The weekly Butte record., 1867-02-23
Notes of n Trip through Arizona in th'
OF 1866.

Notes Trip through Arizona the
Summer OF 1866.
We present TO our readers the following from
Mr.. John II. Marion, who was employed in the Re-
CORD office from 1859 until lsfl. Mr. Marion be-
came member of the late " White Mountain Pros
pecting and Exploring Company" in Arizona, and
he communicates to the Ari-ona Miner an account
of the travals OF the Company, nearly six columns
In length, in regular Journal style, from July IS,
to October II, 1866. Mr.. Marion is not only favor
ably known to the citizens of this place, but Is a
man of just observation and considerable research
We give so much OF his communication as we can
make room for:
July 49, 1865. This was the first day fixed upon
for departure from rendezvous, about two and
a half miles below Prescott on Granite Creek, and
the sun, as he sent down his sharp rays over hill
and tree tops, into camp heheld every man at
his post. All were cheerful. happy, and ev
cry man expected to return millionaire. We were
composed OF representatives from nearly every
State in the Union and every country in Europe
We differed in religion. in politics and IN great
many other things. Yet each one We'd with the 9th
er in making time pass pleasant and keeping up
the general good feeling OF the party. We had the
day previous elected Captain, Mr.. John Brewing
ton, who, We thought, was inst the man to lead us
through the unknown region we proposed to visit
\ good mountaineer excellent packer, and
brave man--these were his qualifications, and were
IL Itf iudI uilehlitg curse ol dbe tien-WilHet
and brainiess advi>erS-no doubt he would have
proved equal TO our expectations. At length all
were ready and We took up line of m lreh for
Bigelow camp on Lynx Greek, distant about seven
miles. where we soon arrived and encamped, turned
animals out to feed upon the excellent gramma
with which the hills and valleys were covered. The
new coHers 10 the Territory started out to prospect
the jiggineS and were il not that they expected to
find the precious oro in huge pieces and thickly
strewn the Sierra Blanca copntrv-some of
them would have went right To work at the business
at gold dentistry Lynx creek. Night soon came
our animals were driven up. tied To stakes and Il
guard placed over them to keep them from falling
into the hands Of the omnpIesent Apache. The
route of the Rio Verde chosen. The advocates
of the route via. the San Francisco mountains and
the Little Colorado tound themselves outgeneraled
a> they allowed themselves to be led out on the
Verde road seven miles without objecting, and
''now, the others argued, 1t would be crawtfshing
10 turn back. SO Verde won.
July II. Camped on Ash Greek, distant about
lG miles
July Is. Travelled northeast about l2 miles to
valley, where we found plenty of wood water and
grass.
July lG. Travelled northeast twelve miles. 10 the
Rio Verde, or as some call it. the San Francisco.
We descended to the river through Copper Canon.
4 narrow and somewhat ugly highway, after con
siderable trouble in keeping the packs upon the
backs OF our animals. Ne crossed the Verde with
out trouble and camped on its east bank. As the
country between Prescott and the Verde is pretty
well known will content myself with the follow
ing brief description: Most generally the fnrma-
ton is micaceouS and teldspathic granite, with
some siate-prncipay mica and tseose This
formation as every miner knows, contains veins OF
quartz. sometimes barren then again, gold-bearing
and very often both. and this section of country Is
no exception 10 the general rule, as the hinge lodges
and the immense amount of float quartz over which
we passed proves. The face uf the country Is MI
ly; covered with lUXuriant growth OF the nutr-
gramma; is toleraby well watered, and is as fine
stock raising country could be wished tor.
Along the streams there some beautiful valleys
with ash oak and other timber Game, also Is tol-
cradle plenty.
July Il and Is Laid in camp as wo wished To
see and have a talk with the old pioneer, Pauline
Weaver of "pTe historic fame. who Is now out as
guide for a company OF soldiers tMeSlcanS) who
are hunting Indians. deieTminsd TO take rde
round the valley, examine the river, etc The iol-
lowing Is the result Of nv lshorS on that occasion:
proceeded down the vaiy about two miles, where
found and was warmly welcomed by some TWEEN
ty-hve or thirty citizen pioneers of Arizona, who
had >quattcd down here to iay the foundation OF
future fortunes. They are brave. fearless and in
duStrious meD-valuable citizens Of an Invaluable
republic. 1t WAS surprising 10 see the the amount
ot work done by these people in the short space OF
time they had lived here, and with the villainous
apache ever on the aert-ever watching his chance
TO take from them their lives, their property, their
all. | WAS informed that the river was now at low
water marx and that when il a bender il
WAS difficult to cross ii. found it however to be
stream Of considerable importance as large, if not
larger than the north FORK of Feather river. Cali
iornia. and very swift. There are plenty OF fish III
It's waters, and did not find it difficult 10 cap
tHre them. Ii rams through valley nearly fifty
miles in length. by from 10 five miles in width,
nearly all ct which can be made TO yield corn cot
ton. tobacco. sugar cane vegetables. etc. There is
plenty of cottonwood, mezqait, ash, sycamore and
huge willow. Pine in immense quantity can be
had from the mountains to the northeast by going
distance OF from ten 10 fifteen miles. The soil Is
rich and capable oi producing almost any kind of
a crop, and the climate Is similar 10 that Of the
foothil portion OF Calitornla-->now rarely ever
,ffs, hot
rain are frequent (rivalliug California in that res
pect y which keeps the grass aud growing crops
green and beautiful, and makes irrigation scarcely
necessary. The corn. wheat and vegetables plant
cd by the settlers looked well. Two companies OF
the Arizona First (MeNicansl were stationed here
Formation lava and shale; to the south II is gran
lite. All this long valley there rnins Of ancieut
dwellings ves eS of former civilization ana Indus
try. which doubt were destroyed by the hands
of the ruthless Apache. \ few miles below the
settlements the river runs through the long deep
canon, roaring boiling, and sUrgins until its con
nuence with salt river This river takes lis rise III
the San Francisco mountain, and in the mesa 10
the east Of said mountain. Above the crossing.
large stream named Beaver creek flows into the
valley; below, Clear creek comes rushing down,
until reaches the dam built by the settlers. trom
whence it is carried in Iiehe> TO irrgaie the iaraiS
should irrigation become necessary.
July II. Siraok out southeast, crossed Clear
and Sycamore creeks and camned in valley where
we ioand Mexican soldiers with an Apache prison
CT and scalps- They were commanded by the fam
ous Lieutenant GalegoS, he who has 50 often car
red terror 10 the heart OF Apachedom. When a
boy be was among the Coyotegro Indians, learned
their language and became acquainted with their
haants. The country passed over to-day is lava
formation, with plenty of timber on the creek bot
toms and excellent grass and water. The climate
IS warm.
July 20. To-day we went over a very rugged
country aud enoamped upon large. beaatitui
mountain Stream called Fossil Creek, '-foFmaiion
lava. also saw white bed rock, resembling por'