Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-09-23
THE BIG HORN.
Grand Scenery. Plenty OF Game,
but mo Gold.

Aug. 30, 1877.
EDITOR SENTINEL: Since dis patch.
Ing my last letter to %you-and, by the
way, / have grave doubts of its hav.
ing reached its destination, as l had to
forward 1t by private bands-our par
ty has been engaged in prospecting
the streams and canyons that abound
in this delightful region. AS to our
success in u argonautic expedition,
am sorry to chronicle the fact hat our
discoveries have not been of q nature
to encourage us, or to make us believe
that this country Is the ultima thule OF
the gold. seeker. Fol three months
our party has industriously searched
Tor golden sands and deposits of the
precious metals. We have sunk in
Vulnerable holes, PANIED out the bot
toms OF creeks, and prospected every
place that held out the least induce
menls, but beyond one gulch that for
u short time yielded ordinary wages,
our work has gone for Daught, and
the members OF this party have come
to the conclusion that as an Ell Dorado
the Big Horn and surrounding
country may be termed q failure. We
we're among the first to penetrate
the mountains, arriving SOM time be-
fore the snow melted out of the val
leys. Since our sojourn numerous
parties have come in from the Black
Hills, and as far AS / have learned,
their experience has been the same as
u own. A grand hegira is going on
now, most OF the emigrants return
ing or scattering out in various direc-
lions. However, if we have failed in
our search after wealth we have the
consolation of knowing that none
others have been more fortunate than
ourselves, a selfish solace you will
say, but a human one. Nothing en-.
ables one to Lear his own misfortunes
so bravely as to think that his COM
panions are in the same boat. Ii our
luck has been Mill in our search for
gold we have been amply compen-
sated-by the enjoyment that this sum
mer paradise has afforded US.
wANDERINGs.
We have roamed over mountains,
camped In grassy and secluded valleys,
fshed. hunted and trapped, reveled in
trout, ate venison In a thousand differ
ent ways, and can boast OF three de-
ceased buffaloes that fell victims to our
skill with Henry rifles. In crossing a
small range known as the Owl Creek
mountains, we struck a large herd of
bisons, and made An onslaught OH
them. The drove never took alarm
until we were within a stones throw;
then, at a snort from one who seemed
TO he the leader, away the whole crowd
dashed, heads down, tails in the air,
and TANKS heavipg. After the first
fright, We put spurs to our horses, and
as oon as We were within range dis
mounted, and by good fortune dropped
three. two COWS and a bull. Hump
steaks and buffalo tongue formed the
chief dishes of our cuisine for the next
week, and we camped and dried enough
of the meat To supply our larder for a
month to come. From the valley
where the buffaloes were killed, to the
summit of the Big Horn mountains,
we were obliged TO ford a number OF
foamiug torrents, whose waters fairly
Kissed as they broke passage through
the rocks. We met with some little
difficulty, but finally gained the crest,
and had the pleasure of gazing on "A
grand panorama.
THE SCENERY.
The Big Horn and its tributaries
spread out at our feet Ikea map, every
stream, hill and clump of trees are Us
distinctly visible as If they formed the
pattern Of an exquisite carpet. Then,
too, the e~xhilaratiDg atmosphere, laden
with resinous balm from the pine and
spruce forests surrounding us, ought
rot to be omitted from my description.
New life entered the lungs at every
breath, and it may have been this
cause. as well as our qualification at ar
irving at the summit that made our
conversation sound so joyous, and nj
senses expand as we gszed AT the beau
tiful vista before us. After looking u
full, we built huge fires out of the
broken spruce limbs that were strewn
over the ground. and as the sun sank,
noted the weird shadows cast by the
stately trees. The air is very cool at
night, never exceeding 80 degrees, and
running down to freezing point fire.
quently.
ONE WHOLE SUMNER
Has been passed in these noble mount
aims, living in the midst of woods and
strolling along rushing streams. Civil
izatiOn is afar of, and our half bar
barrie. and wholly noinadic existence
has a charm that jewellers in cities
know not Of. The health restoring,
life giving properties Of this section
cannot be overrated, and the time will
come when its qualities will make the
country q popular summer resort.
RETURN.
My next letter will probably be dat.
ed from the Black Hills. We have
concluded to spend another month
wandering through the hills and
dales, In hopes that fortune may yet
smile on US, and If our hopes fail US,
we will then take up our backward
march. Although the summers are
40 delightful the winters are very
severe, and the storms long and bitter.
Snow falls to an unprecedented depth,
and no one would willingly encounter
its rigor. After all that can be said of
nature and her enjoyments, there are a
faw things p~ertaininu to the seitla-