The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-05-11
From the California Emigrants.
ST. JosErH, MAY 10, 1919.

own, shall offer no apology, and you must
e'en beIconteut TO do as | am doing, stake il
as it comes.o
You have "seen the Elephant" and know
the cost OF obtaining sight at his Trunk
ship. As for me, have scarcely obtained
view Of his shadow yet, but il "coning
events cast their shadows BEFORE" in due
time hope to get in close proximity ofhis
mammoth proportions.
The day | left Ottawa was delightful
over head, but the soft soil Of our beautiful
praries hub-deep to the wagons together
with pleasing antics Of a baulky horse, and
the frequent opportunity Of having my
boots BACKED with some of Natures best
no thanks to the porter-as we lghtened
our load by jumping out into the deep, deep
mud, proved that all was not gold that gilt
tered. AT evening we went on board the
good Steamer Revolution, aud the next
morning left Peru on our golden voyage.
"lInng were the heavens in black" and
ere long revolution took place over head.
have not the least doubt that the deluge
was occasioned by the windows Of heaven
being opened. 1t appeared to me that the
flood gates were open now, for it literally
poured; and / should think that twenty
days OF such rain would be sufficient 10
drown all tho rats--two legged as well rs
four, in Ottawa. We had an agreeable
company on board, however, y good cap.
tain and crew, and as il raincd or poured
only two days and nights Of the four We
were going down the river can't complain.
do not intend 10 give you sketch Of the
scenery along the Illinois river. as it is too
familior TO the most Of your readers; bat !
was utterly astouShpd at the vast multitude
and height Of the Indian mounds from
BcardSto"n quite to the mouth. have Of
ten read Of them but had never formed an
adequate idea Of their number. Every pro-
minent bluff seemed covered and attest that
dense population of arace. now unknown.
once covered this beautiful region, and
whose Only history is written in these hill
locks that crown the SUBMITS Of the bluffs
or are scattered over our rich praries.
Monday morning dawncd upon St. Louis
with washing day face, and we poor miser.
able bipeds. as u>uad, had TO '.stand from
UNDER" OF take a duckng. The day was
busy one, however, for, as an excellent
boat was advertised 10 leave for St. Joseph
that evening, was anxious to com,Ilc,e
my outfit aud ship my wagon on board Of
her. therefore adopted the Sucker mode
OF tucking the ends of my neither garments
mo my boots, took an umbrella and in
company with Mr.. Freadenburc. Mr..
Thorn, and some others Of our Ottawa
friends set out in search Of ra,ions. These
we found advanced in price in consequence
OF so many calls for California; but by the
hour Of starting we were told that in consc-
quence Of the rain the Embassy could not
complete her lading till the following day.
There were large numbers Of emiCrants in
the city, but not as many as | expected to
ind from previous accounts. Some of the
boats went out with large loads, while 9th
ers had more moderate ones; but there is
no doubt but many thousands will ATTEMPT
to cross the plains. met acsuaintances at
every turn: in fact it seems that met more
than knew,-is that bull?
On Tuesday evening, all being ready.
we put out into the stream with three hear
ty cheers from over four hundred souls,
whice was returned with right good will
by those on the shore, and the Embassy
was blowing the "Father Of waters" loaded
to the gunhale with passengers, whose vi
sion rested on the golden heights Of the ST.
ezra Nevada or the sparkling dust in the
valley OF the Sacramento Besides our own
half dozen souls from Ottawa there were
companies from Tecumseh, Michigan (;
Dayton. Ohio; Lynchburg, Virginia; Lou.
isvil'e, Kentucky; besides right small
sprinkle from all other places aud no plac C
in particular.
Feeling a little arstocra,ic, and not wish
ing TO see the elephant too soon, | thought
would take cabin passage.
CIV bat iS ha faro "a &,
ell Of the clerk.
Eight dollars. SIR WINS his reply.
"Can you show me a state room -
"Ihcy are all taken-not berth left (:
but we can give you a good comfortable
ma,rass on tho floor. You will be very.
very comfortable In fact it's just as plea
SAINT"
ellen yes, no doubt, Think III try the
deck. How much for deck PASSAGE"
"Three dollars; but it will be very I'M
pleasant"
ono matter, it will 90 TO break in, and
may as well begin now" and so | took
deck passage, and the difference in price
paid to insure my wagon and goods to ST.
Josephs.
And now word as to the comforts ofthe
cabin. 1t is SO full that many cannot ce,
even mat,rass TO sleep on, aud the long
tables have 10 be set five times in success
sion before all can eat, and the air is so
confined that several have left it aud beg
ged to sleep in the wagons Oh deck.
The discomiorts Of the deck are pure air,
n large rooniy wagon with an excellent co.
yer over it, plenty Of buffalo skins and blan-
kets to sleep on: in short, little territory
OF our own which is respected by all, with
a good chance to boil your own coffee at
public stove, and the privilege to eat when
and how you please. II was most for,u.
nate hit for me this tune, and am now
writing in my own wagon with as much
ease and comfort q. could in your own of.
flee. have repeatedly had the offer made
me to swap berths, but | have good and
sufficient reasons to lie content with what
have.
The day Of our leaving. one Of the Dayton
(Ohio) Company had his leg broken by a
fall on the boat. The fracture was a bad
one aud he was left at st. Louis by his
And another quite serious
accident occurred before starting in the
Virginia Company. A thoughtless green
horn wishing to display his skill with pis.
tol, on the upper deck, discharged it through
the deck into the cook room where the ball
lodged in the shoulder of one OF the boys
belonging TO the boat. The ball was cut out
by a surgeon, and the skilful ma rksman had