Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-06-13

brings out a man in his true colors. No
one knows man, and he does not know
himself, until he is brought out in his true
character in the tented field, or on some
such expedition as is now occupying SO
many of our citizens.
However, ali are jogging on their way,
with the determination, apparently, of fin
ding the end Of the road-and in truth it
matters but little whether man is in an
organized company or by himself, for it is
impossible TO get out of sight Of wagons.
Such an emigration as is now passing over
the plains, has not had its parallel in any
age. Composed, as it mostly is, of the
best material Of our land, the country that
receivs it must necessarily assume COM
manding position. Many rascals, however,
are along with the crowd, to give it little
wholesome SEASONING. Several horses
and muls have changed hands; but as it
is in an Indian country. the poor Indian
must bear the blame. The last arrival
from the frontiers is solitary foot tray
eler, who says he has come all the way
from Main, without the assistance of Ell
Their railroad, stage, steamboat or telegraph
wires. He is accompanied by & savage
locking bull dog, has lcng rifle over his
shoulder, on the end Of which he carries
baggage, consisting Of a small bundle, about
the size Of your hat. He has no proyis-
ions, but gets along pretty Well BY spon-
ging on his fellow travellers. He says he
wants but a hundred meals to carry him
thro.', and he rather guesses he'll find
Christians enough on the road to supply
him with that number.
Ii is impossible to give the names flhc
companies, or the number of men that
pass over the road, but | think that the
ratio between men and wagons, is as three
and a half to one.
Our old friends, the Pawnees, have had
hare time of it during the past winter.
when they returned from their hunting
grounds, their trail could be followed BY
the dead bodies Of those who had starved
to death. Children,young men and women,
have shared this fate. Now that spring
has arrived, their condition will be i'm
proved. They have abandoned their old
village 70 miles below us, ON the Platte,
and have commenced new one at the
mouth OF the Saline, some SO miles nearer
the frontiers of Missouri Their old en-
emes, the Sioux, are pressing them hard,
which is probably the cause Of this step.
Several war parties of both nations are
on the war-path, and several scalps have
already changed owners. A large party
of Sioux, few days since came upon
some half dozen Pawness, and took three
scalps and small boy prisoner. This oc-I
Cured some twenty miles from the post,
and in the immediate vicinity of a party
of emigrants, who if report be true, play
ed any thing but an honorable part in the
affair. The Pawnees, upon observing the
overwhelming force of their enemies, who
numbered about two hundred, took shelter
with this train, but the gallant men CON-
posing it, drove them forth without iner-
cy. There was one squaw in the party,
and the warriors finding they had to fight,
told her to run for the river while they
threw themselys between her and the
Sioux, and died fighting brayely. The
squaw reached the river and escaped. As
soon as it was known here, Capt. Walker
took twenty men, pursuaded, and overlook
the Sioux, rescued the prisoner and res
tored him to his mother. These little In
dian fights, which, by the way, are of pref
ty frequent occurrence. and the arrival of
the emigrants, have broken in effecually
upon the monotony Of our prairie life.
One Of the men with the Mormon mail,
is just from the s'diggings,' in California,
and is certainly a happy fellow; for he
says that he has as much gold as he
wants. He showed stocking full as a
specimen, and as you may well suppose,
the emigrants opened wide their eyes at
the sight of the glit,ering mass. l will
endeavor to keepyou advised of the num-
Der of wagons which pass here, and may
oceassionly find material for letter.
Yours, Sc.
PAWNEE. al
MAY 10Th. Theory is, sstill they come
Yesterday $50 wagons passed here ma
king in all 656. A cart load of letters
start for the frontiers this morning, and
presume many mothers, wives and sweet.
hearts will soon be made happy.
HANGING IN New HAMPsHIRE.-There
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