Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-26
mo. Xiv.

4
Position-Mountains diiscoeered, saiio
TO be the "IHe CroaOs" By Carlos
Suffering for Water--Dcscriipt;or
oI@ Prairie on Fire, &c.
The 18th Of August was an event.
full day with US, and one which few
who were along will forget. The night
previous we encamped without wate,
for our cattle or horses, and the little
we obtained for our own use was o.
the poorest quality and only drank tc
quench the intolerabIe thirst brought
on by long days march through the
hot sun. l bad jaded my horse badly
by the chase after the buffaIU, and deea.
ly did | regret that at the time;he mos
needed it | could give him no water
We had passed but a short distance
this morning before the blue tops Of
several mountains were seen, far il
the distance to the west. Carlos was
the first TO discover them and remarked
that they were The Crows, a chain OF
mountains near the Angosturas or Mar
rows of Red River, and through which
that stream had cut its way. Our route
now was along high prairie which
appeared to be the dividing ridge be-
tween two large streams. During the
day Capt. Caldwell visited the stream
my companion and self had discover
ed the day previous, while chasing the
buttalo. On returning about he stated
that the stream was large one, and
that he believed it to lie the Brussosl
This river all supposed to be long
distance to the south. Capt. C. also
for the first time stated his conviction
that the stream we had been following
up from the Wakoe Village was the
Wichita, and that Red River was some
seventy-fve or perhaps a hundred
miles to the north. All were startled
at this report; but still, SO strong was
the reliance placed in the statements
of Carlos, few believed it.
We continued our journey until the
middle of the afternoon, altering The
course little to the north. No water
could be found in any direction, and the
glazing eyes of our horses, with their
broken and nervous action showed too
plainly the intensity Of their suffering.
The advance guard finally reached the
brow of precipitous decIivity,' over,
looking a large valley Of broken and
rugged appearance. This valley was
some five miles in width-and not on
ly the descent to it, which was several
bu9dTeda stf3veted Nth dry cedars, ap-
parently killed two or three years pre-
vious by fire.
The spot upon which we stood was
level plain, covered with grass seve-
raj feet in height. This grass, no rain
having fallen for weeks, had become as
dry as finder. While consulting as TO
what course we should pursue some
one ofour party discovered water at a
distance of three or four miles across
the valley below, turn in the river
bringing it TO view. We immed ate
ly determined, if possible, to effect the
descent ofthe steep declivity before us,
and at least give our suffering animals
chance to quench their thirst.
After winding aud picking our way
for an hour, after crossing frightful
chasms and pitching and climbing down
precipices that were nearly perpendic-
uiar, we at length reached the bottom
Of the hill. To do this we were obi
ged 10 dismount from our horses and
in some places fairly push them off alb
rupt descents they never would have
attempted without force. Once at the
bottom we found the sandy bed Of what
had been running stream during the
wet season. Immediately on striking
this bed our tired nagS pricked theil
ears and started off at brisk trot, in
tuitively knowing that water was in the
vincinity. The horse scents water a,
an incredible distance, and frequently
travellers upon the prairie are enabled
to find it by simply turning the horses
or mules loose.
Arriving at the river nothing coulr
restrain our animals from pitching
headlong down the banks. Equally
thirsty ourselves how sadly were W,
disappointed to find the water salt anc
brackish. We swallowed ehough, how
ever, to moisten our parched lips ant
threats, and Ten minutes after we we:
even more thirsty than Before. Gu
horses, fonder of this water than an,
other, drank apparently until they coul
swal low no more,
| While some Of our party were dig
| gfng into the sand near the edge Of tn
stream with the hope of finding waite
more fresh, and others were ehjoyin
the luxury of bath,a loud report as {
a cannon was heard in the directiO
of the camp, and dark smoke was see
suddenly arise. can Indian attack!
was the startling cry on all sides, an
, Instantly we commenced budding u
> our clothes and bridling our horses
One by one, as fast as we could q,
! ready, we started off for what we SUI