The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-11-09
The 8ulletin.
ROMANCE OF THE ROCKIES.
Astounding Discoveries in the
San Juan District of Colorado.
An Ancient and Deserted City, Show
"a Ing kyifsnees ofAdvancement
EilrF IN the arts. Il tDll
Cales 10 Put n Muncbaps, u 20 the
L. niusb.
4 Chicago Times.

FADES 10 Put n huncbaps, u 20 the
~ Hiusn.
~ Chicago Times.
LA.x CITY, Col Oct. %. This Lusy
thriving metropolis Of what IL popularity
known AZ the San IAN country is nowco. >
vulsed, ami half crazy WITH excitement
over new and rich discoveries Of gold and
silver iodss in the san Miguel district, u
region OF country which lies forty miles
west OF Lake City, and which can only be
reached by crossing the snow-cad noun.
tains that separate the waters OF the In
compAghre from the Gunnlgon. This
mountain range Is nothing more nor les
than
AsuCCEssIoN OF GATHERING PEAKS
from thirteen thousand to fourteen thous-
and feet high, andwlth the exception Of
trail which leads down che Uncompaghre
river to Ouray, Is absolutely inaccessible,
except during the summer months. For
years pas. old hunters and prospectors
have limited my sterouly OF the San Miguel
and Dolores valleys, and under the seduc-
tive infuen o OF Old Bourbon and the
campfire, told of streams whose sands
were yellow with gold; OF pay streaks and
ba where fortunes could be taken cut in
single week with common sluice box
aud rocker; and OF leads Of quartz in the
mountain aide that fairly gittered with
specks Of free gold and ruby silver; but
until quite lately oil these yarns were Sc
down AZ harmless fresks Of tbs Imagination
and no effort was III ,de to discover the
real character Snd richness Of the country.
At last w. W. Remin,, a veteran pioneer
and prospector' whose life has been spent
Oh the western slope, and who at the COM
paratively early age of 30 years hos made
and lost a dozen fortunes, determineI to
investigate matters for himself, and early
in June, 1876, left Sylvester with nothing
but his trusty rife and pack mule, with
the av0wed intention Of exploring the mys.
terlous valley ofthe San Miguel. In vain
his comrades re presented the dangers aud
hardships to which he would be subjected.
Remine was immoyable In his purpose, and
after struggling through mountain canons
and over giddy heights never before pass.
by the foot OF man, he found himself one
bright morning in Angus. standing in
beautiful valley nearly two miles IN width,
through which dow ed tbs crystal waters OF
the San Mlguile. Intent upon exploration,
he followed the stream down distance OF
twenty miles, TO its confluence with this
Dolores river, and here found valley ten
miles wide, level as billiard table, and
coversd with luxuriant growth Of grass.
which waved in the summer breeze and az
forded nourshments to large herds of buf.
falo, mountain sheep, black.tail deer, ard
every 81 ecieS Of game known TO the Rocky
mountain region. The primlyal simplicity
and wilineS of Eden was here. The deer
and antelope had never been hunted, and
gazed with tlrnid curiosity on Remine, al
lowing the bold intruder to wax up walk
I'D within few yards. Ancient ruins and
fragments Of pottery were scattered in
every direction, and the foundation walls
otsome Of the buildings were sill standing
In good state OF preservation. IN the
centre Of the ruins and standing 10 clear,
open space was the remains of temple,
which had evidently been devoted to the
worship OF the sun. The walls were Of
hewn stone, and so artisticalIy laid togeth-
er that 1t was hard to detect joint. A
wall fifty feet thick, apparently, several
miles in circumference, was yi.ible in
many places, making 1t probable that this
prehistoric city, like Babylon of old, had q
population
SKILLED IN TUE ARTS OF ANCIENT WAR.
FARE,
and who built Ii in such manner as to be
inyulnerable by any such appliance as q
Roman battering ram. In places houses
we're found completely covered with earth,
having become 30 BY the long process Of
time. In one OF these houses Remine
found an opening but little moro than
large enough to admit 0 mans body, and
by means Of Q rope which he brought along
| with him. he let himself down into what
he considered the upper story Of q build
| ing OF enormous size. There were at least
o dozen different apartments, fome OF
them very large. He found good placer In
| dications along the the bed OF the Miguel
| in his search for gold, and iully convinced
al last OF the mineral wealth OF the country
! he retraccdhis footsteps, reaching Silvert0n
| the latter part Of August. ...|T