The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-09

FROM THE OVERLAND EMIGRANrs.
We are indebted to Dr.. Pren.iss for the
following extracts from letter received by
him % last Tuesday. The letter bears the
impress ot the recent FIRE 1t 81. Louis snd
. note from the p. N. Of tina. city stating
that it bad bsen recovered from the wreck
ofshs steamer Algoma, tho particulars d
the burning Of which ws give in another
column
PLArf RrvRR, June II, l840.
- Miles below Fort Laramie.
Dear Friesd:--Nos expecting TO have
any time to write you when Ne get up to
The Fort. ! take advantage Of = few leisure
moments which " have here, while Nc srs
resting over Sunday. would preferred
70 have written before THE, but leisure mo-
msnss are lev, and bsiss also % very tired
that could not muster courage enough to
write. Il will be sufficient to tell you the,
our grsstest trouble, difficulty and fatigue,
we're in coming through llIisois and pert Of
Missouri. We crossed the Missouri river
on the 18th May, and travelled almost ev-
cry day. except Sundays. Some may think
that there 10 but little to do ia this nude Of
travelling, but ] can assure you that il -
very lsborious, and fs.iguing. There 10
moi . msn on These plains but says that i,
10 harder labor than farming. Il 10 true
that ~ oil can do more than 10 could
have ever thought Of being able to d.
The moment W GOT TO tho Missouri 10 GOT
10 crowd, and W are yet %, Tor Ne have
been oil the time 10 sight Of Eve or six
trains, either encampsd or on the move.
We reached the Platte Bottom on the 22d
May, and found plenty Of grass which vas
beyond our expectations, fos these plains
ere Of sandy nature and generally very
barren. Wemuss thank The frequent rains
which ws have had, for this sbuodancs Of
grass, and which - good luck would have
i, most always happened .. night, 80 ,ha,
il did not interfere with our travelling
This Platte river 10 singular, it name is
French and means Ass--6at il is sure
enough; although from 2 to 8 miles wide
i is only from ankle to knee deep, very
muddy. with rapid current and foil Of Il.
lands. Not the least sign Of canoe or craft
Of any kind whsiever about it. No timber
70 70 b seen except fev cotton wood trees
on tho islands; our fuel consist Of wood
and somesimes buffalo chips. Ever since
10 left the Missouri 10 have bssn ascend.
Ing, and although the aseen. has been very
gradual the altitude must b very great.
We have had great deal Of cold weather.
20 much % that over.costs could Do used
with great comfort part Of the day end
somstimss oil day, and this day 10 the ooIy
one that No might call warm, although on.
y pleasant. Vegetation hero is very scan.
~ and very different from that Of Illinois
and even Of Canada. Most Of this differ.
encs must b attributed to the great sl,;.
suds. Most splendid yiews arc had from
Castle Bluff, Chimney Rock and Scots
Bluff. upon The last Of these bluffs some oil
the boys bad chase sfier some mountain
goats, but not expecting to find anv game
there. where men could hardly climb, they
had neglected to take their guns along and
Of course got none Of Thorn. Some deer
and antslopss have bsen killed. bad the
good luck 70 kill tho first antelope. Some
bu(isloss we're seen but none killed by sny
Of our party. There ara 90 many trains
ahead OF " that game has got very scarce.
We have oil been reducing our loads BY
cutting our wagon beds shorter % q 70
make them % light DRAFT % possible.
Our oxen are oil doing we'll. We van. to
b On The sate side, - the biggest end Of
the road l. yet ahead Of u. The Cholera
hss bsea making some ravsges 10 como Of
the trains, particularly in those that came
BY 81. Joseph. Our train has bssn and is
yet very healthy.
You may perhaps form some idea Of The
number Of emigrants on this route, when
you think that no lees thsn 3 800 teams orc
ahead Of ", and that the greatest numbes
% supposed 70 b yet behind.
ANcIExT.-MS. Laurauia Throwes died
recently 10 Georgia st the sdvaacsd ago Of
lSS years. Her faculties remained unim.