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were alarmed and thought that the Indians had commenced an attack we hurried quickly towards the shouting when we soon found out that the cause of the excitement was the reported discovery of new and rich diggings about five miles distant and across the snowy range. A party had just formed and were starting immediately for the gold field we joined them instantly packed our mule and set out in company with about fifty others at twelve at night to cross one of the highest and most dangerous peaks of the mountains. And without any available information as to the value of the discovery. We kept on over rocks through tangled forests and over slippery heaps of ice and snow the night was intensly dark and every few moments a fearful scream announced that some of the adventurers had fallen over rocks or stones and were hurt several of them got severe bruises on that night. The excitement grew wilder as we proceeded a calm looker on would have pronounced it a party of mad men as we neared the place their eagerness rose to a frenzy every man shouted and yelled at the top of his voice. Just as the gray light of morning was coming on we reached the gulch and each one proceeded immediately to stake off his claim of one hundred feet. As soon as I saw the place I knew from the look of the place that it was all a humbug got up to hoax the the greenys who took the bait so easily however I thought as I was there now I would secure a claim and give it a trial so my companion and myself each staked out one. It was a dreadful looking place a deep valley inclosed on all sides by lofty snow covered mountains the earth on which we stood being covered by about two feet of snow. All the party