The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-17
THE OREGON EMIGRANTS.
From TUE n. Y. TRIBUNE.

saw in your paper Of yesterday NOR
ming 10 communication frocl lie CIiy Of
Washington, notice of the mis.oriunes
which have already befallen the company
Of emigrants to the Oregon. Territory.
Ii appears that eight persons, women and
children, died of thirst, starvation or ia
t:uge before reaching For, Hall on the
Saptin that their cattle a7d other amin
ala were very much emacialed, and their
hopes ofgeliing TO Lower Oregon were
surrounded with such gloomy forebodings
that some Of the company had returned TO
the States
This is sad news TO me not because
have relatives among that daring bald, or
ties or interest connected with them, other
than those which would follow any indisid-
uals similarly circunIslanced : am made
surrowfu by deriving from q recollection
Of my own suffering in those terrible re-
gions, clear idea Of The lingering agony
which those mothers, ard children must
haye endured, from the time wan, began TO
creep upon them, or wearinesss TO waste
away their lives, till their last pang was
swallowed up in death.
do not believe that one who has never
crossed the Rocky Mountains, that awful
barrier Of SHOWS, and herb.ess sands, and
naked rocks, can have fair conception of
the horrors which hang around every day
and hour Of that journey! Perpetual jour
neyings themselves, ifatiended with the
comforts Of eating, drinking and sleeping,
as found along the high ways of civilized
countries, would be quite trying 10 health
and mental quiet. Ladies with families in
charge would sink under the hafdships, and
the physical powers of children would be
materially deprecated.
But in progressing over the plains on
this side of the Rocky Mountains, as well
as among those mountains themselves,
there is no roof under which 10 sleep the
deep heavens gemmed with siars-or COW
cred with the pail of the tempest, is The
wayfarer's only shelter. lie has not even
a tree 20 cast its branches over him except
al dozen encampments from the frontier
ofthe States, 10 Fort Hall
He has no road on which TO travel. Ga
The trail along the banks Of the Great Plat
lie the traveller is beset with tall grass, so
harsh so soon TO wear the fore parts Of his
animals hoofs TO the quick unless they be
projected with iron shoes, or bound up
with raw hide taken from the neck of the
buffalo oull.-When he passes Inc grassy
district and approaches the mountains, he
finds himself among endless fields of diff
erent species of cacii or prickly pear, which
fills his animals leg with Ihorns or am
ong vast fields of loose sand, small sharp
rocks, the wild worm wood, or tracks Of
scorie all of which continually main and
weary his riding and pack. bearing animals
TO such degree as 10 compel bim, if he
would advance on his journey, 10 submit
h,s own limbs 10 be lacera!ed in o similar
manner.
He has nothing but meat for food. A lii
tie meal -four, and ludian corn is taken
out to sustain life until the advenurer
meet the buffblo. These animals are usu-
ally found in the latter part Of May, (lhe
time when parties who intend crossing the
mountains leave the states,) about 300 miles
from the frontier. From this poin; onward,
wild meat is usually relied on as the only
diet, Until they reach lower Oregon. a dis
lance of 1000 miles.
The suffering of women and children on
such a journey, made on horses and
mules, with such sustenance and lodging,
must often end in death. 1t is indeed re-
markablc 10 me hat more Of the Oregon
emigran,s did not die before reaching Fo.t
Hall.
will hereafter furnish your paper
description of the part of the journey still
before them, from which some idea may
be CLEANED. of the sufferings which still
await them.