The weekly Butte record., 1867-02-23

have posts in new countries commanded by stiff.
necked. straight-iaced Yankees, who would help in
their development and exploration. What would
the loss Of a few hunored pounds of provisions be
the people of the United States, compared 10 the
actual benefit the finding. by Us, Of rich mineral
cOnntry, (as in all probability We should have done
had the pdrtybeen able to prospect Toato BASIN
and the pinal Mountains would confer upon the
whole people? Would il not be Of much more ser
vice TO them than connssariat fnli Of provisions
distributed among Indian thieves and murierers
think 50. but Col. Chopin thought different.
Fort Goodwin is very beautifully situated on a
small stream called Tuaroso- which rises IN a
range of mountains close 10 and cas-, of the post
Ii was garris9ned By three companies OF the Four
teenth Infantry: is kept very clean, snd, for new
fort. looked tolerabe comfortable The garrison IS
watered by acequiaS or ditcRes from the Talaro>o.
The officers houses are shared by large uezqnt
trees which look very beautiful. A stream Of wa
ter runs through the parade ground. The soldiers
do scarcely any scouting. They principally en-
gagged in making adebes and escorting trains of
provisions for the Coyotero Apaches As board
ing house for these Indians, this post has wide
/ spread reputation. They camp close by, and as
high as five hundred of them receive ratons.
Procured the services OF an Indian guide, and
started September 18th, down the t;a, to prospect
the south side OF the of the White Mountains,
which lie about eighty or a hundred miles north of
Z the Fort Travelled over a poor booking country
and camped close 10 ranchera of Indians, who
had plenty of horses, mules corn etc. The coun-
/ try commences to look fertile and weter, timber
ana grass are abundant. From this point we wen
ded our way through a delightful country, through
which meander beautiful streams of clear water
until We reached Salt river large swift stream.
The rain poured down upon US in torrents, conver-
ting creeks into rivers and ulches into creeks Lo-
comotion became impossible and we were forced To
remain IN camp Our Coyasero guide became dis
satisfied aud put out for Fort Goodwin. without
earning the blankets and other things we had given
MN, and two OF our party, the next morning turn
ed back to Inc fort. Next day we moved on, and
n,.7. id lfr
( came to U.s. We passed through several of their
+ villages, where we found plenty of corn. horses,
/ mules and cattle. They appear more like MeXicans
than Indians, are Shrewed traders and close obSer
( yerS- Their language Is a sort of grunt. The men
wear their hair long, and dress themselves in very
simple costume. somewhat similar to the hyorite
I Georgia dress. They have Mexican Serapas, and
wear mocca>ns that nearly the whole OF their
lower limbs. Some of the squaws dress very tasty
! in old flour sacks buskins etc. The bewtchnr
young ladies generally have bells fastened To their
clothing: their hair Is braided aud iyed up in rats
( waterfalls. etc. They gingle Though lie very
sayly and with their tiny bells no doubt (w)rng
many avowal of love from the duSky warriors OF
their villages. They do nearly all the work. bat
appear very gay and loving to their lords and
sweethearts. think they are yirtnous, and II Is
very necessary for them IL be so as, should they
be found tranSgres>ing, they are pretty sure OF
having their eat OF and their whole face dis
figured. At the tori saw three or four OF them
thus diSfgured. They presented horrd looking
picture. lntN warning 10 Inelr sister >'IutN>.
The country in which these Indians live cannot be
surpassed for grazing ard agricultural purposes;
the streams are many and large the valleys are
very fertile, and good timber is everywhere to be
met with. The formation Is lava, except on the
east side Of the Prieta where there are large ce
ment hills with beds OF quartzoze granite. think
the country south contains gold, but dare 90 in
to It on account OF the scarcity OF provisions; be-
sides We want to prospect the south side of the
Sierra Blanca. The next Village we struck was the
where the head chief of the Coyoteros resides.
