The North-Carolinian., 1850-11-23
Letter from California.
GREAT SUFFERINGs OF EMIGRANTs.

GREAT SUFFERINGS OF EMIGRANTS.
STocKroN, California, Sept. so, 1850.
have Just conversed with a gentleman
from New York, who, with three of his
brothers, arrived here yesterday, after a
four months journey across the country.
He states that about 20. 900 persons are on
the road now. The four brothers started
with two six mule teams, plenty of provi-
slons, clothing, money, etc. and arrived
in Stokton with the loss Of almost every
thing.
He states that on both branches of the
Platte the cholera prevailed to a horrible
extent, hundreds dying daily. The wa
ters of the Platte are thick and muddy,
and he attributes the escape of his party
from sickness to their precautions in boil
ing the water, clearing it with isin- glass,
and making it into tea or coffee before
drinking The graves OF emi grants, he
says, were thick at every camping place
near the Platte. In crossing the great
Salt Lake, their sufferinss were indescri-
bable.
The sand was knee deep, the sun brol-
ing hot; not tree was to be seen there
was no water. and their provisions were
all gone. Fortunately, after passing over
about one hundred miles Of this hideous
desert. they came across man who had
gone forty miles further, found a good
spring, and returned with two barrels Of
water. This water he first sold for s
per gallon. then 81 per quart, then $40
per pint, and as the emigrants came along,
each choaked almost to death and complete
ly exhausted, his prices raised, and no sum
he could name within the power Of the poor
emigrant was refused to be paid. When
the water was nearly all gone, man came
along, who for three whole days and nights
had drank but a half pint of fluid. He
was almost dead, aud begged for some
water. The answer was. 81 have not
enough to last myself and animals back
to the spring." $50, 800. 800 was
offered in succession for one little cup full
of water. and the dealer refused it. The
wretched emigrant threw down 500. all
he had in the world, and by main force
graspcd the cup and quenched his thirst.
This statement seems incredible but
my informant is a man Of intelligence and
probty, and his word cannot be doubted.
Soon after leaving the water trader, the
party came across a company who had a
little -four, which they would not part
with until the offer Of $40 per pound tempt
ell them to sell. One Dbl. of flour was
sold for $500, and glad enough was the
purchaser to get it. Upon arriving at
Carson's river. they found provisions pIen-
ty. but very high. Flour was 50, so per
pound. \ single meal Of two small pies,
coffee, and some pilot bread, cost them
S11 per man. Provisions, it was expect
ed, would soon be much lower on Carson's
river. as my informant met immense trains
of provisions on the way from this valley.
Whilst crossing the Sierra Nevada noun
ta'ns, the party was enveloped in snow
storm, and at the last pass the snow fell
six or seven inches in one night. This
pass is not over $50 feet in width. and
is 0" the side ofa deep declivity. Above
the road the rock towers almost perpendi-
cularly. $50 feet. whilst below, it is almost
equally abrupt. At the bottom were seen
innumes able carcases Of mules. cattle and
wild animals. My informant says it is
the almost universal opinion at Carson's
river. that not one third of the emigration
can cross the Sierra Nevada mountains
before the winter sets in and renders the