The Placer herald., 1865-03-11
TRAVELLING THE CIRCUIT IN ARI-
IONA.
[rEoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT

|
tory, by briet description OF u "trip recently
made by me for the purpose Of attending a term
oi 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
| q sensation.
On the morning Of the a9th of January, 1865
three travellers nj ght have cen seen, two Of them
moun'ed on mules, and one IF them lrivin one
loaded with a ack containing provisions, blan-
kcts. saddle-h .gs, packages, Gc., &e., wendin g
their way out through the pine ior,st and over
the mountains Of Prescott. All were we'll armed
and each one kept wary Glances into the dark
gorgcs and over the snowy peaks rs they passed
along. | am not aware that either ot these
persons are in love, and therefore | will drop
the style OF Mr.. James romances, and inform
you that your correspondent was one Of this
party, and the cavalca0c 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 Husscgampe and
Williams Fork. and other streams, into sandy
washes. over grassy wlterless valleys. and by
iron volcanic hills. our course changing TO little
south oi west. One night we passed Skull VAL
ley. called from settler there having cXhum-
ed quantity Of human bones. supposed to be re-
mains OF Indians. One Of these skulls was OF cX
| tiN0rdlnavy dincnSi0us-about the size OF 4 half
bushel measure, and not unlike . few such r.
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 ranchero was 50 exciting, that he mashed
the skull into fragments to giNtily bis great
thirst for Knowledge. There is however in Cali
loynia, q legend Of a race Of giants among the
Indians and these fossils probably belong to
that GEMS hOnl0.
We were travelling over ore OF the crossway
grounds. lnuch used by the hostile Indians in
passing from east to west in their orays upon the
white settlers, but VIC SAW not 4 sign nor heard
y i'-f
After twenty miles travel we struck upon Il run
ming stream called kirkland Creek ono OF the
tributaries o the Santa Maria, ana cumped about
sun down a q ranch. Here We were informed
that the Indians, on the day previous, had driven
of all the stock Of the ranches thercabouts. and
ol some prospectOrs and advised US to vigilance.
party went in pursuit O! the thieves, but they
had got too much the start OF their pursucrs and
so escaped with their booty to their country
further cast. For greater security we lay by our
mules in the corral. but in the nj rilt were driven
by rain storm to the shelter OF the house, in
which the rain was descending in spots through
the ROOF. About a. NJ, the storm held up lit
tie and the sun shone out. we determined to make
q start, and sadded and packed up for the road.
We had not got out of sight OF cur camp when
the storm came on again, cold aud furious, and
as we pursued our lonely path over mountain
aud through canon and valley, the storm pclted
upon US, now and then the sun would peep out
from INC Ullh Iuulti CIuuuS. Eppulpuiiy WIuhlUH
at us over the Joke, the point OF which we failed
to sec. 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 Creek. Here stood the Colonel
in the door oi bis recently bUjt house, and hail
cd me to know what evil star had driven me
into such a storm. and expressing bitter regrets
over bis own condition. Upon further inspec-
tion of the premises we found he had good reason
for erumbing. The roof was leaking, and the
rain inside vas, il anything, more furious than
outside. Iuc Greek WAS up to its banks, the
Aooy all puddle. and everything about in mis-
cradle plight. | obtained 4 morsel to cat and
the shelter Of tent on the hill side near by, but
the waters rose during tho nj ght. submerging
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 ne, but will never believe it was Z foot
less than forty. AT this place we were weather
and water bound for two days. as well as other
unfortunate parties, tcamsters 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 u stony path, past huge. volcanic
looking mountain brought us to the Indian
Wcls,' and down in ravno, bursting from
the rocks is q 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
q 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 small
grassy wash by the light Of the moon a dry
camp.
Bright and carly next day We commenced our
| t,o fret
time on the banks Of BIZ Williams Fork, now
flooded by the recent rains, which however we
| Iorded, 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 oar
desolate camp, and as our camp lire glaled out
| and was reflected back from the hungry eyes OF
our exhausted brutes, we philosophical upon the
! luXures OF travel in Arizona Fortunately no
storm visited US, and in the morning after care
full rcconuoitcring we torded the river without
losing anything from the mry quck-sand, and
clambcring over the sharp rocky peaks putting
from the river, we managed to find our way into
4 grassy wash where man and beast repcnlshcd
strength from food and rest Eight miles from
our last nights camp, we came to the camp oil
the Planet Copper mine, where we were hospl-
taby entertained. 1t was high time we should
make port. for we had exhausted our supply OF
jerked beef and hard bread.
This mine is owned by q 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 desGeratum in this
country, true vein with its wall rock. and other
indications. The ore is easily got at. averaging
near ton q day per laborer on the mine and
will pay from twenty to seventy per cent-torty-
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
fifty tons of the ore. from which it is expected, in
gross proceeds, at least two hundred dollars per
ton. This is pretty well for the Planet" and
l do not doubt what is asserted on all sides here
thatthere are plenty of other stars, in this plan
etory 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-