New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-20
81 The NlDAIGHI SOUTHERN NAIL
Incident, of a California Journey.


The following letter from NessrSer.-o Of
the Knickerbocker Company which ltit New-Nork
in February last-to a friend in his city, gives
some idea OF the troubles OF journey over tie
Prsiries Ne""N Dtnv.
SANTA TX New Mexico. May = l-t9
After l0ng and to.some Journey We have Just ar-
rived IN ihi. the principal town % New Mexico -
Though ny health IL excellent my spirits are not me
best 1ut hope 90 get ou, oi town and On our gnf
ney again 10 the course OF two or three days We
came through without serious difficulty or much ap
parent danger hu' not without misoriunes. 10 the
loss Of mules and horses lost my horse IN a buffalo
chase 400 miles back. soon after W. crossed me
south side az the Canadian kser-ssddle AMI bride
blankets. saddle bags. with contents OF clothing. a.
went 10 was the second day after Wa struck the
Buffalo range. when were All m a state Of excite
meni and eager tor the noble prey
The first day We came upon them, the horse OF MI
Hoes Rev Schayier Hoes OF this city let him As he
ii.mounted % shoot and Joined the herd AMI 70 was
thou gh be could not be recovered but rode some ten
miles aud succeeded ia securing him The next d"y
my mare leit me-. snd for the last time Jackson ana
myself in hot pursuit 81 feet old bull along a
wooded ravne and creek crossing and recrorsng when
riding under tree the branches caught the revolver
when held IN my lett hand pointed upward ana ! Tex
10 fall back 10 rest on ny shoulder to pass under the
bushes when 10 went Of and the aa,h communicated
ire % nv cotton coat ! not aware uf 10 uuul
riding along I'D or 3O yards when oegan 10 smell
the smoke well as ieel the heat Jumped down IN
haste 10 eNtiugush u and dropped the rcins when my
horse started on supposed this would D. TIA case.
and that according 10 her usual habits she would not
proceed tar before stopping ! ran down tue rarin'
again 20 the and put out the nre on my clothes
and when returned 10 look tor the mare could see
n0tAing of her presuming that she had directed her
course the trail and gone back 10 the tram, when
wa. several miles in advance by this ume We hasteued
in but not % find her. The next morning WIN a
party OF seven. making eight with myself aud return
ed we searched the ravne and holows OF the pfmre
tor many miles and encamped out one night but 10 no
purpose.
used up I bargainei with one OF company from ln
diana that had Joined upon the prairie and bought
his horse h. owning the half OF another one-so mat
sgsn provided Tor IA This respect PHlh -" TOT
him Mr. Golding from New York also lost very hne
horse tie had tied him o. the handle ot large bowie
knife the BLADE OF which he ran into the ground "hsn
the horse becoming frghted at something lefkfd me
knife our fast 20 the rope and running threw around
one his bind legs and cut on the muscle and SHOWS
which supported the sncc Joint, 80 that Il was neces
.ary 20 shoot him Beside these several mules sui
horse- have been lost and the wagon mules are pretty
well worn down. We intend 90 lcaye ne wagons mere
and pack but 10 must be- done under grest DIS td' an
tageswsgons are OF little value. and mules ana oihsr
things necessarily extremely hRn, hut me prospect o
getting through 9TH wagons Is too dscouragns The
hr.i company Of packed mules which isit Fort smith
and came through were 80 broken down with their an
mails when they arrived and found mules 50 scarce and
hish that they disbauded unable TO proceed any fur
Their and they scattered about through this country
looking for employment
I'M. overland Journey IL perfectly ruinous 10
penses they nave far exceeded All esfmates-l would
advise no select this route who care anything tor
cost or tor tme-we are already longer On the urney
than calculated 10 California and We have yet fu
90 DAYS travel 20 make Our provisions gone, and
W. have 20 purchase new supply here. IN our Jour
mes over the great prairie and through the wild Indian
country We had % difficulty With them, aud indeed
saw but few met party Of about OApaches " no
were 10 pursuit OF the nutal0es few days ago W.
came upon an eucampmeut OF Camanches Of some
100 or 200. encamped close by them one light
and traded tfe tor mules and horses OF which they
had s0Ae 5000 head. all remarkably beautifully sto
len OF course Had W. been provided with suitable
articles tor barter could have obtained any quantity
a. a tuhlng expense pair OF blue blankets, costing
only = OF -. were good for mule but no money
could buy them. except Mexican dollars, which they
want % hammer out into wearing ornaments Finger
glass; beads breast pins and the Ike not want
ed BY them The CamaDches az present profess great
friendship for the Americans aud anxious 70 have
them come and trade with them
This town or city looks more Ike a collection Of
brick yards than anything else-esch house pile Of
bricks They built VI dried blocks OF clay fado1esl
and are only story high and TAT rooted such
things stairs and attcs unknown here. tis df-
ncult understand how this people suosst, though
rOhb.ng, gambling AID stealing appear % be- be the
leading professions. Yours, 81. J. 4 hANOJSE.