Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-01-21


elapsed before the cooks Of the messes, OF
which there were four, we're busly enga
ged in preparing the evening meal, Al
nightfaIl, the horses, mules, and oxen were
driven in and plcketed--lhat is, secured
by halter, Of which one end was tied lol
a small sieel.shod picket, and driven into
the ground the halter being 20 or 80 feet
long, which enabled them TO obtain lit
tie food during the night When we had
reached part of the country where such
precauiion became necessary, the carts
being regularly arranged for defending the
camp, guard was mounted at 8 O'Clock,
consisting Of three men, who were rellev-
ed every two hours; the morning watch
being horse guard for the day. At day
break the camp was reused, the animals
turned loose to Craze, and breakfast gene
rally over between and Z O'Clock, when
we resumed our march, making regularly
halt at noon for one or two hours, Such
was usually the order OF the day, except
when accident Of country forced varla-
ton; which, however, happened but rare.
w.. We travelled the next day along the
Sunta Fe road, which we left in the alter
noon, and encamped on small creek.
We reached the ford o. the Kansas late
in the afternoon OF the 18th, where the
river was $50 yards wide, aud commenced
immediate preparations for crossing. |
had expected to find the river fordable but
it had been swollen by the late rains, and
was sweeping by with an angry current,
yellow and turbid as the Missouri. BY
our route the ford was 100 miles above
the mouth of the Kansas. Several mount.
ed men led the way into the stream, to
swim across. The animals were driven
10 after them, and in few minutes all
had reached the opposite bank IN safety.
In the meantime, the carts had been nn-
loaded and dismanlled, and an lndia.rubber
boat, which had brought with me for the
survey of the Platte river, inflated and
placed in the river. The boat was twenty
leet long and FIVE broad, and on it were
placed the body and wheels of cart, with
the load belonging 10 it, and three men
with paddles The velocity of the cur.
rent, and the nconveniont freight reader
ing il difficult TO be managed, Basil La
ieunesse, one Of our bsst swimmers, took
in his teeth line attached to the boat,
and swan ahead in order to reach foot
ing as soon as possible, and assist in draw
| ing her over. In this manner, six passa
ges had been successfully made, and as
many carts with their contents, and a
greater portion of the party deposited on
the left bank; but night was drawing near,
and, in our anxiety u have all over before
the darkness closed, put upon the boat
the remaining two carts, with their loads.
The man at the helm was tlmd on water
and in his alarm capsized the boat. Carts
barrels, boxes, and bales, were in mo.
ment floating down the current /; but al
the men who were on the shore jumped
into the water. without stopping to thinE
if they could swim, and almost every
,hing-evenheavy articles, such as gun
and lead--was recovered. Two Of the
men, who could not SWIM, came nigh be
ing drowned, and all the sugar belonging
4 to one of the messes wasted lis sweets or
the muddy waters; but our heaviest los:
was bag of coffee, which contained
nearly all our provision. 1t WAS los
which none but a traveller in a strange
and nhospitable country can appreciate
and often aiterward, when excessive tot
and long marching had overcome US witt
J fatigue and WEAKNESS, we remembered
|, and mourned over our loss on the Kansas
J, juno 20-The road led along hIgl
. ridge dark lines of timber Indicated III,
heads of strealus Along our route thu
J amorph0 has been IN very abundant bloom
--Dending beneath the weight of purpl
clusters. Every where the rose is me
with, and reminds US Of cultivated gar
| dens and civilization. Ii is scattered owe
the prairies in small bouquets, and, wher
Z, glliering in the dews, and waving in tn,
, pleasant breeze of the early morning, i
the most beautiful Of the prairie flowers
b The drtemisid, abslnthe or prairie sage, a
! It is variousIy called, is increasing 10 size
r and glittors like silver as the southern
breeze turns up its leaves TO the sun
b A party OF emIgrants 70 the Conmbl
a river, under the charge Of Dr. While, al
i agent of the government in Oregon terri
/. tory, were about three weeks in ddsanc
: Of Us. They consisted OF men, wome
). and children. There we're "a men, an
d II, or II families. They had considt
e rabe number Of cattle, and were iranspor
h ing their household furniture in large wal
II CONS.
d June Boa few miles brought US in'
IS the midst Of the buffalo, swarming in in
i mense numbers over the plains, wher
6 they had left scarcely blade OF gra'
h standing. Mr.. Preuss, who was skeichIn
l. al little distance in the rear. hid at FIR
~ ,o,od ,her, ne Ia ryn grnves az timper