The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-09
The Corpus Christi Route to California.

The following letter from our correspondent,
MIR. Peoples, who started in company with a num-
Der of gentlemen for California by the Corpus
Christi route, will be read with interest by all who
| have the journey to California in contemplation
1t would appear, from this letter, that there can be
| no longer question of the entire practicabty of
this road, SO far food and water are concerned.
| Preside Rio GRANDE, March 8, 1919.
Friends ofthe Crescent-The party with which started
portion of it, reached this place the 5th in the short
space of thirty three days from Corpus Christi If
Der right before leaving that place wrote abont their
taking with them OxwagOns trunks, fine clothing
and all the paaphernala of gentleman toilet and
although impressed at the time with thing but favor
able opinion OF the progress of such a
try, had idea of their utter incapacty for spy under
taking outside Of ctys walls You must not hesitate in
belief when tell that from Corpus Christi this place
did not travel over 235 miles, and that very level
country during the whole time occupied in going it
three hours not consumed in choppinx trees limbs
You will naturally wonder, then, at the snalke pace with
which we progressed and to satisfy you will enter little
into detail.
The party started with eight ox.wagons heavily laden
with trunks, pickaxes. spades etc. The poor
and could 20 but short distance in day. The men, with
some exceptions took interest whatever getting along
the wagons; and having paid in their $50 in New Orleans
acted though they cabin passengers packet If
the weak oxen attached to overloaded wagon would
stall they not about to put their shoulders to the
Wheel and start moving indeed to trouble themselves
with thing calculated to facilitate the march, This
state of things could last long. and dssensons
up amongst them and by the time they reached the
Nueee valley some of the best who despaed of ever
reaching California in company with such crowd, began
to agate its dissolution Such could readily the
impossbiy of reaching the Pacific shores in twelve months
whilst in the of large body of the major
part of whom content to lay by when the north wind
blew, or when the sun shone down somewhat warmly at
ntime-Of men who seemed content with five six
miles day of and Of two and three days rest
I~- -
than the progress of the march, and before reached the
Loedo road the grand explosion took place, and the
psny nyen into six paris. Each party had wagon
the provisions, etc., were divided and when they
up to the road each stood his own footing
There being eight each wagon and that wagon the
property of the eight they took interest in them
and the march consequently sensby facilitated. At
the road all but three turned off for Loredo the
orty, however with the expressed view of joining at
this place. but if they possibly get through Mexico and
obtain the uxues of life in their march, it would be
agreeable to them that trust they will undertake it.
From Corpus Christi TO the Loredo road there lack
of any thing The grazing wholesome and abundant;
game swarmed around camps and around
during the march; and water abundant, although
did not have night for animals in
quence of their inability to travel sixteen miles. party of
who had been nursed in the lap Of and reared in
luxury could have lived well without augh what their
rifles and fish hooks brought in. How those Jared who took
the road to Loedo do not know, but for the party
here with the exception of lack of water OCCASION
got on very well.
With the direction of the of travel had nothing
d. after the party concluded travel up the valley of the
Nusces. Col. Evertson who with u.s. and who had
Mexican guide to be the pilot from the road but
the Mexican having away forced to blind
and trust to luck for the finding of the water holes We
missed the holes although they direction and
animals having been sixty hours without water
the of the Path, advised the men to mount their horses
and lead all the mules the Nueces which reached the
next day-he being from twenty four to thirty hours
without water The day being warm and the chaparra
thick quite dry when to the river but there
absolute suffering nothing more than what expe
rienced every road in Mexico in Western Texas
When returned to wagons, Mexican in charge Of
my pack-mule had succeeded in finding water SIX miles from
the wagons and all the had been waered and were
ready for start To of the party this lack Of water
doubt seemed the greatest of hardshps but they reach
the gold region go what way they may will be looked
upon trife. Had the guides joined at the Casa
Blanca instead of two days after the appointed time
would have directly to the Loedo road and from there
up, had not the Mexican away would have come
up straight and with abundance of water. for all those
who have traded from here to Corpus Christi put the dis
down at less than l6O American miles, with the great
est suficency of grass and water. But matter,
here, and will be off and to the country behind
the Mexicans say nj importe.
The Preside Rio Grande situated five miles from
the river. 1t old town. built believe in the sixteenth
century and contains population of about 1000 inhabitants
There are no signs of industry visible and the people, who
continually hanassed by the Indians shut themselves
in their houses whenever the of Los Cdmanchss
ko~~ sAtk Sad
leu = .s r ~. ~ - .S. s ~ ~ A. n.
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Gen. Twgg arrived in the country he refused the accepta
oA ~ Da. 80: III. 80 &C WI II L :. ~.
num- osors any .. ms touu pe a mas
time he has bestowed more attention to dinners balls and
socation than to the protection of the frontier But by
and BY the people VIII De strong enough to protect them
fs,x d.us hsfDs ON, a,rv. here marcan Docto,
by the name of Nathan CIeave wa. killed by two runa
way negroes from the States He was native of Mesa
chusets and had lived here but three months. When
killed he the road to Loredo and had the
time after boosted Of the murder and exhibited some of the
Doctors effects He was taken before the authorities where
ne also acknowledged 70 nave keu he D0ctOf IN connec