The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-06-13
COPY
w.
BELLRpIIE. Ma

My Dear Brother:-l arrived here in compa.
ny with James Tanning, Mr.. Dccevor, Colonel
Gratiot, &C.. on the 10th inst This place is
about two miles above the mouth Of Big Platte,
OIL the west side Of the Mo-, River. 1t is post
Of the American Fur Company, and the Agent
of the Pawnees, Omahas and Ottoes. resides
here. This appears to be the best point on the
river to start from The Ferry (Brophy 's) is
about mile above here.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Curtis arrived,
having left the team with Mr.. Gillespie, about
8 miles back. I expect it here to day. Mr.
Curtis says, the three yoke they have brought
are all very good, but that we must get anoth.
or yok in addition here. Cattle are worth hero
about fifty dollars per yoke. expect we shall
proceed on our journey very soon, as we shall
have nothing particular to wait for now.
The weather has not been very warm. but
there have been some heavy thunder showers,
and the grass must grow fast, as it is now be-
coming much warmer than it was;-thc trass
no,o will warrant our starting. There are IL
great many Puwnees here. who have come in
to receive some corn, given them by Govern
ment;-the past winter has been so severe, and
so much snow, that they have susfercrcd OK.
ceedingly for want Of food-many hs,c died.
Mr. Sarpie, the agent here. has ust come in
from The Pawnee country, [west of herc) with
several OK teams, and says the pasture is good
he further tells me, we shall be a. head, ic
we start soon, of all who start from the points
below-there are several teams here from Wis.
consn and other places abou, rca dy to start.
Mr.. Dupui has ust been here (this day) to
get his provisions. He is with party crossing
the river some miles above this place, Think
the Dubuque teams will be considerably scpa.
rated; at least, appreEend they will rot II
be here to form into enc company. The FORE
most of them are late enough in arriving, and
the object will be for every team to go ahead
as fast as they can form into CT mpanies Of suf.
hc;ent size. From what can learn, some of
the Dubuque teams will be 4 week or more Be.
hind; none of them started from Dubuque by
a week at least, as soon as would have been
desirable. The 1st April would have been the
proper time for them to have left Dubuque, at
the rate at which they have got along so far.
Capt. John F. O'Niel of Mineral Point, has
Just arrived I am told that tho two Vine
yards, of Platteville, have gone towards Cali
fornia via ST. Joseph, Mo. DR.. Mcdonald and
lady, from Iowa Citv, came up with us, bound
for San Francisco, overland. A Mr. Drioblebis
of Dubuque, hear, has just arrived at the
Ferry.
Provisions up here, are very scarce. and dear;
but there is fine country here for the produc-
ton of supplies.
Col Chas. Gratiot and his company are we'll
equipped for the trip. He expects to get off
in all this week, Ohis is Monday:)-they want
to break some of their mules little more, be-
fore they start. M asa %a.. .-H +. ....4.
Some hundreds Of wagons, expect in all,
will cross hereabouts, this season, aside from
Mormons. 80 .sEsaa " .sa Is Eg@s ggGt &s
MAY l6th.-We have got loaded up, and are
just 'rolling" out about 3 miles. to encamp,
and wait, say till Is tn, for the rest of our com
pany. We seem to be well fixed. The ca tile
look we'll, and VIC have got our a dditional yokes
The team only arrived last night, having been
delayed crossing at the Ferry. a =
We expect from what we hear, that several
Of the Dubuque teams will yet arrive in time
to join us-at any rate they will probably over.
take US at the crossing of the Elk Horn River,
which is the first ferry We arrive at after leav
ing here. $500 a h'~. t@ ''+ -.''
The weather looks favorable and all things
seem propitous-for which feel thankful. l
like my new partners well, and think we shall
get along Jfrst7ate together. g@ .sayE.sa
? You must not expect to hear from me aga in
for an indefinite period. e@ cry
Glenat has just arrived. We are all we'll
Remember me to all old friends, particularly
so to Gen, Jones-and repeat my thanks for his
letters of introduction. sEH
B We buried passenger coming down the
Ohio, who wasill Of cholera only about half q
day. All we'll here. ss
In haste, with kindcst love to you all.
"a ff lots j. PLUMBE..l
~ Il. PLumbe Esq I