Lot 2073
(Twitchell) In Camp 3 miles back of Leavenworth City, Kansas Territory, May 3rd, 1859, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…We arrived at this place about 3 o'clock yesterday evening. I went into the city immediately to see if our provisions & co. had arrived safe I found everything right except My gun which I had ordered made at (Hawkin & Co. at Louis) & to be shipped with our Bill of Provisions to this city…The express arrived yesterday from the Peak the news they brought. was little more flattering, then what we heard heretofore I sean (today) about 40 or 50 dollars worth of gold dust from the P. P. Mines it has the apearance of very rich fine gold, but the particles are very fine a & scaly, which indicates rather poor mines. it was said that have been dug on Cherry Creek & is about the kind of gold J expected to see from the mines, The rush of emigrants is not as grate as I expected to see at this place nor Independence & Kansas Citty. as not crowded with emigrants as I supposed. I cannot think that the whole emigration this areas will be so grate as is generally supposed. I do not think it will get to a hundred thousand which is the general estimate…When you answer this direct to Denver Territory Kansas territory., Very Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot 2074
(Twitchell) Leavenworth City, May 4th, 1859, dateline on three page letter, with content in part…I wrote you a letter yesterday while at Camp by which you will see conditions of affairs at that time. This morning my Lucky Star was in the ascendency according to my statement yesterday we hitched up this morning & drove into the town as usual I went direct to the post office & found a letter from you of which I only red a few words (for I was so rejoiced I could not finish it then) I then went to the commission merchant & found my gun in good order it has been shipped & recd with our other things but had been over looked. We have loaded our provisions in the waggon they started out about 20 minutes ago on the Fort Riley or Smokey Hill route. It is now 1/2 past 11 o'clock. I am at the Runnock House will probably dine here to day & then over take the teams this evening. I feel purfectly well & in better spirits then any time since I left home The express came in yesterday brat better news than was an a circular was published this Morning Stating the news by yesterday express was that men were making from 8 to 20$ per day., Very Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot 2075
(Twitchell) Fort Riley, May 14th, 1859, dateline on one page letter, with content in full…I take another oportunity of writing you a line. We have arrived Safely this far the Fort being 130 miles from (Leavenworth City) we have had no trouble or mishaps all well & getting along fine. we are in Co with 6 other waggons & number 30 men 1 women 3 children & 5 dogs. we will lay, the over tomorrow it being Sunday, Monday we will be in the Buffalow range then I expect to realize a portion of the glories of the trip. We have better accounts from the mines than ever before (that is) that miners are making from 8 to 14$ pr day. I feel that all will tum out well yet. We will cross the Kansas River at this place & continue up the South Side for 60 miles. Morgan has the ague once & a while the Key Boys are still with us nothing more this time write & direct to Denver City write every week as I shall always be anxious to here from my friends & love to all. Yours, Very Fine.Estimate $300 - 400.
