The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-27

Cav lndian5, the nrst oi any uiDe they mao
seen, came TO the camp, and received from
the party some trifing presents. On the next
day they saw 80 or 40 Of the same tribe, all
| Of whom were very peaceable. They were
returning from hunting excursion, and we're
entirely ignorant Of our language.
The Usage river is here about 80 yards
wide, and about knee deep. II was conse-
quenlly forded with ease and safety, AMI on
returning Mr.. Oakley found il nearly dry
The face Of the country thus far was rolling
prairie, with no timber save very few small
groves at distance from the road on the right
and left Two or three inconsderable streams
had been crossed, but they also were for the
most part destitute Of timber.
Parting from the Santa Fe escort the next
day, the party continued on 10 Council Grove,
60 miles further, which they reached on the
9th Of June, 10 days from Independence
The distance is l40 miles. They had con-
sequently travelled. including stoppages, is
miles day. Here they rested a, day TO re-
pair their pack saddles and other damages
On the 18th, while pursuing their journey,
they were oyertaken by tremendous storm,
more awful than any thing they had ever be-
fore seen or read Of The thunder WINS petri-
Tying. and the lightning appalling beyond de-
scription. How they escaped with their lives
seemed miracle. Mr.. Oakiey's gun, which
he held in his hand, was struck from him, and
he nearly thrown from his horse. The others
were more or less affected by the subtle ele-
ment. Mr.. o. thinks more rain fell in fifteen
minutes than he had ever known to fall here
IN the severest storm during day. The ef-
feet OF this del,ige in swelling the streams
which the party had to cross, will be seen
hereafter
The same evening they overlook Capt. Kei-
ley's company, bound to Santa Fe, to which
reference has already been had II numbered
IA wagons and 20 men. With them our adj
venturers were invited to camp for the night,
an offer which they gladly accepted, as they
had no wood, nor was a tree to be seen. The
wagons, however, were plentifully supplied,
having brought it with them. No water was
10 be had save that which had fallen few
hours before, and which they scooped up from
pools in the prairie.
BY this time the provisions obtained at In
dependence were nearly exhausted, and they
had met with no game to shoot. 1t became
therefore necessary that the party should d.
vide, by choosing hunters to 90 ahead and
procure supply. Messrs. Oakley, Shortess,
Jordan and Fletcher, were chosen according
ly. and they set out on the following morning.
As this portion Of the history most abounds
in incident, we shall give in brief each days
progress.
June ID. The four hunters, leaving with
the main party all the provisions, set out them
selves destitute, in search Of game. They
soon saw some elk, two of which they wound
ed, but they afterwards escaped At in the
afternoon, when within 8 miles Of Little Ar
kansas river, they met a trading company,
consisting of 80 odd men and 10 wagons,
loaded with peltries from the Rocky Noun
tains, under the command Of Mr.. Bent, who
resides at Bent's fort, on the Arkansas river.
With it were also 200 sheep, bound for low
er market. BY this company the hunters
were kindly treated and feasted for the night
Capt. Bent informed them that he had lost
from his caravan, since he left horne, 80 mules
and horses, which had strayed away, and re-
quested, if they found them, to take them in
charge and leave them at his fort as they pass
ed it. He also said they would find plenty Of
buffalo meat the next day at Cow creek. To-
night another rain visited the company but |
little less severe than that already spoken Of
IA. Separating from the company Just
mentioned, the hunters continued on, and in
8 miles reached the Little Arkansas Though
about such a stream as the Usage, between
80 and 40 yards wide, it was now prodigious-
ly swollen, being at least Is feet deep, and
running with great velocity. As it was i'm
practicable 10 cross it, the hunters planted
themselves leisure y upon its bank, took out
their fishing lines, and commenced fishing. -
In little while they caught IL catfish, "fat
yellow fellows" who proved to be of excel
lent favor. They made a fire on the spot,
and proceeded to roast one on the Goals, and
though they had no seasoning, the meal was
very grateful one. While thus engaged, three
men of Captain Bent's company, who had
been left behind to hunt for the stray mules |
and horses, appeared on the opposite side of
the river after an unsuccessful search AS
they were destitute Of food, and the surest |
resource lay in overtaking the company they /
had left, the river was to them feeble obsta-
Gle. Immediately on reaching it. they drove
in their horses, who swan directly across,
then stripped themselves and followed their
example. One Of them, a Spaniard, whom
familiarity with the water had rendered half
amphibious, took the saddle from his horse
and held it on one hand, while he swan
across with the other. They had eat nothing
iof uTee uays. dHotner Esn was conse-
quently laid on the Goals and speedily devour-
ed. After spending the night together, the
hunters sent by the strangers some fish to
Captain Bent, and after leaving three of the
largest in the water for their comrades, when
they came up, and to which their attention
was directed by signal, they prepared to
cross the river.
10. The passage across the river was ef-
fected in this way: The halters were taken
from the horses and tied into line, which
was found to be in length double the width Of
the river. The horses were then driven