The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-03
THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.
The Illinois Journal Of Dec. ID, con-.
tains long aud really interesting letter,
addressed to Miss Mary Keys OF Spring
field, Ill.,, by Miss Virginia Reed, the step.
daughter Of one of,hc sufferers, and whose
age is only twelve yenrs.
i ID dated IRON California, the 10th Of
May last, and we have made the following
selections:-
Nix DEAR Cousin: We went
on ia that way three or four dnye, until We
come to the big mountain, or the California
mountain. The snow was then about three
feet deep. There were some wagons there
The owners said that they had attempted to
cross, but could not. Well, we thought We
would try il; 60 we started, and they in
company with Us, with their wagons. The
snow was then up to tho mules Sides
Tho farther we went up, tho deeper tho
snow got-so that the wagons could not 90
90. They then packed their oxen, and
went on with US, carrying child apiece
and driving tho oxen in the snow up to
their waists. Tho mule TINT Martha aud
the Indian was on was tho best one, so
they went and broke tho road; that Indian
vas the pilot. We went on that way for
two or three miles, and the mules kept fall
ing down in the SNOW, heads foremost, and
tho Indian said he could no, find the rond
We stopped aud let the Indian and Mr..
Stanton 90 on and hunt the road. They
went on and found it to the top Of the noun
tain, and came back aud said thcy thought
we could get over il il did not snow any
more. Bat tho people were all SO tired by
carrying their children, that they could not
70 over that night. So we made fire and
got something to eat, and mother spread
down buffalo robe, and we all laid down
upon il, and spread something over us, and
mother set up by the fire, and it showed
one foot deep on tho top Of tho bed tina,
night. When We got up in tho morning,
the snow was SD deep VIC could not 90 over
the mountain, and VIC had to 90 back to the
scabins TINT were built by the cmigranis
three years ago, aud build moro cabins,
and stay there all winter, as late rs the
Both Feb. and without father.
We had not the first thing TO cat. Moth
o. made an arrangement for some cattle,
giving two Tor ono in California. The cat
tie were 30 poor ihat they could hardly &c,
up when they laid down. We stopped there
the 9TH Of November, and stayed till the
2Oth Of February, and what we had to eat
can hardly tell you, and We had Mr.. Stan.
ton and the Indians TO feed. But they soon
lsft to 60 over the mountains on foot, and
had to come back. They then made snow
shoes and started again, storm came, and
they had again 10 return. Il would some
times snow ten days before i. would stop.
They waited ill il stopped showing aud
then started again. was going with them.
but took sick and could no, GO There
were fifteen persons left in this company
md but seven got through-fivc women
asd two men. A storm came on and they
lost tho rond, and got out Of provisions, and
those that got through, had to cat those who
died. Not long after they left VIC had eat
On oil our provisions, aud We had 10 pm,
Martha ut one cabin, James at another,
Thomas ut another, and mother and Eliza,
and Milt, md dried up what little mea,
- could get, and started To see il We could
cross over the mountain-and we had To
leavo the children. ., Mary! YOU will
think that hard-lo leave them with siran-
gers, and no, tc know whether we ever
would see them again. We could hardl,
gct away from them. .;e told them we
would bring them back bread, aud then
they wcro willing 10 stay. We wen. aud
were out five DAYS in the mountains Eli
- gave out md had to 20 back. We went
% TINT day, aud the next day we had la
lay BY and make snow.shocs. We wen,
on another day and could no, find the road
and had to 60 hack. ] could &c, along re-
~ veil while thought we were going
ahead, but ~ soon rs we had to turn back
] could hardly wink. We reached the cab
ioss and that night there was the worst
eoow-storm that We had the whole winter.
ond IL We had not come bnck We should not
have lived through il. We had now moth
Ing to cat bu. hides. o, Mary! Irould
eyy and arisA ! had all you rasfcd! We
stayed al Mr.. Brien's. They had meat all
tho time. We had to kill Cash (thc dog)
and eat him. We nte his entrails. aud feet,
and hide, and every thing about him. NJ,
dear cousin, you often say YOU can. de-
this, and you can't do that; but never "a.
you can't do my thng-.you don't know
what you can do till You try.
There were fifteen in tho cabin that We
were in, and one.half Of us had 10 lay j.
hed all the time. There were ten died
while we were at the cabins. We lived on
li1als Cash week; and after Mrs. Brien
would cook her meat and bull the bones two
q three times, we would take them aud
boil them three or four days ut time
Neither went down 10 the other cabin aud
90 halt hide, bringing il in snow up To
nDr waist. IL kent an enawinv mud Sssm,lfl