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Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot 2076
(Twitchell) Cherry Creek, 2 Miles South Denver City, June 19th/59, dateline on eight page letter, with content in part…We got in to the City of Denver 3 days ago together with 2 other Boys an Willis Thralkile and another of the train from Northern Ill. I went to the post office & found your favor of May 13th which I do ashure you it could not have been recd & read in a more propitious time. being worn down by the fatigue of a Tedious trip & hearing as we had along the last part of the road those from the city said they had thoroughly prospected the country) That there was not gold to pay 50 cts per day to be had, no where to be found. There acts corresponding also with what they told hundreds were preparing and starting everyday for the states…we stoped in the city but an hour then pushed on to the mountains a distance of 12 miles there we stoped for the night. The next morning we started into the mountains & after a hard days travel (some Times on Foot & some time on our horses we reached Gregory's digging a distance of 2p miles, there was found Thousands of men some walking around with pick & pan & Shovel on their shoulder. Some prospecting some laying in the Shade Sleeping. others playing cards for amusement (having no money to bet) & a small potion of them digging & washing gold & making as near as I could learn from 5 to 20$ pr day. So taking every thing in consideration it presented a poor appearance for making a fortune. We staid there until 11 o'clock the Next day I could not help feeling a goodeal discouraged we went from thereto Buckeye digings about 5 miles South on a stream called Clear Creek. there we found but a few men they all at work & from the best I could learn was making from 4 to 7$ pr day to the hand, we herd also that at Jackson & Spanish diging on the same creek. that they were doing about the same as at Buckeye…yesterday as we were returning by way of Gregory diggins road we were intercepted & almost surrounded by fire burning in the pin trees for a few moments we thought our chances for escape all most fruitless, we were in a little spot that was burnt of about 50 yards around there was about 20 other persons with us. There was a wagon then burning in sight of us & the fire burning on all sides The flames were coming from the growth on the South Side & curling far above the tops of the tree, and a some were commencing to pray, the wind changed and a brak through the coolest places in sight & in a moment the balance followed & by a general stampeed we all made it through Safe. A man came through behind us said that another waggon burnt, we also heard their was 15 men bunrt to death the day before about 6 miles back of the digings men didn't know the danger of the fire in this & exposed themselves in prospect & traveling through the Mountains., Very Fine.Estimate $500 - 750.
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Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot 2077
(Twitchell) Mountain Camp, July 3rd, 1859 (24 Miles West of Denver Camped on Clear Creek) dateline on four page letter, with content in part…Acording to prom is I now drop you a line, that you may something of the times & fashions of the rocky Mountains. We arrived at the City of Denver on the 15 of June & on the 20th Started up into the mountains we were 2 days gitting to this place a distance of about 24 miles, here we stoped our waggons & teams. Left 3 men with them & the balance of the part consisting of 15 men packed 3 horses & our selves with provisions & mining tools, & proceed on to the mines, as distance of 5 to 20 miles, we prospected 5 day & found no place that we had much confidence in paying to work but concluded to go to work on a bar on Clear Creek any how…the Karswell Co. Jacob Danver & 4 Marshall Co. Boys, are preparing to join in the general Stampede that has bin going on for the last 4 or 5 week from this once glorious Pikes Peak Gold Mine…we ocasionly here report of new discoveries of mines up and about the Snow range of the Mountains & a good many believe that the main mines are west of that range but they are afraid to go over for fear of the Utah Indians who are hostile towards the whites & say that the white man must stay on the East side of the mountains. the 2 men out of a part of 3 that went out last week & ventured a little to far on the Utah teritory. There has a party of about 50 White men & 100 Shian Indians gone accrost the Snow range to drive the Utah's off, but it was a general thought that there force is not strong enough to do any good., Very Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot 2078
(Twitchell) Mountain Camp, July 4th, 1859, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…I again Steal a moment from the bustle of the Camp to drop you a line. We left our encampment on Cherry Creek the 15th the next day after I wrote to you & started up into the mountains we arrived at this encamps must the 17th we left 3 men at the waggons & 15 and the balance in no. with 3 horses packed with provisions & mining tools started on to the mines a distance of from 5 to 20 miles we prospected five days with out finding any thing that we thought would pay, we thought we would work some any how so we sawed some lumber and two machines & went to work on a bar on Clear Creek after 2 days without making any thing. The most of the Co. became discourage & decided on going home, F.-V.F.Estimate $300 - 400.
