursued our lonely path over mountain
aud through canon and valley, the storm pc!ted
upon us. uow and then the sun would peep out
at Us over the joke, the point OF which we failed
TO see. As night closed in we changed our course
from west to south, and passing down a short
valley. wet to the skin. cold. weary and hungry.
we came upon the ranch OF Colonel Dobbins on
the banks OF Date Greek, Here stood the Colonel
in the door oi b,: recently built house. and hail
cd me to know what evil star had driven me
into such a storm. and expressing bitter regrets
over Lis own condition. Upon further inspec
tion Of the premises we found he had good reason
for sruGbng. The root Was leaking and the
rain inside vas, il anything, more furious than
outside Ine Greek was up TO its banks, the
floor all 4 puddle. and everything about in 4 mis-
cradle plight | obtained a morsel to cat and
the shelter Of tent on the hill side near by, but
the waters rose during the night. submergng
everything about the house, whereby our party
was the loser Of divers cheese, cups, etc., etc
We had made but twenty miles that day, as they
told mo, but will never believe it was foot
less than forty. Al this place we were weather
and water bound for two days. as well as other
unfortunate parties tcanlsers, packers, Travellers
&c.. whom we found there.
On the morning Of the Sd of February. though
cold and misty. we took the road. Twelve miles
travel over stony path, past huge. volcanic
looking mountain, brought us TO the Indian
Wclls,' and down in a ravino, bursting from
the rocks is a spring Of brackish water. From
here, passing our way little north Of west, at
the distance of eighteen miles, we struck the
Santa Maria stream ordinarily represented by
a waste OF parching sand, but now spreading
over an extended bottom. We had left the region
Of fine grasses, and now only found the coarse
gieta in spots. whilst the water from the wells"
to the river. is more or less mineral. Climbing
up the steep hills from the bed Of the creek. we
made our camp three miles further on, in y small
grassy wash by the light Of the moon a dry
camp.
Bright and carly next day We commenced our
| mil lce l,rou OH uc Grs
time on the banks OF Bill Williams Fork. now
flooded by the recent rains. which however we
lordcd, and passing up one wash over steep
mountain summit and down another wash. twenty
two miles brought US again to The banks of the
river and the close Of the day. In darkness,
without grass for our animals, and with sky drop
ping rain and threatening storm, we nude orr
desolate camp and as our camp lire glared out
and was reflected back from the hungry eyes Of
our exhausted brutcs, we philosophical upon the
luXures OF travel in Arizona. Fortunately no
storm visited US, and iu the morning after care
tul reconnoitering we iorded the river without
losing anything from the miry quick-sand, and
clambcrng over the sharp rocky peaks putting
| from the river we managed to find our way into
4 grassy wash where man and beast replenshcd
strength from food and rest. Eight miles from
our last nights camp, we came to the camp OF
| tho Planet Copper mine, where we were hospl-
tably entertained 1t was high time we should
|
jerked beef and hard bread.
This mine is owned by corporation in San
Francisco, and is good property. | am assured
that there are thousands Of tons OF good ore
''sloshing" around on the surface, available for
! shipment besides it is claimed that they have
found what is the greatest desiGeratum in this
country q true vein with its wall rock. and other
Indications The ore is easily got at, averaging
near 4 ton q day per laborer on the mine and
will pay from twenty to seventy per cent-forty
five being the average. The company have at
the mine and al the mouth of the Fork some
twelve miles distant, in sacks for shipment. about
| fly tons Of the ore from which it is expected, in
gross proceeds, at least two hundred dollars per
ton This is pretty we'll for the planet and
| do not doubt what is asserted on all sides here,
thatther are plenty of other stars in this plan.
etary system
On the 9th, our wallets replenished and the
party recruited by wagon and another traveller,
we set out; two miles further crossing and re-
<>f-