The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-05-29
LETTER FROM REV. A. T. WHITE.
OREAxA, May IS, 1868

Portable day, and We ascenueo . pe"n
directly east of Oreaua, 94s feet high
the formation i. trachitic. While taking
our observations we were overtaken with
n most terrific thunderstorm. Clouds
enveloped the mountains all around US
and far down below US. The light OF
the sun was darkened tho gloom was
complete the lightning flashed aud
Kissed in every direction the thunder
broke in terrific peals and rolled away
among the distant peaks with sudden
crashes and loud rumblings. 1t rained,
huiled and showed by turns. We took
down our instruments, shackled orr
mules. threw our saddle blankets over
our shoulders. and crawled away under
some shelving rocks. The wind swept
over US in fearful gusts; then all was
still and silent for moment. Then a
blaze of lightning, a clap of thunder,
and the roar Of the falling rain. After a
whlle the StOTW WINS speHt ehS ''6 ~
ming was less vivid the thunder died
away; light returned, and in an hour
the sun shone forth clear and beautiful.
Yesterday was the Sabbath; and, by
Request, preached to abou. sixty PEG
pie. The audience wore an Intelligent
and pleasant look, and gave the best
attention There were eleven ladies
present. The singing was good, and
the service hope was profitable 1t
was he first religious meeting ever held
in this place.
Oreana has probably a population OF
about seventy FIVE Americans, ten or
fifteen Mopgolans, and Psh-Utes ad lib
it,f,a. There are six families, twenty
three or four houses, aud one mill, With
fee stamps, at work on ore from the
Mcu,ezuma mine. The place is situated
on the west bank Of the Humboldt River,
which is bridged at this place. The ore
of the Nontezuma mine is peculiar II
Yields rich return of silver, lead and
autimony, and generally needs no crush
ing. 1t is shoveled out of the mine often
! in the form cf brown earth, and simply
sm-lted and then the metals are sep
ara.ed and the bullion shipped. Our
ola friend, Fred. F. Wright, is here, well
and fourishing, connected with the mill,
To- day Nj. Gustav bias gone south some
fifteen miles, to bring up some topo-
graphical observations, which could no,
be made the other day in the storm. Mr..
Watson and l are in camp, writing up
our correspondence.
Our animals stand the travel well and
our men are enjoying good health.
| Were it not for the frequent cold rains,
the repeated snow and hail storms, we
should have pleasant time. 1t is true
there are some minor aunoyauces, such
as innuuerable multitudes of sandtiies,
which swarm along the river and in the
low grounds on every sunny day a
few thousard bloodthirsty mosquitoes
are intermingled, and in grassy places
the air, when warm, is well filled with
green headed horsefies. These insects
on the Humboldt are rapncious, in'ru-
sive, abomiuable.
The country is now in its prime ;
thousands of acres have been stript OF
the sage for fuel the dams for milling
nurposes have flooded the low lands and
the tules wherever the eye turns over
the plains there are acres Of bare sand
or sheets Of brackish water, or stretches
Of alkali fats. Occasionally there are
green soots. but these are few and far
between. We have fine large potatoes
from Unionyille, the product of last
wears crop. There are many things
would like to write, but l must forbear
for the present.
Our party is a pleasant one-no drink
ers, no gamblers, and not much pro-
family. l hope ny friends who expect
to hear from me directly, will accept
this bastv sketch instead. | think OF