Transcribed as written.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot 2079
(Twitchell) Bushy Bar, Clear Creek, July 10th, 1859, dateline on four page letter, with content in part…As I have an opportunity to send you a line or send a letter to Denver at the foot of the mountains (the only method we have of starting a letter home) I again write a line to let you know I am getting along I wrote to you, Warren & Turner on the 4th but I understand that the letters have not yet left Denver City in consequences of the Express charges not being paid, Tomorrow I will send down & pay the charges so that they will be forwarded…have bought a claim for which we are to pay $100.00 when we get it out & have went in Company with 4 others, who own a claim joining us & have put in a sluice, have only worked part of 2 days & have made about 20$, all together making $2.50 each we have not got ritely to work yet I think we will probably make 3 or 4 dollar per day a piece or when we get properly to work., F.-V.F.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot 2080
(Twitchell) Golden City, Aug 3rd, 1859, dateline on eight page letter, with content in part…I came down from the mountains about a week ago where I had been to work at mining some 3 weeks or rather trying to mine. There were 8 of us in Co. Austin & Jas Warton. & balance of who you are not aquainted our claims were on Clear Creek a Stream of considerable size & very rapid…I am now in co. with McGlothlin we have taken up a ranch about 8 miles north of this place with the intention of herding cattle this fall and winter we have also 2 lots in this place which we intend building on as soon as we can…Consequently I have made my mind to stay here this fall & winter (if I have my health) & see what the prospect are in the springs & next sumer. I think by so doing I will have an opportunity going in to the mountains in the spring & getting a claim that will pay, & another object is that by staying the year out I will know all about what the seasons Climate & Country, are & if I get into any business that I think will justify living here a few years., Very Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot 2081
(Twitchell) Twitchell & McGlothlin Ranch, August 7th, 1859 (8 Miles North of Golden City), dateline on two page letter, with content in part…I wrote you a letter on the 4th also one to Uziel & when I went to mail them I found 2 more from you, one of date June the 1st & the other of June 5, I was surprised that I had not got them before, thoug I found that they had bin over looked in the office at Denver, Angie allow me to say a few words with regard to my own good fortune in one particular I when I get discouraged, or have blues, homsickness or any disease that I have yet experienced I find a certain remady. Not at once, by applying to the Post - Office, I will there recover if (slitely ailing) a letter from you, which inverably produces the desired effect & sets me all rite again. Tho more serious or obstinate the case may be tho more will be the amt of Sourin Balm awaiting my order. The other day, I went down to the Town with the idea that I would have to call on a Doctor & take a regular course of medicine, but fortunately I called at the post office first & there I found 2 letters which I grasped with eager hand, & after reading them I felt a goodel better, in place of buying phisic I bought writing material and answered them The next day & the 3rd morning I went to the office to mail them, & I found 2 more letters from you, which after reading I felt my health improving…Austin was down here last night from the mines he came to get my mule to go to South Park which I about 100 miles South West from here, it is reported that there is good mines discovered a that place & hundreds are preparing to go. Austin & an other man are going & if it will pay Austin will come back & him and I will take our wagon & provision & go immediately The most reliable report that we have is that a man can make from 10 to 15 dollars pr day, though there is one game afloat, that man that has bin there & returned & says that if cannot take man to where he can make pound a day he will give him liberty to kill him. I have no idia there is any truth in the yam if I had been ab le to for the trip r would have bin on my way now, but I will know all about when Austin returns, Very Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200
Lot
2082 
(Twitchell) Golden City, Sept 11, 1859, dateline on six page letter, with content in part…"I can be gold mining in the mountains as soon as any body & well stand of getting a paying claim I do not know but I will take a trip to Taos, New Mexico this fall after a waggon load of flower, I could make the trip in about 4 weeks & I think it would pay well thought I cannot het tell better I will get time to go as not I have not got my oxen mule & horse yet though I expect to sell some of them this fall…I witnessed the most horrible accident that could imagine it was the death of D. McGlothin's wife which occasioned by the accidental a firing of a gun. The circumstance exactly as they existed you will se in a News paper I sent you a week ago. There was man hung by the citizens at this place about a week ago his offence was shooting at a man & threatening the lives of others. They hung him in less than 30 minutes after they caught him."; includes original cover to Rosiclare, Ill. with "Jones & Russell Pikes Peak Express Co., Denver City, Nov 10, 1859" cds and franked with 1857, 3¢ dull red tied by "Leavenworth City, K.T., Nov 13, 1859" cds; cover with opening tears, F.-V.F.Estimate $400 - 600.
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Current Opening Bid: $200