New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-09-18
FoRr Platte, Ia RAMEl: FORK,
I,,l,. S.l, IAN

| July S;h, 1910.
DEAR FRIENDS: Here We are, at this point OF
our long travel, in entire safety. From here we
shall start in an hour for the Black Hill, Green
River the Sweetwater and the Wind River
Mountains having twenty or thirty days travel
still before us. We shall then spend short time
at some favorable location among the mountains,
and commence our return in August. cannot
now trust ,nysef to speak of the grandeur sub
Unity, soft beauty and appalling wildness-all Of
which have been passing, like many changing
panorama. before me for the last forty-seyen days
i cannot treat so engrossng theme hurriedly,
and will only tell you that are now in the land
Of the Chayennes, and within thirty miles of us
is an encampment Of some four hundred lodges,
numbering about four hundred warriors. We are
nnety-three strong, well armed and provisioned,
and mean to march through them with all case
and confidence. We have passed through our
buffalo region, and are without fresh meat;
but as were industrious IN drying the ANIMALS
flesh while we were killing dozen day, our
stores are still quite equal to our appetltes In
three or four days we shall again be among the
untamed lords of the mountains and praiHe
wastes, where we shall find them swarming IN
dcnser numbers than ever.
The Catholic priests that told you of are still
with US, travelling to their new settlement among
the converted Fatheads, and we have what ! am
sure must benew in this far-westem wilderness
early mass in camp every Sunday morning
One of our companions was lost from camp on
the North Fork Of the Platte, for four days, hav-
ing lost his horse, coat and blankets and wander
ing bare footed about the prairie. He was found
at last, and his story which is of the hvellest IN
terest, you shall have hereafter. Fifteen of US,
tortured with thirst, were riding away IN search
of the river, galloping and yelling like Indians,
when he, being alone in a distant hollow, took us
for real red men, and concealed himself until we
and the whole camp moved completely out OF
sight Or knowledge, Every soul of Us had given
him up as butcheTed by the Sioux, when he was
at length fortunately found,
We are all Just reviving from muntcent and
magnificent notification that we had upon our
ever glorious Fourth of July! What do you
think of roast beef and plum pudding yes,
rich and luscious as ever came tuning from the
brazen kitchen Of Messrs. Nudge and Water
man-Rhine wine three dozen,) milk punch,
Minny Wdrka ca la Sioux corn dodgers "a Ia
hunter all the choice parts Of the buffalo, cooked
in the best known style, and every thing really
and truly superb The g stars and stripes we're
raised in mid.camp at sunrise, salutcd by three
volleys of thirty rifles and three loud cheers. We
had mass in the morning from Father De Vos,
and dinner la brass imperial from our courte-
Gus host, Sir William Stewart, in the afternoon.
We had an original address from the oratorof the
day George w. Christy,) an ode from the modest
pen that tells you Of 1t, a song written Tor the
time and five hours Of glorious merrlment.
Hurrah, for the prairie and mountain
Hurrah for the Wilderness grand
The forest the desert the fountain
HurTah for our glorious land
We may reach Independence by the Goth of
October, and then, be sure of it, shall be home
as the saying aptly suits "by the first boat. y
Our travel thus far has been so prosperous, that
any prospect of being neccssated to winter in the
mountains is now removed, aud in sixty days we
shall be preparing {" to go East
The Oregon cmigrants (nine hundred souls
two hundred wagons, and some six or eight hun
bred head of cattle are about ten or fifteen days
behind us or them | shall have deal to tell
you Fortune and friendship crown you. Good
bye. NJ. T. +
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