The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-01
F0RT SMITH, Arkansas,

FoRT SMITH, Arkansas, Oct 2, 1s49.
Letters have been received this place from Santa Fe.
dated July 2lth, from town the Rio Grande named
Socoro which is varousy estimated at from IT'S 10 $50
miles beyond Santa Fe From the former we learn that
Captain Bonners company OF California emgrants had
arrived safely at Santa Fe .aller toerably fair trip,
with good road and plenty of water" Captain Gil
dersleeves New York company did badly with their oxen
u be i Of Ss
their own company, and in attempting to overtake Capt
Bonners company got os and had not been heard from
Many OF the eingrans were waiting on the Rio GIande
for the escort which TO be sent from Santa Fe TO
California, among them the Havilah Mining Company
from New York The Indians were very troublesome
near Santa Fe Captain Chaplin who went out TO offer
Them peace losing his scalp for his pains Corn
was worth ~ per busEel at Santa Fe.
From Socoo, we learn that there is much complaint
and dissatisfaction from the overland emgrants which,
however is believed to have arisen chiefly from want
of organization and prudence on their own part The
OK teams have generally done bady and "most giving
tleman from this place, who carried with him $4,000
worth OF goods, intending TO take them with him 10
California, "had to sell them all at Santa Fe. and got moth
ing for them" The Carksyille Company and the Little
Rock Company have done wel-"gone through as they
ongh to do they were fifteen days ahead oil the Fort
Smith Company, though they started about the same
time from here. "a great many will never go further
than Santa Fe, having got out OF money The road is
represented very sandy between Santa Fe and Socoo
The Indians begin to show fight; and some had lost
mules and other things by the Mexicans. Some OF the
companies have had little fighting to do The Apaches
stole OF their mules and the egrants went and took
all Of their horses and mules they had killed three OF the
indians, and had one OF their party killed. The writer
urges his friends not 10 believe any reports they may hear
Of their being killed for ne adds reports have had
killed several times since we left Santa Fe." Three or
four have been killed in the Fort Smith and other
companies since they left, (names not giyen man BY
the OF johnson, from Louisiana who lost his wife
by cholera before arriving at Fort Smith, and went Out
with the Fort Smith Company skilled man, and went
on his way, leaving him lying on the ground near
Socoro." 'sTwo of Captain McVckars company, OF
Little Rock, and three Mexicans, killed by the
Indians in the mountains" "Many OF the emgrants
have stopped at different places to work. not many al
the writer seems TO think Some of the emgrants, when
they lose mule, go to the first drove they and take
as many as they want A
From other emigrants on the Rio Grande, we learn
that II is their intention to go IN search OF the gold on the
ella, of which the reports very favorable in par
fifteen days journey from Socoro, inhabited by white In
dians highly advanced in civilization, and very hostile
to strangers and where gold is very abundant They
express an intention OF penetrating into the country If
they have 70 fight for i; no doubt when they get there,
it will be the real Ell Dorado The letter adds that they
certainly will attempt il through any difficulties, for they
are all sgod mad" The letters represent the families
who emigrang in distressed condition, being
out OF provisions and short OF money to purchase them
The health OF the emgrants was remarkably good.
Fe. Men shoot another there for pastime One OF
the emgrants from Arkansas says it is the hardest place
he in, and that not day passed without the
enactment of bloody tragedy On one occasion three
or four shots exchanged in the midst OF crowd in
the main plaza; Californian, who only spectator,
Buords company was shot through the lungs al fan
dango. MI
We are in daily expectation OF the return Of Captain
Marcy with his command. CRAWFORD n