The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-16
Pixies Peak Historical.

COLORADO SPRINGS. Aug. y, 1913.
Comparatively few people in this coun-
try have not heard Of Pixies Peak; equally
few know much Of its early history and
that of the surrounding region. And it is
an interesting history-a history which
makes it seem like a misnomer to call
this "a new country As early as 1910,
the great Spanish explorer, Coronado, fol-
lowing but half a century in the wake Of
Columbus, is known to have entered what
is now southern Colorado, with an expedi-
ton in search of the fabulous gold fields of
which the natives had told them so much
Tradition states that they found some
gold, but alas! the witch hazel wand failed
to reveal the rich deposits which keener
science has revealed to the gold hunters of
later day.
And it would seem that Spanish greed
for gold had led some of the men of Mar
vaez into this region even earlier than
Coronado. Wonderful tales oe the beauties
of the northern country were related, and
they claimed to have found people pos
sessed of corn, beans, homespun goods,
gold, silver, and precious stones" These
tales seem probable, in view of the fact
that on the Mancos river, tributary of
the San Juan, 10 southwestern Colorado,
have been found some interesting ruins of
ancient Notifications and temples, built of
hewn stone, laid in cement As such work
is not characteristics of tie American In
dian of history it can only be accounted
for on the superstition that the Aztecs, or
people far 10 advance Of aboriginal civiliza-
ton, were prior possessors Of this land.
1t is further stated that 10 600 French
colony from Louisiana claimed this
vast area, and from that time until the
early part of the present century when the
American government acquired it by pur-
chase.it was alternately claimed by France
and Spain.
A newspaper article must necessarily be
brief aud hence l will omit many most in
tsresting details and proceed ut once 10 the
more recent history associated with Pixies
Peak.
Ia 1906, when Gen. Wilkinson was
Commander 10 chief Of the u. s. army,
Lieut.. IebulOn Montgomery Pike, with
party Of twenty men, set out from ST.
Louis to explore the country lying between
the Missouri river and the Mexican from
tier. They started 90 the 18th. Of July
with an OUTFIT Of necessary but very
primitive equipage, passing up through
ihs valley OF the Arkansas river EarlV
10 November following the little eparty
~sb'g within sight of the Peak which ~
Ass Tears Plke's name. His diarv reiatea
wa 'bss then marched briskiy thtnkioo
- fssSb tbs foot by night" Bur thsS
amt Ihsy marched two DAVIS mora ana
tlsa tlls alsFg says there was no visible
1lasfsHSs ~ tils appearance of nearness -
That ~ 9Bs N the nota5le decisions tn
this day, 10 thls clear atmos.
Phsre, ! presume Pike and his little
jaded camp SAL down 10 disgust that night
As1 bammsd 20 themselves
,'thes - ssRssF sHd ystse far
Of perhaps this. a.
rms y tile yey long have sought,
Ald m0Bfnsa bsespss found II n0l''
At any rate IL took then, seven DAYS "a
reach the foot OF the peak from the tlue
they first saw Il, Pike did not asoend the
peak. IL II ~ much nd man wants 10 do
nowadays 20 60 TO tho top, mounted on d
pack mule and over very lalr trail. But
no took measurement OF its heigth. which
was remarkably correct, varying less thau
400 feet from subsequent and more care
iul measurements. 1llEnHo ~.
Fike aud his little party had many In.
teFeutlng experienced. They went intc
winter quarters and on the 10th Of the fol.