1t is in beautiful valley under the peaks of
the mountains. We were met on the road by six
painted warriors seat they said, by their Chief to
tell Us we welcome to their country. These Indi
ans think themselves some pumpkins. and are
naughty arrogant beggars. We had several talks
with their big guns, who wished to know what we
wanted in their country. We told them and they
said there was no gold to be found. tn ink these
Indians are villains. There was white man nam
ed Stone, from San Francisco. prospecting among
them, who they said had run out of provisions and
started for Santa Fe to procure more. They said
he gave them his mule. bnrro, gur and blankets,
all Of which they had in their possession; likely
story. We asked them if they knew of any whites
in their aountry, aud they let the cat out of the
bag thinking suppose that We knew all about
him. They seemed embarrassed, and it and is
my opinion that they mnr dered the unfortunate
man. They are sweet scented rascals for Govern
ment to treat with and feed. Better whip them
COED first and then treat with them ( have since
heard that Mr., Stone got into Pine Alto. but do
not know if the report be true.) We left next
morning, went up the river about eight miles, star
ted party into the heart of the mountains to pros
pect for gold; the balance of us built corral for
ourselves and animals. in case the Indians should
prove treacher0uS, bat they did not try to molest
After lapse of five days the party came
back. without finding even color. Tney ascendei
to the top of the highest peak, proSpected the
streams, etc, and came back disgisted with their
trip. They said The mountains very beautiful,
with springs, valleys, etc, but contain no gold or
silver. The formation is Il sort of sandstone and
81.
look white: other places it is red. There is no
granite, slate, serpentne or quartz. / prospected
the river bed and found one small color 1t must
have come from the gravel warh to the south. The
Indians who speak Spanish, Rio de los MilpaS, or
river of the Fields
We saw several Mexican captiyes among these
Indians; they appear to he content and do not want
to leave. tame Is pretty pleaty around the ranch
eras. They showed Us where, three years ago,
they killed several Navaios who tried to take their
horses and Squaws from them. Went south 10 an
other village named Chari>sa, situated in lovely
country. which contains large valleys and plenty OF
wood and water. 1t is q perfect paradise, and
would furnish homes for hundreds of white fami-
lies. At this village the Indians more friend
ly than elsewhere. treated very kindly, and
traded corn in generous manner, but did not want
Us to 70 any farther south through their country.
They said could not get through as there were
no trails and very bsd canons, which we could not
caoss We offered them everything. excepting
guns. for guide, but all to no purpose: they would
not go. Our gold pans created quite sensation
among them. They thought used them Tor
shields. The chief of this village had in his pos
session about dollars worth of gold, but would
not tell where he got it. 1t was in pieces OF
from one to four bits Next day went up the
mountain until we struck outgoing trail. when
six of party left Us TO 90 down the Little Colo
rapo to the wagon road from New Mexico to Pres
colt, as they did not wish To travel through the
mountains any more. This left the party with Is
men only, but We struck out over the road we
came, shortening it in many places Arrived at
the Rio Verde the 18th of October, without any
accident save the loss of mule, which the Indians
shot in the night, breaking her leg with bullet.
For the last fifty miles east OF the Verde, Indian
(Tonto) sign was very thick, especially in the
country between Fossil creek and the Verde. Corn
husks and cOhs covered the ground; camps with
So 15 and 100 eXtiDguished fires were 10 be seen
every few miles. and We thought the Tontos had
gathered the crops of our white friends. We found
a good many soldiers and citizens down sick with
the ague. unable To gather the crops or protect
them from Indian marauders. and some Of our
White Mountain boys set 10 work to help them out.
Although unsuccessful in our search for gold. the
party. nevertheless. accomplished great deal i
We travelled over 200 miles nearly half of which
was through a forest. the extent OF which has
hitherto been unknown, and through which, ere
long. Wells. Fargo i Cos Express will fly behind
the iron horse of civilization CARRYING the rich
treasures of Arizona to the cities OF the Atlantic
ana Pacific. and bringing in return, such commodi
ties as NAV require. This great belt OF timber
Is also needed in the desert portions of New Mex
leo Arizona and California, 10 build the Southern
Pacific Railroad etc. ana it will yet prove an I'M
Il . t.a, r-k- s1-,nv-