Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1844-01-18
From the y. Y. Tribune
The Oregon EInigrantS.

rom Inc y. \. IriOnne
The Oregon ElMigrantS.
NesSrs. Greely d NcElrdh:
| saw in Your paper ni yesterday morning IN
a communication from The Cry of Washington,
a notice of the mlsior,unes which have already
befallen the company of emigran,s 10 The Ore
son Territory. |, appears tha, eighr persons.
women and children. died of thirst, starvation
ar fatigue before reaching Fort Hail ON the
Sap,in that their casule and other animals
were very much enaciared, and their hopes ol
getting To Lower Oregon were surrounded with
such gloomy forebodiugs that some OF the COM
panv had returned to the States. This is sad
news 10 me; not because have relatives among
that daring band or Ties or interests connected
with them, other than those which would fol-
low any individuals similarly circumstanced; |
am made sorGowiul bv deriving from recol-
lection of my own suffering in those terrible
regions. clear idea of The lingering agony
which those mothers, and children must have
endured, from The time want began 10 creep
upon them, or WEAKNESS To waste away their
lives, Till the last pang was swallowed up IN
death do not believe that one who has new
er crossed the Rocky Mountains, that awful
barrier of SHOWS, and herbless sands, and ma
ked rocks, can have a fair conception OF the
horrors which hang around every day and hour
of that journey! Perpetual jonrneyIngs them
selves If attended with the comforts OF ealing,
/ drinking and sleeping, as found along the high
ways of civilized countries would be quite try
! ing 10 health and mental quiet Ladies with
! families in charge would sink under the hard
ships. and the physical powers Of children
, a 4,
! Blu, in progresses over me Plains on this
side If The Rocky MounlaIn>, as we'll as among
rhusc mountains themselves, there is no roof un-
der which 10 sleep; The deep heavens gemmed
with stars or covered with the pail of the
tempest, is the wayiarer'S only shelter. He
has not even Tree .o cast lis branches over
him al dozen encamp'iienls from the frontier
iof The States, To Fort Hall,
He has no road on which to travel On The
trail along the banks of the Great Platte the
traveller is hese, with tall grass. 80 harsh "a
soon 10 wear the fore paris OF his animals hoof:
10 The quick unless they be protected with lror
shoes. or bound up with raw hide taken from
The neck of The buffalo hnIi. When he passe:
the grassy di>tricl and approaches the noun
tains. he finds himself among endless fields o
iN!U6feHt SptCieS VI CdC'I vi tIIChiy Fedi, NH'1i
fill his animals legs with ihnrns; among vas
fields of loose sand. small sharp rocks, The wild
wurnlwoo,i or tract. al scoria all of which con
linuaIiy main and weary his riding aud pack
bearing animals iu such a degree as 10 cumpe
him. il he wonld advance on his journey, tt
submit his own limbs la be larceraled in a sim
liar manner.
He has nothing hul meat for food. A lnlt
meal -four aud Indlan corn is taken out 10 sus
tain life until the adrenurcr meet the buffalo
These animals are usually found IN The late
part of MAY. lhe lime when parties who inlenC
crossing the mountains, leave the States, abou
300 miles from. ihe iron,irr From This poin
onward, wild meat Is usually relied on as IN,
Only diel. until they reach lower Oregon, dis
lance Of 5000 miles.
The suti'erings of women and chdrenA or
such journey. made on horse, or mules, viii
such st,>ienance and lodglng mus, often end il
teaih. Il is indeed remarkable TO ME that NOR,
of the Oregon emisranis did no. die before
reaching Fort Hall.
| will hereafter furnish for your paper de
,crlpllun of The par, of The l"urney >Iii bei"r,
them. from which >une idea may he CLEANED
ol the suiIerings which sill await them.
THOMAS J. FARNHAM.
Newly ork, ls43.