Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-16

were obliged to carry our rifles, hol-
sters and saddle-bags in our hands, and
in clambering up a steep pitch, one of
our horses, striking his shoulder against
projecting rock, was precipitated
some fifteen or twenty feet directly up
on his back. All thought he must be
killed by the fall; but singular enough
he rose Immediately, shook himself,
and a second effort in climbing proved
more successful-the animal had not
received the slightest apparent injury.
BY the middle of the afternoon we
were all safely across, after spending
five or six hours completely shut out
from the world. Again we found our
selves upon the level prairie, and on
looking back, after proceeding some
hundred yards, moi a sign of the i'm
mense chasm was visible. The waste
we were then upon was at least two
hundred and fifty miles in width, and
the two chasms have mentioned were
the reservoir and at the same time the
conductors of the heavy quantity of
rain which falls upon it during the wet
season to the running streams. The
prairie is undoubtedly the largest in
the world, and the chasms are in per-
feet keeping with the size of the prai-
rte.
At shutdown we halted by the side
of water hole and encalnped for the
night. By this time many of the men
were entirely out of provisions, while
those who still had a little beef left had
saved it by stinting themselves on the
previous days.
The worst of our suferings had now
commenced.
Our Gloomy Journey continued--Deer,
Antelope and Mustangs secn-Span-
ISL Curlews-A Bu6aLo Discovered
,he neCt day, ,oiM Regular Chase.
Our gloomy journey was continued
on the 4th September, the cravings
of hunger now severely felt by all.
Small gangs of deer and antelope were
seen through the day, brought from the
water courses doubtless by the recent
rains, and towards night drove OF
mustangs were deserted upon a roll
Of the prairie half mile ahead of us.
They were all extremely shy, however,
and although many rifles were dischar-
qed not a shot was successful-we
could not get near enough to kill one of
them. That night we encamped near
water hole, covering an area ofsome
twenty acres but very shallow. Large
hocks of Spanish curews, one of the
finest birds that flies, were lowering and
lighting about on all sides. Had l
been in possession of a double-bar-
relied gun with small shot would have
had at least one good neal had but
heavy rifle and went TO my lodgings
on the ground supperless.
About two o'clock the next morn
ing we saddled up and resumed our
travel, iourneying still in a northwest
course by the stars. On leaving the
main camp it was thought by all that
we could not be more than one hun
dred miles from San Miguel-we had
now more than made that distance and
we're still upon the immense prairie.
To relieve ourselves from the horrible
suspense we were in, to push forward
with the hope Of procuring provisions,
10 oe. s9neuhere, in short, were the al
ternatives to which we were driven. and
hurriedly we pressed onward with the
hone of finding relief Our horses, in
the meantime, had comparatively suf-
fered less than ourselves, for the gra-
zing on the prairie had been good; bu'
the hurried marches and the difficult
crossings of the immense chasms now
began to tell upon them.
At sunrise we halted near small
pond of water to rest the animals anc
allow them an hour to feed. Large
white cranes were standing about in the
pond, and focks of ducks were swim
ming upon the surface. While rest
| ing about on the ground large ante
lope was seen slowly approaching US
now stopping. then walking few steps
nearer, evidently inquisltive as to who
or rather what we were. His curiosi"
ty finally cost him his life; for although
Capt. Sutton the evening previous had
given orders that not another shot
should be fired without his consent,
one of our men could not resist the
temptation of bringing him down. He
was arrested and sent to the rear fol
this disobedience Of orders, but | have
little doubt the excellent meal he made
more than compensated for the dis
grace. The order of Capt. S. that nr
rife should be discharged was an ex
celIent one, as many shots had beer
wasted on the previous day; but the
best officer in existence cannot restrain
a half starved man when he sees a mea
of victuals Immediately within hi;
grasp.
Shortly after this incident we re-
sumed our journey The same drea
ry spectacle, boundless prairie, was
still before us not sign was obser
vable that we were nearing its edge