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


nIghtidll, the horses, mules, and oxen were
driven in and picketed-lhat is, secured
by halter, OF which one end was lied TO
small sleel-shod picket, and driven into
the ground; the halter being 90 or SO feet
long, which enabled them 10 obtain lit
tie food during the night. When we had
reached part of the country where such
precaullon became necessary, the carts
being regularly arranged for defending the |
camp, guard was mounted at s O'Clock,
consisting of three men, who were reiev-
ed every two hours; the morning watch
being horse guard for the day. All day
break the camp was reused, the animals
turned loose TO Craze, and breakfast gene
rally over between and O'Clock, when
we resumed our march, making regularly
a halt at noon for one or TWO hours. Such
was usually the order of the dav, except
when accident of country forced a varia-
ton; which, however, happened but rare.
". We travelled The nez dav along the
Senta Fe road, which we left in the after
noon, and encampcd on small creek.
We reached the ford o, the Kansas late
IN the afternoon oil the 18th, where HE
river was 23O yards wide, and commenced
immediate preparations for crossing II
had expected TO find The river fordablc; but
II had been swollen by the late rains, and
was sweeping by with an angry current,
yellow and turbd as The Missouri. By
our route the lord 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
in after them, and in a few minutes all
had reached the opposite bank in safety.
In the meantime, the carts had been nn-
| loaded and dismantlcd, and an India-ru0ber
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 live broad, and on it were
placed the body and wheels of u cart, with
the load belonging TO il, and three men
with paddles. The velocity of the cur
rent, and the incOnvenicnt lreioht render
ing it difficult TO be managed, Basil la
! ieunesse, one Of our best swimmers, took
in his teeth a line attached 10 the boaI.
and swan ahead in order 10 reach loot
ing as soon as possible, and assist in draw
1
ges had been successfully made, and as
many carts with their contents, and Il
greater portion of the party deposited on
the left bank; but night was drawing near
and, in our anxiety to have all over before
the darkness closed, put upon the boat
; the remaining two carts, with their loads.
: The man at The helm was tlmid on water.
, | nd IN oil II hTa
] barrels, boxes, and bales, were ia 4 mo-
ment floating down the current but all
, the men who were on the shore Jumped
into the wafer, without stopping 10 think
!, if they could swim, and almost every
:. thing-cvcn heavy articles, such as gun,
2 and lead--waS recovered. Two OF the
r men, who could not swim, came nigh be-
ing drowned, and all the sugar belonging
t 10 one Of the messcs wasted lis sweets on
the muddy waters; but our heaviest loss
d was bag Of coffee, which contained
: nearly all our provision. 1t was a loss
n which none but a traveller in strange
IT and nhospltabe country can appreciate 4;
y and often aferward, when excessive toll
: and long marching had overcome US with
$ fatigue and WEAKNESS, we remembered
e and mourned over our loss on the Kansas.
e June 2O.-The road led along a high
,. ridge; dark lines of timber indicated the
II heads of streaUus. Along our route the
s GnlOrphG has been IN very abundant bloom
,, bending beneath the weight of purple
l. clusters. Every where the rose is me-
d with, and reminds u of cultivated gar
d denS and civilization. Ii is scattered over
/ the prairics in small bouquets, and, when
% glltering in the dcws, and waving in the
e pleasant breeze OF the early morning, i
d the most beautiful of The prairie flowers
h The drtemiSid, absinthe or prairie sage, u:
d 1t is variouSly called, is increasing in ~ize
If and gIittcrs like silver rs the southern
breeze turns up lis leaves TO the sun.
h A purity OF cmlgrant- to the Columbi;
ii river, under the charge oil Dr.. White, al
IL agent of the government in Oregon terri
/. tory, were about three weeks in advanc,
r of Us. They consisted OF men, womel
r and children. There were III men, an,
ID Is or II families. They had conside
e rabIe number of cattle, and were transport
h ing their household furniture in large wag
IF CONS.
d June 3O.--A few miles brought us int
Is the midst of the buffalo, swarming in i'm
l. mense numbers over the plains, wher
e they had left scarcely Il blade Of gas
h standing. Mr.. Preuss, who was skelehin
A. at ii litte distance ia the rear, had at 6fs
g noted them as large groves OF timber. |
y The sight of such a mas OF life, the ira
TO weller leels strange emotion oil grandeur
he We had heard from the distance a dull an