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

hclent room to drive o four-horse team
around it. Many thousands of people
could find shelter from a storm in this
mammoth cave. The roof must be 1875
feet high, and large trees grow beneath
IT. The houses here looked as il they
had been broken down by cave frora
the hanging wall. We counted seven
rooms in one house. and found what
looked like cistern. such as are built at
this age Of the world. Small holes were
left in the walls Of the house, supposed
to have been used as port holes-as it
seems all these villages were built to
fortfy themselves against the attacks OF
enemies. The mortar looked as if it
had been made of sand, without lime,
but had formed into cement almost as
hard as the rocks used id erecting the
structures. The Indians now living in
these valleys can give no Information as
to when these houses were built, nor as
to who built them. Persons who pre-
tend TO know say the Indians have
superstitous dread of going into any of
these ruins. The whole country is dot
ted with pieces of broken pottery.
We generally found pretty good feed,
but water was not SO plenty. e. q
The next thing of Importance was our
visit to the diamond fields, which are
situated on the Rio de Chiefly. where we
gathered quite number of rubies.
Here was where the little chickering's
that had been going on in our little party
of 23 men and AZ animals began to as
sumo shape and threatened split in the
company; but one days rest for our
weary animals, where they had plenty
of good feed, put all of us in better
humor. =s ~ - .-t .- l-az=a..
Our guide here found mule, sup
posed to be one that gave out and was
left by Lieut.. Wheeler; aud the next day
he found another, and brought them
both in.
When we left the ruby fields it was
generally understood that we would go
in an easterly direction as near as prac-
ticable, which we did for about Is miles,
following the old footprints of Wheeler;
but they turned from east to north, and
still our party persisted in following
them, until we Travelled about 80 miles,
where night overlook us, when we camp
ed without water and with but little feed.
Next morning we made an early start
and found water after travelling about 10
miles, where we rested the remainder OF
the day 1t rained most of the night at
this place, and the high lands were SO
covered with dense fog that we were
unable to get sight of our landmarks.
Here our party divided, and the old tac-
tics was resumed in going few miles
south, then little east, and then as
much north as we went south, until we
finally reached the long-looked for San
Juan river. Had we kept the course de.
termined upon when we left the diamond
fields we would have accomplished in less
than two days all we did in five, counting
one day that we laid over. Should any
/ other parties ever strike our trail and
follow it they will curse us for all the
idiots that ever got out of sight of theil
mothers. Most of our party wished they
had never seen the footprints supposed
to have been made by the Wheeler party
but in this instance, as in most Others
of the kind where mistakes are made, nj
one was to blame, and we all share alike
After travelling up the river one da.
we camped near where the Indian trail
for the first time could be seen crossinI
the river and running north and south
Here the most OF our little party wer
undecided as to the best route, SO W
agreed to lay over day, and our guild
and Mr.. Foss took their best horses ant
secured the country along the base of
small mountain range lying south of tn
river, hoping to find an Indian TO
guide, but no aborigine could b
discovered, although fresh Indian sign
were visible. Next day we again starte
on our journey, this time all agreeing t
follow up the river until We reached til
Animus, then follow it to the mines
But we chopped on reaching the frs
cross trail, as usual turning from q
easterly course to almost direct nortl
until we reached the Rio Marcus, whic
|, we had crossed two days previous nea
the San Juan where it was dry, but te
miles from its mouth it is good size
stream. We followed up the Mancus III
J til near its head, which took us thre
days, over very rough trail. III
banks of this stream are SO high that it
: very difficult to find place where yo
: can get horse down to the stream, an
let me say right here that once you G,
, in this canyon with horse you ca
, never get him out, only by following u
the river to near its head, or down
the mouth of the canyon. unless yo
} hoist him up a perpendicular wall I
. sandstone from 500 to 1000 feet high, |
, block and tackle or some other powe
: Along this river coal can be seen cro]
! ping out to the very surface. Near IL
, head of this river we came to q mo-
( open and level country, and found on
| selves north of the western terminus
, the San Juan range. Now comes Il
hours of our discomfort. Some said tn
they were not going any further unle
I some low pass crossed by trail could
. found leading to the south side of Il
> mountains. We camped about l o'cloc
| and proposition was made to lay ov
, and send two men out with two or thr
! days rations to look up pass. Nothil
1 was done, however, except what VI
, learned from the boys while out huntil
for game, keeping q good look out +
: the trail at the same time. l took upt
J myself the task of ascending one of Il
> highest peaks, lying at distance
8 about five miles. Our guide being t.
. tired to make the journey that day, al
' time being too precious to waste, su
: ceeded in reaching the mountain top ju
. before the sun disappeared behind Il
. western horizon. From my elevate
5 position could plainly see that the
, was low pass, and was 10 we'll sati
fed with its being passable that I b,
: fully made up my mind to cross over
= the morning if possible at all hazards.
= returned to camp about 2 O'Clock p. N
g when I was told that trail had be,
' seen leading toward the the low gap
f pointed out to them. Fora or da
!, past we seldom saw the sun, and on tn
day the clouds began to thicken
o though the tiesoy snow might commen
Q falling at any moment. We were nj
where we had good reason TO belle
+ that snow falls to depth OF from Fl
to seven feet. Five or six inches alrea
d covered the north hillside, and you m
r now we'll imagine the many misgivin
l. | .f Ettla s,a~kv a. -