The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-06-29

hunters returned having seen nothing oi him aut
| we thought he might have mistaken Capt. Greene
for an Indian md thought himself in clos. proximity
to an Indian camp - all events we were sule thai
he was lost, and We set about using all means ~ oui
power TO direct his attention US \ party went NJ
ON the hill and tired yolI.rs for long time. Then
| n torch was prepared and lantern Ce"ated on q
pole 10 serve n a beacon TO him II was all in yun
che night was too dark for him TO sec our trail the
roll was called the guard set and none lay down that
night on his hard bed without an anxious feeling tOI
the safety OF our brave old pioueeI-Eary III the
morning a volunteer party OF six men set out ~
search HIM, resolved 10 follow his mule tracks uni
| The lost one was found. Another party went to woTi.
on the bridge, rs we had to cross the stream, bu,
gloom peryadcd our camp.
/ About eleven O'Clock those on the lookout near the
/ camp saw the old gentleman make his appearance
over knoll on brisk trot-'Ihe word was passed
/ Hes coInlng-he's coming" ard double round
WIS fred rs fen lie 5Gye" for his safe return 1t
seems that he recognized his son the captain on oD-
preaching the camp, but at the same time an antelope
started mp near him and he thought it q capital
chance to get shot, and although he had eaten
nothing since early Ia the morning, with the hardi-
hood OF true western hunter he set OF in pursuit
Inc animal which he eventually lost, led him chase
Of TWO or three miles when he lost the direction To
our camp. With perfect "sang fioid lie took the
saddle from his nue. wrapped himself N ris blank
cts, and lay down with no music 10 lull hn 70 sleep
but the howung Of wolves, MI The using sun showed
him the true direction. when he mounted and rode
INTO camp much to our relief
Upon his coming in second party was sent out 10
call m those who We're sent after hun, but they were
50 far scattered around and OF sight, h0It was
net TIL night that we all met again 10 talk over the
mistakes OF night" and laugh off the effect which
the strange course Of avents had had on Us. The
uncertainty OF our whereabount induced us TO send
out men 10 explore the country and see they could
reach OF find the road
Ourordery sergeant and John Morrel VOLUNTEERED
hrfsnI L - tnsatr Il
nearly night when they returned, tired and hungry,
and brought the unwecomc Intelligence that they
had not ioundt. They walked in soutberly dircc.
ton twelve or fourteen mics as near rs they could
estimate the distance hoping that The next ridge
would show them the ubiecj Of their search, but ridge
arose ridge, creek after creek was crossed TIL
the declining sun ndmOnl-hed them that 1t was time
70 return before II was too late, and the only inform
nuon we gained was oil the character Of the country.
1t was resolved however 10 continue our Sou,h-wes-
'erIy course as 1t must eventually bring Us to the
/ road.
| Buffalo signs have been seen for two days Ou
men were successful in fishing, and we fair well III
camp
Nay 22nd,-lam obliged for want Of room to skin
the time II IN the 10Th to this date. During tho c
Gays we travelled by compass over a fiat country
and although from recent rains we found plenty Of
water yet ten days of warm weather would dry up
all the ponds, soughs and holes tlom which we OBJ.
tanned water. NUel was out OF the question The
Ro,ln weed and all other weeds had disappeared for
more than week but as good luck would have IT,
we had got into region where Buffalo occasionally
stayed and we could get enough OF their dry cyCre-
ment 10 do W. little cooking. we had hourly been
expecting TO see the road for more thaRa week but
II was not until the ooh that Capt Greene who IOCc
ahead to md camp ground, announced the Joyful
tdlngs that he mad seen another encampmunt We
Ind been travelling on the open Prairie nineteen
days and except the mule thieves and their pursuers
we had not secna living face. sui we were all wei.
our cattle we've IN excellent plight, and our spirits
good. lie ouIy accident winch occurred wis the
Iltdnug OF Doct. Ha saXeltree, owing to the care.
lessness OF the driver. This detained u only about
al hoJr and hat wheD.; wac pa.c.ei Up aal sc
went Oh.
Onthe morning Of the cist, on rising thc
hill to 60 Into the road, we saw train OF
teams as far as eye could reach both ways.
We had come on Ia the read On the little
Blue, about 215 miles from Westport, acccr.
ding 10 Fremonrs map. Blythe way, it was
his map which led us such Z roundabout way
in tracing The course of Nmahah. We took
our places in the vastthrong Of gold hunters.
who, like Jack in the story, "weut 10 seek
their furtin'.n
Atnoon we left the Little P,ne EN-, enter.
ed Oh the twenty five mile strip without wa.
ter. We found il much like the country we
hadtraveled verthe last four days. and ow.
ing to the rains, there was plenty Of water,
aud our encampnent that night was quite As
good as those we had passed.
May 22.-A5out ten O'Clock the Sand
Hills Of the Platte came in view, aud at noon
we were upon the broad bottom ofthe river
On going down the hill, casting my eyes
down on the Fort Kearney road, | saw n
train which felt sure was that OF the South
Bend Company. / mounted the pony and
rode up to them. found indeed that il " as
Capt. ChaS. Tut and his train that passed
through Ottawa in March-a.l old friends
, OF mine. Our meeting was such as nigh,
have been expected under the circumsau.
ceS, and rs we shall now probably trave
neareach other, shall mention them in my
correspondence. We parted at St. Joseph
on the 10Th April. They went to Old Fort
kearney, and lay - days, while we cross ed
/ 40 miles below. We were ~ days getting
20 this point, and they only IL, which shows
how much we lost by not going TO the Kear.
crossing.
We find the road as good rs any near OF.
tawa, and the difference in hauling ON
loads between this aud on the prairie where
there is no track is nearly equal to yoke o
cattle. We are encamped about four mile,
below the fort on the river, and shall co ur
in the morning when we shall mail our lei
tiers. shall have opportunities of occa
siouly sending letters ill we get to For
Hall or Salt Lake, whichever we 70 to, ant
A. often afterwards as possible.
The Sioux aud Pawrees are al war an,
keep Off. AboutS0 Sioux warriors camett
Capt TUFTS camp last Saturday Might, bu
were very friendly. They had scveralpa
eescalps. We have been travelling 81 day.
in the heart Of an Indian country and hav'
seen but ronr, which got glimpse Of
/ Ihave not received letter or parcrrron
anybody Size lief Ottawa,
Truly yours, 4. DELANO.
The rroprlters of the Quincy Wing have
rcCoered four hnn3ed and fifty dollars from
Mr.. Woods, the publisher OF The QuiucI
Herald, in a suit for libel.