The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1849-06-27

! The following communication from an
old citizen ofsDubuqne, will be read. with
interest. 1t is addressed to G. w. Jones
who will please accept our thanks for the
opportunity Of publishing it. xsrs r.
INDIAN TERRlToky, y
May 18th. lS49.
Gen. Geo. ". Jones:-Dear Sir: You
will see by the place of date Of my letter.
that have safely arrived among the Paw.
nee Indians.
| reached Council Bluffs on the l 18th inst,
and was there the first from Dubuque. We
all are in perfect health and quite at home
in our tent;-all in the best of spirits and
full of life. My health is better now than
| it has been for the last four years. Mr.. Ser
re is'troubled little with Rheumatism;
James Iangton is we'll and hearty, and the
same may be said Of Fanning. 81.
There are not more than about $50 wag.
ons here, but about 1000 at St. Josephs and
1000 at Independence.
The roads were bad, all the way from Du-
buque, and the weather unpleasant;-
ever, we got along first rate, and had no
trouble ut all. We passed through Cedar
Rapids, and across the Prairfes.
Yesterday, arrived Doct. Cab, D. Quig-
ley. Gillespie, Plun,be and Dreioelbis, all
we'll and pleased with their trip. John Cof-
fec and his family arrived this morning.
We crossed the Missouri Yesterday morn
ing. and ore encamped about four miles from
the trading house, where we shall form our
company, and start in few days.
Since writing the above, Mr. John Whar-
ton and Esq. Reynolds have arrived. so that
we have quite company of Dubuquers al
ready. All are we'll and hardy, and would
not 60 back for any consideration. There
are about 1000 Indians around US, and we
have to watct them, day and ht;--how
ever, they appear friendly and want nothing
but to eat. The are very disgusting in their
appearance.
Only two companies have rs yet started
from this place; we will be the third.
The country is very beautiful. We have
engaged the Mormon Mail Carrier, Us our
guide. He has been through twice and
knows every good place for camping.
This evening we shall form our Constiiu-
tion' and to morrow, elect our officers, and
then we will be ready 20 march.
shall write to you, as soon as arrived.
The Mornons here have received $50, OOC
worth of gold dust, from the Salt Lake. l
have seen some of i;:--The prospects there
are very hattering.
Your sincere friend, V. GLENAT.
STILL LATER FROM THE PLAINS.
The following letter from our good friend
and fellow citizen, L. F. G ilespie, will be
read with much interest 1t gives news. one
week later than heretofore received.
1t was addressed to friend of Mr.. G IL
cspie's, to whom We orc indebted for the OPP
portunity OF giving it to our readers.
IN Camp. on The Banks oflhe Elk Horn
River, May 24th, ls49. ishsS Il
DEAR -: Here | am quite outside
tho bounds Of civilization, and but, little
more than half civilized myself, that is, 80
far as appearances GOETHE sun and wind
have done their work on my complexion,
and with my unshaven face and outlandsh
costume, think might pass tor thorough
bred Mexican. My new manner Of life, has
seemed thus far to operate very favourabiy
upon my constitution. have become very
healthy and robust, and can labor with far
less fatigue than formerly. At this date VIC
are only 35 or 40 miles from Council BIuns,
and here We have been for the last three
days. waiting the tardy movements of the
i"Dubuque company" We cannot 20 alone,
and so are obliged, very unwilingly, to re-
,main. Our object in coming here, was to
construct raft, and as every thing is in
readiness, and the boys will be up to-
night. in all probability, think tomorrow
will see us over and off.
The spot on which we are encamped is
most delightful one. Far up and down, on
either bank of the winding Elk" q. range
of noble forest trees shoot their green branch
es sky ward, and beyond them, lies a wide
'bottom," it's vivid green interspereed with
little Lakes, that CLEAN like mirrors in their
emereld setting, and farther on, the bound
less Prairie stretches it's wave like undula-
tions far, far away, till it blends with the
blue dome of the sky SO softly and mistily,
that one is puzzled TO tell where the one
ends and the other begins. Wherever the
eye rests, some new form Of beauty presents
itself for nature wears her gala dress in those
western wildernesses. But the wilderness
is no longer solitary. stood yesterday, on
the brow ola hill watching the crossing oil
q party Of enigrants;-one hundred wagon
were ferried over, and you may imagine. i'll
W Cou IuO uOIHC ouu COIluSlUu 6lI0n0sf i
ant thereon. With two RATS, it takes but
= short time to cross such narrow stream
where there are SO many to lend helping
hand. IT., 4@,..g ,.,... ne ,'- n
u After this touch of the romantic, you
would doubtless like to hear something Of
the realities of this kind of life. 1t is very
varied, as you will suppose. Two Sabbaths
ago, in camp we had a prayer meeting and
Bible class, which was very interesting,
last Sabbath. we travelled all day. 1t was
. case Of necessity, there being no grass for
our cattle, and we wishing to keep ahead
Of another party, in order to cross the river
first. AS it turned out, we gained nothing
in time. being forced to await here for our
# sH a 9Hofa2 #t2ea
Camp life is very pleasant in good weath-
er, but it is now rainy and cold. ,si-
Henry and myself take turns in cooking
and driving. To day, he has charge of the
culinary department, and among other
things has RECALLED US with an apple pie
You see we can have good things when we
have time to make them E98 bn3 HeE78 III
The Indians have as yet shown no hos