The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-09-24
Overland Journey from Corpus Christi
to San Francisco.
QOrrespondonoe Of the Crescent
SAN Francisco. Upper California, July %. 1919.

am quietly seated at my dstk. with sufficient
breathing time to nde few lines my friends on the far.
OIL Atlantic side Of the continent and to record somewhat
OF my travels history to give them facts that have seem
and to attempt true deneaton Of the country Though
which have passed
On the 18th day Of February our party eonsstnR ocseyep
tsen men, with their and thirty five ue and
bOues struck their tents and took up their line of aehfro
the beautiful town of Corpus Christi to wind their way 10
the faffamed Dorado Of America With light hearts and
Joyous fth they moved steadily forward eaeh cohRrau
atng the other that they now fairly on the road 10 the
land of their day and night dreams the land Whose rich
Treasures must ere long Be their eager sight, and
the golden sands Of its vuIets plains and mountains re-
ward the dangers and tolls of the daunes advsntursr But
few of the party had the rough side Of es pic
tue, therefore had bat vague idea of the many difcueE
which must PRESENT themselves overland more
than two thousand mss those of who had seen service
were douby fortified against the casualties of t1ave having
the experience of past with phOsOphc pride that bore
! Us above the petty trials of the uninitated.
This party had fallen the error of almost
all who have chosen the land routehe enou berng them
selves with supsruity of baggage and needing the
advice Of more experienced traveller had as much as
900 Tbs weight Of articles entirely useless either here in Cali
tona, the road this however an error which in
few days corrected ITSELF for each day brought its quan
um of toll and vsxaOn and mental and physical endur.
ance began TO bend before it. little by little, some cherished
article either Of ornament ancied luxury neglected
then lesy pushed aside or thrown upon the ground
walked overlooked of the way and finally thrown as
far arms strength could huh it, with the common OK
preston Of those who getting their teeth cut and
oaIulhA tttLte Dpauan, that none but
5UTr0 would think Of starting with useless an auice
AT 6fst affection for wagons waHed warm nasmucb as it
saved immense deal ofabOr compared to packing and
unpacking mulss and when called upon to take COM
mand OF the party and made of the conditions the dis
posa of all the and reduction of baggage to $50 lbs
pack, received for that the subject would REQUIRE
further consideration. knew however that every hour in
the day would butss to convince them Of the utter folly
Of retaining train Of ovsaden wagons and had the salts
faction to find the party, the fifth day unanimous in
agreeing to my conditions however declined command
until the necessary alterations had been made in each mans
OH aud satisfied Of his being lily prepa red TO mr.
sue the journey with comfort and speed this could only be
done at Laredo town founded by the Catholic missionaries
some two hundred years since and beautifully situated on
| the American side Of the Rio Grande.
From Corpus Christi Laredo there is most excellent
road in the best possible travelling condition; an abundance
Of wood water and the round Distance 1881
miles BY actual messuFenent believe the aeve mentioned
road was made practicable for wagons by the firm of Caz
neau & Co, tCol kinney) and with very tlinE expen
diture can be made equal roads in the oldest state
in the Union. Wagons laden can make the travel
from Corpus to Laredo touching all the good watering
points, in five days The face of the county unbroken
and from Tie immense droves Of wild horses beef cattle
hogs and deer OCks Of geese ducks nrkies and many
other species Of the feateed tribes can scarcely dpe
me Illusion that he is winding his way the cultivated
heds OF athoky peopsd country but the foot of civilized
man ueGds with cautions step upon this soil aud his senses
Of sight and hearing become douby 20 guard as anst
surprise as he knows not when where the red may
intercept bis course 10 dispute with him bis Tshtef way
believe no indiana although gentleman Of
the party avered, egiously that be saw two Eys
ones but examination found that the red gentle.
men had most mracuousy transformed themselves into
cactus with red mule behind it, whose motion had given
the appearance Of life Travelling time from Corpus to La.
redo by paryAgua Dulce beautiful lake of fresh
water, Slsti Lake Trinidad, good water abundance of
game geese, ducks. deer Sd several standing pools wa.
