Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-12-30

bark was welcomed With cheer from us
that made the woods ring. A few feet
more and the dog could be seen standing
by horse that was tied in dense thick
ct. q white mans coat was tied behind
the saddle, and it was at once determined
to be white mans horse and dog. The
boys shook tine old dogs paws and felt
rs glad to meet this canine as though he
had been some long lost friend. We left
a notice for the owner OF the horse to
come to our camp on his return. We
lost no time in squatting on the nearest
camping ground and firing q few shots,
in the hope of attracting the attention of
our supposed friend. 1t had now been
about fourteen or fifteen days since we
left the Navahoe camp or seen person
except one Of our own party. On the
fourth day after We split, our party came
together again and camped one night at
the same place, but next morning We
separated again, and since then l have
not seen them, though they struck our
trail and came in on it one day and
half behind us.
The gentleman we were waiting for
put in his appearance in about two
hours, and we were pleased to learn that
he had once been resident of Pioche.
He (Mr. Osburn) informed us that be
was one Of the company interested in the
relocation Of the new town site of AMI
mus City, and in road to be built from
Iona to Animus, also in road
to be built from this place to
Animus. Animus City had been
built up in 1862 and the town and
valley numbered about 1900 souls.
Many evidences of this colony are yet to
be seen. shall not attempt to give you
the history of these unfortunate people
until can learn more of the particulars
concerning them. We learned from Mr..
Osburn that there was no provisions to
be got, unless in case of absolute want.
The company working the Little Giant
have suspended all work until Spring,
except few men who are working on
contract, and there were not to exceed
forty men all told in the valley mines,
and none OF those we saw had supplies
sufficient to last them the Winter.
When we struck the Animus, it was at
what is called the Lower Park, IS miles
from the mines. The Upper Park,
where the principal mines are located, is
known as Bakes Park. It was now the
first day of December, and we had barely
enough provisions. To visit the mines
we must assend from an altitude of $500
to one of II, 700 feet, where snow laid at
that time to depth Of IS inches to two
feet, and our horses must be rough shod
to enable them to climb the slippery
trail. We spent one day in the valley
and went up ten miles to the principal
sediment "a few of US went up) where
we gathered all the information we could.
Here we met parties that had succeeded
in getting through withtwo-horse wagons,
and while on our way to this place we
met three men from Pueblo, with two
mules and a wagon and two jocks, who
had been travelling since the Sd Of No
vember; we also met parties here that
left Denver about the same time. We
have not been in sight Of the mines yet.
We are told that Iona Cor Del Norte,
one and the same place. was about l2C
from Animus City "a city in the Pros
pectus and Tiera Amarillo, where an
now, was about l03 miles,, but we wer,
advised net to attempt to cross over Il
Iona by the direct trail, called the Lo
Pinos Pass, at least if the weather looket
threatening, though it was hard thin
for any of us, and myself in particular
to consent to go 200 miles around, ye
our circumstances compelled us to do so
was so fully determined TO make tn,
cut off, that Foresythe and divided
up. and myself, Foresythe, Foss, Wray
Toland, Campbell, Hutchings, Mcclure
Pheasant, Trimble and j. b. Stone, o
Colorado, are here-the last named gen
} tleman is acting as our interpreter her
, among the Mexicans, whose hospitalit,
we are now sharing. This place is mad
up of four little towns, comprising
, population OF 700 people, and marke,
on the map as Camp Fort Plummer
, situated on the Rio de Chamma. Th
: day we left the Animus it commence
, showing, and snow fell every day unit
I we reached here--taking us six days
: falling 8 inches the first day and
g inches the second, and before we reache
Q here we waded through snow 20 inche
s deep. To-day is the 18th, and we hav
4 been here Ave days, where they told II
1 that only few inches Of snow falls, an
I it has been showing nearly half tho tim
a since we got here. The Mexicans sa
p the snow fall here ranges from two t
0 five feet. We were told that we coul
L get to. Iona from here in 100 miles, bu
t we are now informed that we canno
' cross the mountains and must go %
. miles to reach Iona, or If we wish
= strike Pueblo we must travel some ful
Q ther. Our horses were cut down NOR
o in the six days snowstorm than in all th
;. rest OF the trip. can hardly help fee
4 ing thankful that gave up the idea {
. going direct to Iona, as we have jus
It met two men here who started eigt
IS days before we did and were obliged I
9 turn back, and only got here one da
o before us, after going without food {
:, any kind for three days.
n l will 60 back now and mention o fe
. facts that may he of interest to you thl
Q l have overlooked so far. Arizona, {
. that part traversed by us. is rock,
g bluffy sandstone formation, and sand
n hills and valleys. At a rough estimat,
n l should say that we travelled $50 mile
Q in sand. There are many miles in lengt
# of sandstone that is striped of all veg
o tation and as clean as though it had bee
d swept with broom. When it storm
: the water runs off of this smoot
It rock as it would off of tin roof, an
% falling over bluffs sometimes hundred
d OF feet high. Deep holes or wells are Q,
g out OF the solid rock by the fall of IL
j. water, but on the levelest rocks hol,
d from the size Of cup to great cisterr
n are cut out by the action of the win,
l water and drifting sand. These natur
:, wells or cisterns are called tanks, an
N can generally be found containing mo-
l or less water shortly after q storm, ,
IS until it is evaporated or absorbed by II
is porous rock. There the traveller ca
Is auench the thirst OF himself and amin
q aud go on his way rejoicing. and
W made to admit that some good may
10 found even in the barren sandstone
70 Arizona. The San Juan, where v
y crossed it. would make swift ru
" ming stream of water one foot deep
70 100 feet in width, in the lowest stag
| L. ~, 81 al, ,.hn &.