The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-10-01

mountain Pass--C0t0n WO0d-Sndke Indidns-
Fish and Fish Bnt-Game, &c.
We are now across the N f. of Platte which we
here leave, having travelled up this stream many
hundreds Of miles. II is estimated to be about
eighty miles through the Black Hills; among which
] forgot to mention we passed the Red Butts (Fils)
which as red brick, and the earth COM
posing which locks MS If It had been burnt.
On the 18th July, we saw large bands of buflaoes /
in the evening. The whole PLAIN was one dense
mass OF builioss some of the company killed two \
or three IN the evening, and next morning not a I
bWfdo could be found within ten miles of our camp.
Such rs the nature Oh this animal, that when he is
dlsended, he does not stop for many miles. We I
here found water scarce between the N. +. and
Swt etwater, and sedge and dust plenty. On the I
9Th reached the far-famed Sweetwater, small |
but beautiful stream, with wide bottoms covered
with grass and scattering trees, cotton wood and
willow We encamped near Independence Rock,
huge pile of solid stone, about fifty to hundred
feet high, lying IN the pain, some hundred OF yards
distant from the main ridge. This rock is very
prominent object and may be seen at great dis
lance. Upon this rock many travellers have
cutting their names upon this rock, that Messrs.
Lovejoy and Hastings, two lawyers from Mis-
sour, were surprised and taken by band of
Sioux Indians, about a year since. They were de-
pany unhurt. This is celebrated point for game.
Here are found buffaloe, ilk, and antelope in great
Numbers. it was determined to remain here week,
for the purpose Of curing buffalo meat. The coun-
trvhere wide sandy plain, intersected with high
rock ridges almost entirely of solid rock, which
rise mp in the plain, and off in various directions.
To your right about 20 miles Oft is ridge of noun
tans that divide the waters of Platte from the wa
ters Of the Missouri river.
On the 18th, there was a general start made
by all hands to kill buffalo. We went in small
bands, about three or tour men in a party,
and many went to the distance of forty
miles. Perhaps no men ever acted lmpru-
IDENTITY as we did. 1t so happened that there
We're no Indians near us, must have been
taken The Sioux and Chians had gone down
south of us for the purpose of attacking the Crows
and Snakes. Five others and myself were out five
days, forty miles from camp, beyond the ridge of
mountains mentioned above. We saw any quantity
OF buffalo, elk and antelope. We killed several
buifaloes, and woundad many more as is generally
the case. We found them IN such numbers, that
you could look in no direction without seeing hun
dreds. They were generally in large bands, and
the bulls kept up tremendous believing, like our
bulls, and which could be heard at great distance.
Mr.. Nesmth and myself fired at one about 20 yards
distant Both our balls passed through his lungs, and
ne fell In his tracks, fatal were the shots. livery
While out on this trip, we saw great numbers OF
the sedge hen, fowl twice as large as the prairie
chicken, of the color OF the black turkey, but form
ed like the prairie chicken. 1t is said their flesh
has the bitter taste of the sedge, they live among
it, and eat it. This taste may be avoided by taking
off the skin, and then they are excellent eating
They have the habits OF the partridge and fly ex-
actly like them, and are easily killed with gun
The grizzly bear is very plenty in this region, and we
saw one In the open prairie. Several were killed
by the company but they not good eating at this
season of the year.
Our course, now, is up Sweetwater, for many
miles. On the Sd OF August, we first saw the eter-
nal SHOWS of the Rocky Mountains. This day, Col.
Marlin brought in the foot of large carniverous
animal resembling the hyena, but which has no
known name. 1t might, with propriety, be called
the American hyena. He had seen several OF them,
winch he described as being fierce and bold as
the grisy bear, out not SO large The animal IS OF
dark color, with very large and strong teeth and
of size and power sufficient to kill a buffalo.
have seen several silver foxes, animal lDsaw no.
where. except on Sweetwater. L is beautiful little
animal, about the size of small dog OF u bright
yellow color has tail about six inches long, tip
ped with RUG of deep black. II runs very feetly,
ID very shy, and burrows IN the ground. From the
une we struck Platte, clear through to Oregon, we
saw wolves in great numbers, but most in the
buffalo region
Ga the An day of August, Mr.. Payne died Of fe-
yer, on the banks of Sweetwaer. We buried him
upon high hill, in the wild, lonely prairie An ap.
propriate prayer was made by the Rev. Mr.. CARR
son. Ii was scene wild and solemn.
To-day, we heard very loud and curious sound,
resembling one solitary loud clap OF thunder The
day was as clOudl1ss as could be. 1t Was supposed
to be the escape Of gas from the mountain, and l
was Informed by an old monntaineer, Captain Cant,
that such reports were often heard In this region
On the 9th of August, we entered the mountain pass,
winch IL about forty miles through, and good a
road as any We have had and on the 9TH we cross
ed the main dividing ridge between the waters OF
the two great oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic.
The first Pacific water we saw was about two
niles west OF the main ridge. 1t was noble spring
forming a small swamp some fifty yards long, and
twenty broad, covered with rich and luxurious
grass. ] can say here, once tor all, that the range
from Independence to this point, is most excellent,
except perhaps at very few points. In coming
through the mountain pass, which is wide, beau
tful valley, you leave the Wind river mountains on
your light some ten miles, These the tallest
peaks we saw, and the tallest was measured
by LIT. Fremont as he informed me, and was up
wards of $1,000 teet above the level of the sea-
Their SUBMITS were covered with snow; but
e Gsscady M esy This be nsh had
considerable frost. On the 9th yonng man,
whose name was Stevenson, died of fear, and we
buried him at noon on the banks of Big Sandy
On the 10th August we encamped upon the banks of
Green river, beautiful, clear, bold, running stream
over pebbly bed, and so called from Its green CO.
lor 1t is here about fifty, perhaps sixty yards wide,
and contains some fine fish, The margin OF this
foot in diameter. This affords place Of great re-
sort tor the mountain hunters, as they here spend
the WINTER and subsist their horses on the bark OF
the cotton wood. They fell the trees, cut off the
tender branches and give them to their herses.-
Great quantities OF the timber have been destroyed
in this way The grass on this stream grows very
tall in the bottoms along its banks, and until the
SHOWS become very deep, the horses subsist up
on this grass, by paving away the snow from over
it On the next morning we crossed the river by
tordlng 1t, propplng up our wagon beds with blocks
of wood The ford was not too deep, but was very
narrow, and by driving little too low down the
river, many of the wagons were pretty well filled
with water. No serious injury, however, was done.
On the 18th August, while we were yet on Green
river we had hard Frost and thin Ice in the water
buckets AT this point we were informed that the
Catholic missionaries had discovered nearer route
by way OF Fort Brldger, and therefore determin-
ed to go by. way of that trading establishment.
About this time, having passed through all the
dangerous Indian tribes all the companies separa-
ted into small parties OF from two to fifteen wagons
and friendly Snake Indians, and from this time for
ward we put out no guards, and always turned all
stock out. Until this tlme it had been prac
tice to bring our mules and horses inside the camp
after dark, but let our oxen and loose cattle run out
all night Our loose cattle and oxen were never
once interrupted the road, until in the neighbour
hnnd al Ilr Whfnnan,a nd Nalla Wna Xvhere