The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-04
From the Plains and Salt Lake.


] MAIL CARRIERS BY TIKI PAwNEEs-THE DEAD
PROBABLE GENERAL INDIAN WAR.
Correspondence Of the St. Louis Republican Oct g.
| GRKxN RIvxR, CALIFORNIA TERRITORY,
August ~, 1919
! have another opportunity of writing to you,
rather unexpectedly presented, by meeting the ex-
| press rlosr (Mr. S. Thomas), from Fort Hall 10
Fort LeavenwoIth. Since | addressed you from
Laramie, little has presented Itself of general
terest TO your readers; but to US pilgrims bringing
up the rear, scenes and occurrences have been con-
| staniy coming to view, as far as this point, that
had no parallel on the eastern part Of our Journey
| From Laramie the Rocky Mountains really start
her foundation and although II 10 three hundred
miles fruc there to the summit, il is nothing but
succession OF kno!is and knobs until you turn
the culminctlpg point - Pacing Spring, where The
water runs westward. In ,sference TO the ADA
cent country, there Is nothing rsins 10 'he o,Pnly
OF mountain on this whole route. Fro,.. Hars-
mle, grass began 10 TAIL tor our stock, and the
most diligence had to be used to sustain them.
From thence, after the first fifty miles, dead cattle
and fragments OF wagons come In sight, and as far
az here have counted about one thousand wagons
that have been burnt or otherwise disposed Of on
the road Destruction seems to have been the pre-
vailing emotion with everybody who had to leave
| anything on the trip. Wagons have been waatonly
sacrificed, without occasion, by Misunderstanding
fired tor the apparent purpose OF preventing them
from being servlcable to anybody else, while hun
dreds have been used by piecemeal, for fuel, at
nearly every camping ground, by each successive
| tram.
From Deer Creek to the summit, the greatest
amount OF property has been thrown away. Along
the banks Of the North Platte to where the Sweet
water road turns OIL, the amount of valuable pro-
perry thrown away is astonishing-lron, trunks,
clothing, &c, lying strewed about, 10 the value of
at least fifty thousand dollars In about twenty
miles. ] have counted about FIVE hundred dead
oxen along the road, and only three mules.
The reason OF so many wagons having been DIS
posed OF, was the apparent necessity Of packing in
order TO insure quick and certain transit to the
mines; and people did not care tor the less of any
1 neFS al theyr hal har>
| Let people who come out this way next season,
beware OF crossing the Platte at Deer Creek
Keep up The south side as high as poossl ble-at
possible-before they strike over to the Sweet
water. During this summer there was ferry
kept at Deer Creek, and the bulk Of the emigration
crossed at 1t, but the road is much worse, and
| every one regrets having crossed so low.
| The last train of the Pioneer line, day before
yesterday, took Sublete's Cut Off, and left us at
the junction of the Oregon and California roads
They were all well, and are bound to get through.
| Many of the St. Louis boys have left their names
and respects 10 any of their friends behind the
smooth trees and rocks along the road. and il is
sometimes cheering to see well known name
| penciled at a crossing or watering place.
Death seems 10 have followed the emigration out
| thus far, although in a mitigated degree TO
numbers. Eight or ten of those below, are buried
| in the Pass, and there are SEINE others also, who
have no identity on their graves.
Last of Grdpes on ne Road vest Of Fort Laramie.
j. M. Hay; DR. MeDsrmen, of Fairfield. Iowa,
died July Zl-AQed Is.
Mrs Mildred Moss, late of GaIeua. wife of d.
! II. L. Moss, died 18th July-aged Is years.
John Woodsids, died June 10, lsa9-buried at
Warm Spring.
John B. Mastin, July 8, of Pontstoc, Miss, aged
T. George died June Is.
Jesse Clark, jr., died June %, of Breeder, N. Y.
Thomas M Rankin, June rs, aged % years, Of
Lewis county, Mo. Ut might be St. Louis, de-
David Hines. of Madison county, ILL.,. June rs,
w. prennen, drowned May 20, at Platte crossing.
N Glenat, July Z, aged IS. from Dubuque, Iowa.
Nancy Tremble, June 25, lsis, aged "a, at VIII
Herr saluer, June 10, aged "a, from Indiana.
William Moore, July 20, eyed 56, Oswago, Ind.
John Mcdowell, Of St Joseph, Me.
! Joseph Barnett, August 26, lSa4
| Mrs. Bryan, July %, 1915.
James Estei, June 20, Of Lawrence county, Mo.
| w. Rector, July %; Geo. G. Pitcher, July ~,
late Of Henry county, illinois, and formerly Of New
York.both at Pacific Spring;
| J. X. Nelson, June rs, aged 80 years, Of Adams
sosnty, Illinois-at Big Sandy.
The express rider states that he will pass four
and FIVE graves day, all the way down Bear river,
and go on further westward.
| will send you the next from some where in the
From Fort Lamarie we have a private letter, from
which take the following eXtraets'-
FoRr LARANrx, Qnd. Ter) Sept. Is, 1919,
",
latter end of July, and had hardly got my tent
pitched, when was ordered over to Fort Pierre on
the Missouri, with ten rifles, to escort Col Mackay
10 that point, and TO keep the Sioux and other red
gentlemen OF the prairies from molestlns his scalp
The trip was a most interesting one, 20 our trail
ran through the celebrated 'sMauvais Tenc,"
where eti.fsctIons Of all kinds can be found by
| the cart load. The country 10 also well stocked
with game, and many fine buffalo fell beneath my
| rifle, and many " side RIB" and fleece" were
discussed around our evening camp hires; While
In the bad grounds" picked up some busnel or
go of petrefactions, which will show you some OF
! these oays-that IN. provided ever again take the
trail towards the frontiers.
All hands are driving away at our new build
Dgs, and strong hopes are entertained that before
the mercury Is at zero we shall be around our new
hesrths.
We were visited, few days since, by about two
hundred Cheyennes and Sioux, who danced a 1T
tie, stole liile, eat great deal, and finally went
on their way rejoicing. These Platte SiouI, by
the way, are the best Indians the prsrics. Look
at their conduct during the past summer. Of the
vast emigration which rolled through their coun-
article stolen. Such good conduct deserves re-
ward.
News from the Salt Lake has just reached here,
and the accounts from the emlgrants are any mug
but atierIDg. You may recollect that early IN the
season l predicted great suffering amongst them.
IL 10 now about TO be fulfilled. Between fifteen
and twenty thousand emgraats, according to these
accounts, will be obliged to pass the epswag WIN
ter amongst our Mormon ntsnoors Sucn a num-
Der Of additional mouths, you will readily see,
must play the deuce with the limited supplies OF
the MOrmons. This detention was caused by the
careless or wanion conduct of the leading portion
OF the emigration, IN burning the country beyond
the Salt Lake. All the grass Is consumed tor
nearly two hundred miles, which, OF course, rem
ders The passage of animals impossible.
A change has been made in the troops intended
for Fort Hall. MAJOR SimoBson has gone on to
OR, gop, and Colonel Porter been left in his place.
The change was made by Colonel Loring The
Rife Regiment had reached Fort Hall In good
cor dluon, but they had the worst of the road
ahead IT them. Col Porter's command will throw
up winter quarters somewhere in the vicinity Of
Port Hail. sud in the spring move down near the
| Mormon settlement.
Those grand rascals Of the Plains, the Pswnees,
have again been imbruing their hands IN the blood
| Of the whites. Two men--Thomas and Picard
carrying the u ). mail from Fort Hall to Fort
LeavenwoIih, were attacked by th.m a few days
since, about half way between this post snd tort