Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Reminiscences of a trip to Pike’s Peak and down the Rio Grande in the year 1859, at the time of the Pikes Peak gold craze (Peter Westerlund)
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days when we overtook a party of four men with
a yoke of oxen and wagon. When we got to talking,
we found out that they were out for the same
purpose. This party was from Freeport or Rockford, 111.
Some of them were merchants who had failed and of
course aimed to get a big haul in the gold diggings.
They did not think it best to spend the winter at
Denver or in the mountains. We were all traveling
for the same purpose, intending to stop somewhere
in New Mexico and to go back early in the spring.
It was not long before we overtook another party
of four men bound the same way. They were from
di:erent states—one from Texas, one from Kentucky
and two from Missouri. Now our party numbered
twelve and it proved to be a good thing that we were
so many in company. We were now twelve miles
east of Pike’s Peak, though it seemed but two or
three miles distant. Continuing on our way south,
we soon passed the Spanish 1’eaks and were now in
New Mexico. The only living things we saw here
were dogs. Then we passed through gome small
villages and ranches with cattle, sheep and goats.
After camping one night, we found one of our oxen
missing in tiie morning. We were delayed here for
two days and offered the Mexicans $5.00 if they
would find it and bring it back. Several of them
started out to hunt and came back with several
different steers to our camp, but none was ours. We
had to give it up. No doubt the Mexicans stole the
ox thinking that we could get along with one yoke
of oxen as well as to have a single one in the lead.
Anyhow, they were kind enough to let us keep
the two.
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