The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-11
From the California EmigrantS.
No. III.
ST. JoSrru, April 81, 1910.


rockey, though the vallcyis sometimes two
miles wide, and the water Is constantly
wearn. away the soil of the bottoms, which
are mly deposite of the stream at some
former period This makes the Missouri
muddy stream, resembling the water III
ppdile after shower; but, after being al.
lowed to settle short time, the water is
sweet and wholesome. \ few miles above
Independence, We pass the mouth OF the
Kansas, and ON that side up Council Bluff,
perhaps higher, is the lndian country, their
ci,im 10 which is not yet eNtmGui,hcd by
the government; aud ON their side you see
no ,l:n of civilization except AZ Font Lea.
vcnwor,h, up as FAR "a we have come, while
the opposite, or north side Of the river, il a
fine farming country, well settled short
distance GA the blull. Fort Lcnvenworth
stands upon the Bank perhaps an hundred
rod, from the river. aud is like an oasis III
tnc wilderness ot p!aiilc and cottonwood of
the bottoms, with ITS neG; barracks and sur
rounding brick buildings.
The t.lium Of the steam boat was nj
length relieved by view of the pretty and
thrifty town Of ST. Joseph, ON the 18Th, about
/ O'Clock, 7. NJ. after ten days conline.
meut, from ST. Louis. II is situated upon
a level plot, IN kind Of alnphtiheatre, high
ridges of broken prairie in the rear, with the
river in front. II is the county seat Of Blu
chauan county, has a fine spacious court
house, two or three churcheS,a population
Of 300 souls, II mercantile stores, mechau-
les IN proportion, three ste ann Touring mill.
and fourth under contract three saw mills.
and WAS informed that fifty four brick, and
ninety frame houses were erected last sea-
son. Twelve thousand hogs were >lauch-
tered here last fall, aud large quantities Of
Bacon, hemp, and tobacco are brought in
from the surrounding country. II is only
five years since the town wa, surveyed and
laid out, and II prorni,es TO be place Of
much Importance. 1t i>already one Of the
prominent starting places for California aud
Oregon emigraut>.
At ~. Loqis, the Emsraut> have been e.
greciou,y imposed on by false representa-.
tious a, to the capabity Of furnishing out
fits here. We were told that the number Of
emigrhntS was so great that supplies could
not be obtained, scarcely at any price; that
. the citi2eus were sending down the rirer for
+ provisions; that board was seven dollars a
week al the hotels, sc. We were, there.
/ fore, induced 10 lay IN our bacon, and com
mon article atjIc per pound; our flour at
/ freight We found on our arrival that the
most beautiful bacon could DC had and in H.
ny quantity at i to &c; flour AT 81 pr Lbl 4:
and board ranged from s. to - prwcek at
the hotels. Cattle aud mules, which had al
30 been represented ~ being enormously
high, can be had, the former at $40 to $50 pr
yoke, and the latter from so Ia so EACH
Other supplies can be had on qutcreasuna-
Die terms, and should advise all who are
comm: net TO Bug in 81. Louis but to com
plet- their outfit here. -
We found, on our arrival, that Mr.. Green's
company had decided IL move mp the river,
to Fort KesTny, 9G miles. The season is
backward, and it will probably be ten OF
fourteen days before the grass will allow
the emgrautS to start. by going To Fort
kearny they avoid crossing the Platte. a
good military road ex,efd> through the int-
rlor: the streams are all hridged, and the,
are fnrty.iive miles advanced on their jour
ney, having the advantage of settlements SC
far. We found the first South Bead Ia. com
pany here, but on the point Of moving I,
Fort hearmy; and think Inauy men vii
, adopt the same course.
This will make a divI>iOuin the main bod
y, SO that a much wider range will be la,
tor our cattle. My cattle, with those of Mr.
Cutting are thirty miles ~ the country a
waiting our orders. Mr.. Cutting arrive,
ye.lerdy and We have de,patChv Nh. Smitl
for our cattle, having determined to taketh,
Fort kearny route. We intend to leav,
here on Tuesday. We have to make III,
melancholy record Of the death Of Mr.. Re
luil, a member Of Mr.. Green's company
lie was taken with dIarrhUa aud suffered /
TO run without attention SIX days, when so
hitting aud cramps set IN and terminated AI
eNi,tcnce in few hours. That oumpan,
leit here few hours before our arrival, an,
went ont five miles when Sir. Xeluii di sd
aud yesterday they STOPPED to bury him.
Messrs. Murreii aud ihorne, vino are at
lached 10 our mess, went Ou with Mr. Fred
enbnrs's Wagon ~ ,he Dayton (Green',
= company, aud We expect To- OveTldkG then
at the Fort, and whcnwe intend to unite " III
. Capt. Iuu's company, ot South Bend, al
/ old friends oflnine. There are here, and il
e this vicinity from 300J TO !,.lOD men, bu, no
- over 5000 at tins time. Every steam boa
brings It's hundreds, and the next ten day
4 may swell the number to 5000 or GDOJ.
/. have ventuIed to predict 10000 as In
probable number who will attempt 10 eros
= the plans. 1t may exceed that calculation
IA but from present Indications 10000 and 80,
e 900 i. far beyond the matk.
y la the motley crowd, assembled al TIL
:. point, you see every variety ct costume an
arrangements for travelling according To tn
:. taste aud ability the cngrantS. IL seem
;. 10 be general disposition to set fashion a
u defiance, or rather, it's fashionable TO be- un
a fashionable. As a general custom howev
V rr, n check or wooden shirt, Mexican broa
e brIm, small crown, white or brown wool hat
e high boots reaching upon the knee, as IN
comfortable as can be maded Ia seven lcagu
: boots tPeterSchlemmhl, is the general cha
n raCter ofyour imaginary Crgsus. Then 9th
!. erS gilmore refined taste, who never dream
:. ed perhaps of such exquisieness at home
II have cultivated a most pre- ciUus pair ofmus
taches and whIskers, while others are Try
d ing to coax pair 10 grow without success,
II 'Gd' BdbODnid, aud with finer display c
bowie knives and revolvers, may hide tn
trembling OF a coward heart. And thes
q men, most of whom are strangers to hard
IS ships, are about launching forth upon sc
# of toll, where their habits must change, an
where all theircomiOrtS, aside from provideu
tial contingencies, depend upon themselve
their sagaci,y aud ingenuity. They mu'
Is drive and attend their own teams, repair a
;. "breaks," wash and mend their own clothes
boil athnir Gala. ,nAl tbair "A "a IN -