Ter not very palatabe owing to mustangs range geese
ducks, deer and immense herds of wild horses 23d AQUA
POcltOpTOpery namsd-hee so Eitte water as to be
entirely invisibe-two and half miles beyond water hole
] nmH1U III A..
some since by the incuons of the Camanohes il
now called the wells and these are the only remains of
what was once hns stock rancho the water hers excel
lent being slightly mpregnaed with sulphur-nOon eamped
at the springs" excellent water 25th Laredo 18th,
Comfortably uuarered in this quiet but ancient specimen
Of spanish architecture and the fist duStOf the overland Ious
to California brushed from garments and prospective
mousaches, our party began collectively and individually
to reanange their goods and chas preparatory for more
speedy progress, and difficult perpexng piece of
business cannot well be imagined No one had as vel had
sufficient experience know what take OF what to leave
behind few understood the management Of mule which
is science by itself and Requires much study of mule ma
tuTe, nasmueh mule like unto nothing but MULE
individuality is the Characteristic Of this remarkable uuadru
ruped, no matter in what light view it; under all cir
cumssnces it stands forth in bold relisf-Der ss mue
Such Articles had been purchased joint stock account
were divided and each indivdu received his PROPORTION
dispose of as best suited him; this beng as thou Sh the
best method OF enforcing equal proportion of the
say aboH and duties incident to the road being
called on to perform duty that of absolute ben.
eft to the whole The wagons and harness were disposed of
at nearly frs cost and additional number of mules pro-
cured, and few days labor put little patty into shape
for speedy and comfortable travel unsurpassed by any
the most experienced Of land travellers; each man knew
that his comfort and depended mainly on bis pd
vidua exsOn and that there joint stock interest to
throw hmsef upon, for shield between himself and the
performance of his duty, therefore all harmony with
cheerful spirit of mutual accommodation There were some
twenty OF CO AbbOts party here, who had separated from
their companions the Nueoss intending take the route
| MAZAan AfOnr
they united with thus swelling numbers even more
than could have been desrsd however, they were most
agreeable gsnemanly companions and added much to our
enJOymens GU the road. During stay this place we
most Hospitality entertained by the citizens. both Mex
lean and American; and the clear daksysd sehortas put
an extra braid in their glossy black hair took from its long
hiding paoe their most elegant TebOsH warmed their souls
into lew extra sparkle OF AmeTicanOs daTad
few unsurpassed gances of CuDds ghn ing from the cor.
OF their bewehing save las ssoritas Me-
jcansS can, watzed with additional and spirit and
We'd With each other as to who should extend the
| welcome.
After eleven days delay III Laredo we crossed the Rio
Gande to what has been Chstened the signing the
Treaty of Peace New Laredo and here passed another
most agreeable night all of being invited fandango
gotten by the daughters of the Acsde and attended by
the elite of the place. The entertainment was of truly
refined chs scter and passed off with many agreeable looks
words scarce few of our number could speak
Spanish and fewer still of the sehOtas could speak Eng
lish At O'Clock the evening of the 9th entire
alcade formed in the Plaza and shortly after took up
the line Of march for LampsssS From the acquisition
our party at Laredo numbered fOrtyssven and
one hundred and horses and mules The prospect of
complaining the journey with speed and comfort inspired
every one with fresh energy; the wagons could longer
resrd u.s. and az the advance guard moved forward in fine
sVie and complete ORDER followed by the main guard and
pace mGe' covered by guard of eight men, nvO
uaY snout OF JOY burst forth from little band of ad-
'entuteis' have seen many enoampment of soldiers
uoAen up and the troops put march, but nave
seen them display uniformity of movement or preserve
better order. F
From New Laredo to the first water is distance of fifteen
miles but there Is not sutionoy for any number of ami
ma we We're therefore obliged make forced march of
seventy miles to the Rio SaadO This rver is one oF tbe
tributaries OF the Rio Gands Slightly saline); is a bold
stream and contributes largely swelling the waters of bat
river We remained here twelve hours and then started Al
sP NJ Another long march of fifty miles without water.
but as the distance was mostly travelled at night no poop
venenoe was felt by either man beast On the lltb "a
reached Lampssss and beautifully si,nsts3
town, at the foot OF the first mountain belonging 10 tba
family of the Sierra Made. On entering the Plaza onr
party completely surrounded by the curious of botb
1 made me-. a