Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-01-16

grants; but what in the name Of RI ystery they
were about, our best guessing could not
reduce to anything 10 the shape Of mathe-
NAUTICAL probability.
On arriving among them, however, we
found they were only going on with their
elections, in manner perhaps odd enough,
but very new and quizzlcal to US. The
candidates stood up in a row before the
constituents. and at a given signal they
wheeled about, marched off while The gen
eral mass broke after them, "lick-a-ty
split" each man forming IN behind his fa-
verite, so that every candidate flourished
a sort Of a tail of his own, and the man
with the longest tail was elected! These
proceedings were continued until captain
and a council Of ten were elected; and in
deed, if the scene can be conceived, il must
appear as curious mingling of the whim-
steal with the wild. Here was a congre.
CATION of rough, bold and adventurous men
gathered from distant ard opposite Sec
tons of the Union, just forming an ac-
quaintance with each other, to last, in all
probability, through good or i'll fortune.
through the rest of their days. Few of
them expected or thought of ever return
ing TO the States again. They had with
them their wives and children, and aged.
depending relatives. They were going,
with Stout and determined hearts, to ira
verse wild and desolate region. and take
possession of far corner of their country.
destined TO prove new and strong arm Of
a mighty nation. These men were running
about the prairie in long strings; the lea
dcrs' IN sport, and for the purpose of puz.
zlng the judges, doubling and winding in
the drolle't fashion; so that the all impor-
tant business of forming governments
seemed very much like the merry school
boy game of swapping the whlp!" 1t
was really very funny to see the cand'-
dates for the solemn ''Council oil Ten -
run several hundred yards away 10 show
OIL the length Of their tails, and the cut of
a halt circle, so as 10 turn and admire their
longitudinal popularity in ertenso them
selves! Running Coz Office " is certainly
performed in more literal fashion on the
prairie, than we see the same sort Of bust
ness performed in town. TO change the
order oil town election, though, for once,
II might prove an edfylng exhibition 10
see mayor and alderman start from the
town pump;and run round the court house
square, the voters falling in behind, and
the rival ticket running the other way,
whllera band in the middle might tune up
Tor beth parties. playing, ooh, what q
iong tail our cat has got!" which we sur
mise some popular composer may have ar.
ranged for such an occasion.
After passing them here. we never saw
the Oregonians again. They elected a
young lawyer Of some eminence, as we
were told, named Burnett. as their cap
tain, and engaged an old mountaineer,
known as Captain Cant. as their guide
through the mountain to Fort Hall. SIEVE
raj enactments were made and agreed to-.
one of which was called up to be rescin-
ded, and something of an excitement arose
in regard to it. The law made was, that
no fam ly should drive along more than
three head OF loose stock for each member
composing it; and this bore hard on fami-
lies that had bro lght with them cattle in
great numbers. The dispute resulted in
a split Of large body into two or three d.
: isions; and so they moved on, making
distinct encampments all the way. Capt.
Gait was to receive dollar head from
the company. numbering about thousand
souls, for his services as guide; but, few
more such expeditions following in the
same trail, will soon imprint such high
way through the wilderness to Oregon that
nj hnv al
such assistance.
We left them here about the last of
May, and encountered no sign of them
again until returning in September, when
struck their trail on the Sweet-waler, near
The south pass Of the mountains. They
had followed in our own trail, as far as this
point, and had here turned off. our course
lying in another direction. From here,
all the way to Fort Laramie. we found the
new deeply worn road strewn with indica-
tons Of Their recent presence. Scaffolds
for drying meat, broken utensils thrown
away, chips showing where their wagons
had been repaired. and remnants Of chill
1rcn's shoes, frocks, &c. met our notice a,
every deserted encampmcnt.
Dut que dcdtH Setfffcu 10 nave occurred
among them, and this was far out under
he mountains. Here the loose riders Of
'ur moving camp gathered one morning to
examine rude pyramid Of stones by thu
.oad side. The stones had been planted
irmly in the earth. and those on top were
placed, so that the wolves,
whose marks were evident about the pile,
lad not been able 10 disinter the dead On
me stone larger than the rest, and with a
lat side, was rudely engraved
J. HEMBREi
md we place it here as, perhaps, the only
nemento those who knew him in the States |
nay ever receive of him. How he died, |
We. of course, cannot surmise; but there
lie sleeps. among The rocks Of The West.
s -soundv as though chiseled marble was
,uilt above his bones.
On returning to the Rock Indepen-
ence. "a point about nine hundred miles
rom the se,tlements,) we were -astonished
t finding that the Oregoniaus had reached
nd passed il only four days behind us!-
We had confidently supposed Them full
our weeks in our rear, and their rapid pro-
,ress argues we'll for the success Of their
On the rock we found prin-
cd /