Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-23
From the N. .. Picayune.
THE TEXAS SANTA FE
EXPEDITION

Resumed. Great Suffering From
, Hunger--Large Herd Of Sheep met
pifh-A General Feast.
As we travelled brisk'y along the
road the "sign" Of men and domestic
animals became plainer,and just al sun
down we came up with a party oil
eight or ten Mexicans encamped upon
the banks Of the river. They had nc
other animals than mules and Jacks,
miserably worn down, a portion of the
party having as we afterwards ascer-
tanned, taken all tie best horses and
mules and run away as we approach
ed.
Eagerly our men crowded around
these strangers, making all sorts OF en-
Q-';ries about the country, the distance
to San Miguel, the state OF the feeling
in relation to our approach, and more
particularly about the chances Of pro-
curing food. The MeXicans stated
that they had been out upon the prai-
ries two or three months trading with
the Indians that they were with them
when 1T. Hull and his party were Kill
led, although they took no part liz that
massacre ; that they were in the main
Indian camp when the dead bodies of
eleven oftheir warriors, among them a
principal chef were brought in--that
the women tore their faces with lhorns
and howled horribly in token Of sor-
row foe their loss,
We then asked them the distance 10
the Palo Duro, or rather TO the spot
where the main body with the wag-
CONS we're encamped. They said that
good mule could travel the distance
easily in four days. Upon our telling
them TIE route we had taken and that
we had been thirteen days on the road
they expressed the greatest astonish-
ment-said that it was wonderful we
we're able to Cross the immense chasms
and mountains at all. They said that
if we had taken a course directly west
on starting we should have avoided
the ravincs altogether and had good
smooth road the whole distance. In
addition they informed us that Carlos
and his companion had passed along
in the morning, completely worn down
by hunger and fatigue. BY this Il
would seem that the runaway guide
had Gallen into the same error which
caused us so much trouble, The
course Of the Wichita was not so'muCh
to the southwark as we had thought al
the time, and this threw Us all off. Not
one along but supposed we had many
miles Of northing to make-this brought
hs to the gullies and mountains, after
crossing which we were obliged 10 steer
our course southwest.
As regards provisions the Mexicans
were nearly as bad off as ourselves
their stock having Just given out
They gave the mess to which | was
attached, however, a small quantity oil
barley mtal, just enough for a taste
and that was all. They stated that
San Miguel was still some seventy VI
eighty miles of, but before reaching
there we should fall in with large herds
or sheep, and also the little village o
Anton Chico. At the latter place We
could procure tortiiids and dt0la ) tht
former a species Of thin cake in uni
versal use all over Mexico, and tht
latter a thin mush, made Of meal anC
cows or goats milk, which is also {
standing dish Of the country. Any
thing, but more especially bread stufs
would have been as welcome to US al
mama was to the suffering lsraeltei
IN the wilderness.
The next morning an arrangement
was made by which three Of the
Mexicans we're hired to go back Il
the Wagons. One Of our Next
can servants, Martias, 'disguiseC
completely so that the Indians nigh
not suspect him, accompanied these
fellows, and the best mules were
picked out for them TO ride. They
took letters along,the purport Of which
was that the main body under Gen
Mcleod should Immediately take vi
tho line Of march under their guidance
and travel on as speedily as possibl,
towards San Miguel, the point at whicI
all we're to rendezvous. After receiv
ing foil instructions this party set out
aud as was stated by Que Of them real
ly reached our old camp in four days
This was on the 18th Of September -
in three days longer, as | have sine
a''ertalned, the Wagons and good
would have been destroyed and TN
party would have returned to Texas
Fortune cut out a different route an
late compelled them to follow it. The
had been hlrassed, day after day. b
Indians. Several Of the men had bee
killed by the Cayguas, and on one oc
caslon party Of them rode direct
through camp and aampeded no les
than eighty-seven horses which wer
never recovered. Under these Gil
cumstances, and not hearing from OF
party as seon as we expected, the off
Ger; bad determined 10 destroy ever