Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-12-02
From the Territorial Gazette.
THE OREGON ADVENTURES.


We have another ie,te, from our late fellow cit
lien. NJ. NJ MN;ARvER, who, il is well known,
with several others from this Territory, attached
himself to the large eng, ating expedition to Ore
gon W ich took up its line OF march last spring.
The letter has been An unusually long time OIL the
way, but il will still be read with interest the
grants have doubtless ere this reached their pla
ces 0i destnatirn, OH the western slope Of the A
merican continent. The distance from Fort Lar.
annie to the gap IN the mountains known as the
Soith Pass as travelled by Lieut.. Fremont, is
three hundred and twenty miles, and required 25
days to make it, but the emsrants have probably
pursued a more direct course and reached the
mountains in less time. Allowing them the same
time, however, they reached the - South Pass'' on
the 7th August. Tins would give them, up To the
present time, more than two m nths to reach the
valley OF ths Columbia, which is an ample allow
ance:
Fort Laramie,
Oregon ENGRAVING Camp, July Is, lS43{
| The Company for Oregon is at this place, and at
present is engaged in crossing Larame's fork,
which IS very full With the exception of one
man who had his arm broken by an accidental dis
charge from gun while pursuing buffalo, all are
well. Our roads have been good be rond expecta-
ton, particularly for the last 600 miles; and do
not believe a road equally good and of the same
length can he procured in the States Our cattle
anL wagons, SO TAT, stdnu INC "TRIP WeIi inueeu,
the ca,tle are faitening generally. Many of the
men are working cows; Ihave two yoke and find
them better than oxen, and cows are decidedly
faster and consequently better. You have, too,
their milk at night; and in Oregon, am informed
a good COW is worth as much as yoke Of cattle
Lei the emigfants next year HI themselves out with
COW teams, and bring loose supply the pla-
ces OF such as let lame. We work them at the
wheel and on the lead
We have travelled over one thousand miles
since LEAVING Burlington, and are in full view OF
the Black Hills. Distance to the gap in the moun-
tains abou, 200 or $50 miles, and 10 Font Hall 6OU.
The weather has been cool, without rain, for the
last month. Oar roads being up Platte river, IN
the bottom, cate could not suffer for water
cept at short intervals, when we left the ilvei Tor
part of a day. This, hnwever, we have done but
seldom, as that river from the pom; al which we
struck il 10 this piace-about 40U miles--has
scarcely any tributaries. None OF our stock has
been stolen since leaving the Kansas river. We
ire now in the midst Of the Sioux and Cheyenne
Indians, where it viii be necessary TO keep up a
more vigilant watch. Al this place we found few
Spaaards with a small cargo Of flour, &C., packed
on mules from Towce, IN tine spanish province,
about 400 miles distant. Their prices S - per
hundred for -four; sugar S. per h.; coffee ST. %
per ID whiskey S., the pint; and every thing
else il the same proportion. Emigrants will now
be able TO judge of the necessity of supplying
themselves with the accessories of life before start
ing. They will find it TO their Interests to load
their wagons with such articles as here mem
TONED, which they can sell on the way, instead of
ACCOMMODATING themselves with furniture and other
heavy loading, which they may De compelled TO
leave by the way. Mules we fnd more servceable
than horses, and those coming out should procure
them.
We will depart from this place tomorrow, after
which shall probably have opportunity of COM
municating with you until we reach Fort Hail.
Saw to those who think Of emgratins that the trip
to Oregon is not half the buga boo it is represent
ed to be. All shat it requires is patience and per-
severance. Truly yours,
M. NJ. M'CARVER.