Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-02-24
THE DELIGHTS OF AN OVERLAND
JOURNEY TO CALIFORNIA.

We find in the 50. Louis Republican the
following rich communication, which will
afford considerable amusement, if not in-
'struction, to those about migrating to the
Pacific:
TO CALIFORNIA MEN.
Permit Inc to caution your over-zeal in
going after gold. Remember, and take war
ming before you engage in an enterprise be-
You'd your age, and strength, and means.
A long, dreary road, of upward of 1900
miles lies before you, without houses with
out meat or flour, and in many places with
out wood, water or grass. You that start
across the painf, by the time you reach Sam
IA re, N. Ma distance OF not less than
200 miles from ST Louisville find your
ambition and courage fail and yet through
Santa Fe is paradise To what you will see
afterward BY the time You have been fif-
Ity days out, which will be the time you will
he in getting there, Cor kill all your oxen and
nules,) you will wish yourselves back again
at your work in St. Louis-mark my words
Y on must cook your own meals, which will
DO iun and sport for few days, where wood
water and grass are plenty, but after you
get 100 miles beyond Concil Grove, you
will hunt ia vain fof wood, and often for
water and grass.
Instead Of wood, get your blanket and
two of you go out, take a circle Of one mile
and pick up all the bufirlo chips (manure)
you can find, which will be scarce, nuke
your fires and cook by the blaze. While
two are hunting for fuel, some will have to
go for water, others picket out your mules
or watch your oxen, others attend to tho
cooking, some attend to fixing your tent.
Be sure and cook enough at night TO do the
next day, leaving nothing TO do in the NOR
ming but boil your coffee. harness up and DO
off.
Twenty miles is n good days travel.
Two men will use a barrel Of -four be-
fore getting to Santa Fe, ard 200 lbs. good
bacon, about 50 lbs. coffee, and If you drink
whisky ca very necessary article, 10y the
way.) two men cannot miss using | o gallons.
You can travel better on foot Than be troubled
with horse, for you certainly can keep up
with an oy-wagon, and in few days be-
come used to it, which will harden you for
the labor, when called to use the pick, crow
bar, spade or shovel.
You want good axe, Ratchet, pick-axe,
crowbar, spade or shovel; an auger, inch
ciiisel 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 aud canteen little salt,
pepper, saleratus, mustard, red pepper;
plenty of pickles, and a good supply OF vim
egar molasses tastes quite sweet on The
plains-get plenty Of matches, both lucifer
and wax; get two large blankets as your
bedding o cap is better than hat. IL mat
ters not about the sun, you'll get used TO IT,,
your hat il blown by the wind into cooked
hat and the sun has all advantages; wear
shoes instead OF boots for walking (unless
YOU are afraid Of snakes, of which you will
see pleutyofthe biggest lind ofratilesnakes.)
You can kill dogs enough for fresh meat as
YOU arrive 10 their cities aud towns they
al9ays sit at the doors OF their houses, and
are always either shot or caught. They
are very palatabIc and ia eating them, at
first, one is apt 10 get too easily down at a
meal Especially at supper time,) which
causes considerable noise in the lower re-
gious. about the time one wants to sleep, but
cannot for the constant barking of the dogs.
To prevent this, take along some No.
few lrops put al to rest again. A good hle
would he useful when you arrive ~ mo
Buffalo Range, for you can't help killing
an old bull. and while the boys are skim
nin0. YOU can be filing your teeth, to be-
ready 10 enter on duty. As wild meat is
Of running breed, aud you Of a tame one,
YOU needn't be surprised to find yourself
running the day after eating il. In case
your run is more than you are used to, take
a few drops Of No. 6, and all is quiet. Be
careful not to chase the wolves on foot
they are many, and sort Of hyena when
they turn upon you they destroy both soul.