The Kansas Herald Of Freedom

The Gold Region.

The Kansas City Journal has the following in regard to the gold mines of Western Kansas, in answer to the interrogatory: "Is there gold on the head waters of the Arkansas, Platte and Kansas rivers?"

Concerning the discoveries that were made in earlier times, by hunters and trappers, we have already said in our extra issue of the 26th inst., that for many years the traders from this city to the mountains have believed in the existence of gold in the head streams of the Arkansas and South Platte. As long ago as 1835 Eustace Carriere, a French Trapper, now living, superannuated, with the Chouteau family in this city, was lost from his party in that region, and wandered for several weeks through the country, during which time he collected, in his shot pouch, numerous specimens, which he carried with him to New Mexico. They proved to be gold, and a party was there formed and returned with Mr. Carriere, to search for the locality. He was unable to find the streams where he had collected his specimens, and was tied and severely whipped by the Mexicans, under the supposition that he did not wish to disclose their location. This was the first discovery which we have been able to learn. The Catholic missionaries have frequently found specimens in possession of the Kansas Indians, and others who annually visit the country for hunting.

As additional evidence of an early and historical character, we find that Rufus B. Sage, a writer who, in 1846, published a very large volume entitled "Western Scenes," says, concerning the gold, the following:

"This excursion took me some fifteen miles eastward, to the head waters of the Kansas river. The country in that neighborhood wore a barren aspect, and was generally sandy and undulating. I noticed a kind of mineral substance of a jetty lustrous appearance, which I took to be black lead. I also remarked certain indications of gold, but whether this metal actually exists here, I am unable to say; yet true it is, the surface affords large quantities of "gold blossom," and is said also, that gold has been found in these parts!"

Page 276.

This is very important evidence, and for the edification of the skeptical, it may be well to remark that it is not the language of an editor, that it is not a "newspaper lie"—it is the evidence of a candid and truthful historian of its travels, and as such our readers must receive it.

Again the same writer says, on page 277:

"During the consultation, several small pieces of a glittering yellow substance were discovered upon the surface, which proved soft and easily worked into any shape. From these a supply of bullets was procured, and resuming their course, they soon after met the Pawnees, with whom they (the Arapahoes) fought, and were victorious, every bullet discharged killing an enemy. This victory was so signal and complete that the superstitious warriors attributed it solely to the "medicine doings" of the yellow balls, three or four of which were finally buried with the chief (Whirlwind) at his death. The only white person permitted to see them, describes them as having been precisely the color of brass—very soft and heavy. Admitting that the story is true, there are doubtless very rich mines of gold in this vicinity, that being the only metal assimilating brass in color."

The above is sufficient evidence from men who lived and wrote years ago, before any excitement was rife, before it was actually known that the country adjacent to Pike's Peak was a gold bearing region, and that it would eventually become another California,

Since August last, we have published letter after letter from mountain men, from traders, from men with whom we have for years been personally acquainted, from friend writing to friend, from fathers to sons, and from sons to fathers, and also from special correspondents, all testifying to one and the same thing, viz: an affirmative answer to our question, "Is there gold upon the head waters of the Arkansas, the Kansas, and the Platte?" They have found the gold, they have dug the gold, they have brought it to our city, and more than that, they have even taken it to the money maker, who has already converted it into "legal tender." More than this, an emigration has already taken possession of these mines, larger by far than the emigration that was "digging" in the mines of California seven months after the gold discovery.