Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “Returning Gold Hunters,” May 20, 1859

Returning Gold Hunters.

ST. LOUIS, May 18.

The St. Joseph correspondent of the Democrat, notices the arrival at that place of 100 returned Pike’s Peakers, who bring deplorable accounts of the mining prospects and suffering on the plains. It is estimated that twenty thousand men are now on their way back, all or the most of whom are destitute of money and the necessaries of lie, and are perfectly reckless and desperate.

Threats are made of burning Omaha, St. Joseph, Leavenworth and other towns, in consequence of the deception used to induce emigration.

Two thousand men are reported 50 miles west of Omaha in a starving condition. – Some of the residents of Pollotsmouth have closed their places of business and fled, fearing violence at the hands of the enraged emigrants.