The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-06-29


Their physical strength is weakened; their
mental capacity is lowered; their moral
character is degraded. They are hopele
themselves and they offer no hope TO
their country, except in the prospect, so alb
horrent to humanity and christian feeling,
of their gradual extinction by der,h. Many
families are now suffering extreme distress,
who, three years since, enjoyed the com.
fort, aud refnements Of life, and admins.
tered TO the necessities Of those around
them. Thus we have stem the flood Of pau
perism widening more ard more, tngulph.
ing one class after another, rising high er
aud higher in its effects on society, until il
Threatens ia some Of the worst districts, 10
swallow up all ranks and all classes within
its fatal vortex.
Meanwhile there il much land lying
waste that was formerly cultivated, while
the strength of the country is standing by
idle, anxiously asking for work, and will.
ing TO accept the lowest wages; but finding
no one To employ them, because the owners
Of the ground have not the money to pay
ihem.-and the dread Of underlined taxation
and uncertainty as 10 the future, prevent
others from taking the land on lease.
Residing as we do, for the most part, in
lon large cities, or il the comparatively
wit1r"ar's districts Of the East and North,
rama. 1t seems as iihe extreme distress Of
would be relief, bu, OF people OF England,
sign Of life, with no one INCREASED by the
but myself. A little before niye see them
ing ahill came suddenly uponthtss the Ell
ment in a hollow where there was means
spring Of water and excellent grass (, ma
cattle. Putting sold Shah" 10 his best Gait
In three minutes stood amidst my friend
ready and willing TO parialle Of the sayorf
supper Of bacon, bread and coffee wild
which they were RECALLING themselves
They had made about fifteen miles.
The plan Of operation is 10 take an ID
trail nearly eifaced by time till il meets wild
the road from St. JoSephs TO Grand TSlap
aud by this means 10 save some thirty Il
forty miles by not going higher M, and bil
keeping the dividing ridge between tY'
Great and Little Nlmehah to avoid croSsinSl
all streams until we get on 10 the travelles
road which will take about ten DAYS tFas Il
Soon after my arrival in camp ali hands
were summoned by the blast Of the ou1le 10
adopt some rules for mutual safety, and al
50 TO detail night watch. and shortly after
dark our camp had sunk into repose.
Our regular mess cSnSi,tS Of seven, l. IT.
Frpdenburnh, John Morrel. Rob,. Brown.
Eben Smith, Hazel Henderson, Benz. X.
Ihorne and myself
Did you ever see n mess Of seven mel
wiihot Smith or Brown in il MAY 8
Before sunrise the cattle were driven ont 10
Craze, and all hands were aged in prepa.
ring breakfast. The wagons stood in a
circle aud by the outside were the tents be.
fore. which the smoking stoves showed the
preparations going on for wooding up''
the eGine Of life. Our tents were struck
after break last. the cattle driven in AMI yo-
ked, and about nine o'clock the train com.
posed Of seventeen wagons and fifty men
was pursuing lis way over n fine rolling
prairie with the little Nimehah on our right
abont four or five miles distant. We traced
our route mainly by watching which way
the streams and hollow; run keeping such
ridges as appear TO divide the waters which
flow into the greater or lesser Nmehal,. Ola
Mr. Greene acted as chief pioneer, and from
his long experience in such matters. rarely
lost the dividing ridge. About ten o'clock
was in advance of the train about mile
and short distance behind Mr.. Green and
Mr.. FrcdenburGh, when suddenly two s'ran-
gers came in sight with three mules on an
emineuoe. They stopped AMI gazed atus
awhile when they took a direction 10 cut off
n circuitouS bend the train was making
Mess. Green and Fredenburgh gaIluped a q,
cross the plain to intercept them. They
were told IN reply 10 their questions that
these men belonged to company Of All
hundred wagons which had gone out from
old Fort kearncy two weeks before. about
nifty miles. and which had stopped for want
OF grass and they were going into The set.
tlemcnt for supplies. After giving us some
information OF little account, they went on.
In about two hours after we were met bv
two other men aud an Indian in pursuit. II
seems that they belonged to no company o!
Emigran'S and the story OF the train being
encampcd forty miles out was n fabrication.
They had stolen the mules from an Illinoi,
company at old Fort kcarney and were at.
tempting TO escape. The purSucrs suSpec.
ting the Indian TO be an accessory forced
him TO 20 with them in pursuit.
At night the two men returned 10 our
camp with the mules having overaken the
thieves who fed to the 'imbcred bottoms,
when Trey found they were discovered. As
they were running of, the Indian asked
permission Of one Of his companions 10
mount fine pony for the purpose of inter.
cep'iug the rogueS, when the man diSmoun-
ted leaving his ovcrcoat on the saddle, aud
the indian set or at at n sound gallon. He
disappeared behind some hills, when some
time after on looking in another direction
they saw him making oil with the pony aud
overcoat. II was too late now 10 follow