Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-16
The Overland Route 10 California

ADVICE GRATIS TO GOLD SEEKERs.-NOw
that gold and California are all the land
when everybody is itching to "get off," it
may hel little TO cOunteract the fever, 10
show such as intend reaching Ell Dorado,
by the overland route few of the inconvc-
niences they must encounter before they
reach Sierra Neveda, or the golden waters
Of the Sacramento. We have been much
amused as we'll as instructed in reading over
cleverly written communication in late
number of the ST Louis Republican from
one who evidently has ''seen the elephant"
detailing the pains and penalties in so racy
and humorous vein, that VIC cannot refrain
from giving our California friends choice
extract, here and there, in the hope that it
may exercise Z cooling influence upon their
immaginations, overheated, and distempcr-
ed by the last news from the ''placers,"
Listen:
"You start across the plains, by the time
you reach Santa Fc, N. NJ, distance not
less than 1890 miles from S.. Louis, will
find your ambition and courage fail; aid yet
through Santa Fe is a paradise 10 what you
will see aferward. BY the time you have
been fifty days out, which will be the time
you will be in going there, Tor kill all your
oxen and mules you will wish yourselves
back again at your work in ST. Louis
mark my words. You must cook your own
meals, which will be fun and sport for few
days, where wood, waterand grass are plcn-
ty, but after you get 90 miles beyond Coun-
Gil Grove, You will hunt in vain for wood,
and often for water and grass
Cape Horn, and Patagonia, confinement
six months on board ship,and slowed away
among a cargo of crazy men looking for
gold, all sink into comparative comfort,
when contrasted with the positive miseles
here laid down.
Two men will use barrel Of flour be-
fore getting TO Santa Fe, and 200 lbs. good
bacon, about 80 lbs. coffee, and if you drink
whlskey IA very necessary article, by
the way,) two men cannot help using ten
gallons.
Temperance men will please make note
OF this. Necessary TO use ten gallons, mind!
They who have been indiscreet enough 10
sign the pledge, will therefore see the neces-
sily of recanting before going to the mines.
1t is necessary to take hardware shop.
with you-and, it would appear that a VIC
tualling cellar and stills might TO well TO
follow in the real:
You want good Ak, Ratchet, pick. AK,
crowbar, spade and shovel, an augur, inch
chisel or two. You will want tin or pewter
plates, tin cups. good knife or two, spoon
or two, coffee boiler, tea kettle, frying pan,
spider, bake oven and canleen; ltttle salt,
pepper, salartus, mustard. red pepper. plen-
ty ofpickles. and good supply of vinegar;
molasses tastes quite sweet on The plains
get plenty of matches, both luciiur and wax;
get two large blankets as your bedding; a
cap is better than hat"
There is good complacenry about the
next extract however which cannot but have
salutary effect upon the most inveterate
victim TO the gold fever, that intends TO trav-
ell over the mountains:
at matters not about the sun, you'll get
used 10 it your hat is blown by the wind in
| to cooked hat" and then the sun has all
advantages wear shoes instead of boots for
walking unless you are afraid oil snakes, OF
which you will see plenty of the largest
kind of rattlesnakes.) You can kill dogs
enough for fresh meat as you arrive in their
cities and towns; they always sit at the
doors of their houses, and are always either
shot or caught. They are very palatable,
and IN eating them. At irst, one Is apt to get