Year: 1873

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 &.