The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-09-06
From, the PLAIN.


Fort kearny is situated on tue east side of the
river Platte, twelve miles above the point where
the road first strikes it. The road follows up the
main flatte, deVlating at times, few miles from
it, and IS for the most part, perfect level in some
places The depth of the sand renders travelling hard
on STOCK; mostly, however, 1t is equal TO any mac.
ademzed road in the States The river is the mosI
beautiful stream of water ever saw, running from
southwest TO northeast, having very little timber on
Its banks TO obstruct the view and almost straight
you can see lis waters either way, as far as the
eye can reach. It's width varies from mile TO two
and q half miles, current swift and boiling, and re.
sem6llng precisely, the Missouri river; passing
through sandy country, it is even more muddy
than he Missouri. The bottom on the river varies
from quarter to five miles in width. The soil is
composed of sand and loan: in some places it is
almost entirely sand. Grass, where the bottom is
wide, is very good but in the narrow and sandy
places, scarce, The high sandy bluffs, which ex-
tend along its source, thrown together by some
freak OF nature, In all manner of fantastic forms
presents to the eye of the beholder the most mag
niticent spectacle. Imagine a vast plain, upon
which tremendous snow has fallen and thensWept
over by violent Winds drifting it in every CON
cevable shape and form, piling it in hills two or
three hundred feet high, and then breaking through
leaving impossible gaps, and you have some faint
idea OF their appearance.
" The road runs along the main Platte to the Juno
ton of the South and North Forks, up the South
Fork to the Ford, (Which is tOarably good crosses
over to the North Fork, (leen miles, up the North
Fork to the mouth of Laramie Fork, crossing this a
short distance above the mouth, passes Fort Lara
mic, situated on the west side ofLaramie Fork fol-
lows the North Fork twelve miles, and then leaves
it for the distance of eighty miles.
" On the North Platte are two rocks, the great
est natural curOsities ever saw. The first, from
its place and appearance in an open plain is called
Courthouse Rock The second, placed also by
ITSELF on account Of its peculiar shape, is called
Chimney Rock, five hundred feet high. The bluffs
now become more rugged and mountainous, with
cedar and pine growth. If you could see at a dis.
lance, at night our large pine and cedar log fires,
how you would envy US :"
The insects, reptiles and larger animals seen on
the plains are described as being very different
from the familiar ones of the same SPECIES In re-
gard to the vegetable kingdom, the writer saws;
The most abundant and remarkable are pricklv
pear, wild sage and wild rye The latter is about
knee hgl and affords good grazing for stock. The
plains are not so varegated with flowers as the
praires at home. In speaking of the vegetable
productions Of the way | would say that all of us
have been disappointed. We expected to find the
plains covered with the most luxurant grass In
some places, it is true, have had tolerably good
grazing; but often have our stock been driven the
whole day without sprig of grass. At the
watering places it is all eaten up. Our only chance
frequently is to drive the stock two or three miles
from the road. | suppose the grass this season. on
account OF the cold is much than it was last
and what is worse, the prospect is becoming no
better, but if any thing worse p
In regard to the number of persons on the Plains
it is stated that the total number of emigrants
passed Fort Laramie up to June Goth, 1850, was
Men, 32,74O; women, 493; children, sol wagons,
1856; horses 2079S; mules g. 724; oxen, q, Ills; ;
cows, 3,lS5. Those remaining behind will doubt.
less swell the number of men to 5O,O0O-others in
proportion. Out of this estimate has been left one
drove of sheep, coop of hens and chickens, geese,
ducks, etc.
The writer says they have no use for their fire.
arms; they have seen no Indians, and there is no
game near the road
The climate is said to be very changeable. Until
arriving at the Platte the weather was warm and
dry. On the river it rains almost every dav at
night heavy dews. Blanket coats were found The
warmest and truest friends. This will be believed
when it is considered that they were in latitude
42o 30, having attained an altitude of near 5 600
feet, and were gradually coming into a more noun
famous region. They had two or three very severe
hail storms.
We extract the following melancholy description
of the ravages of the cholera The writer segms
to be physician:
" Now that have given YOU some general ac.
count OF our TRIP, more melancholy theme for A
lew lines, must engage my pen. When | wrote
you last stated the health of the emigrans to be
remarkably good. Some few cases of cholera had
been reported, but myself had seen none since
then, how changed the scenel The angel of death
has spread his wings over our way, and hretttpd
his pestlisrous breath upon the unfortunate emf.
grant. Many poor, unfortunate youth, far from
home and friends, has hreathed his last upon the
desert air, and found lonely grave by the wav.
side; around his dying couch, no friends gathered
TO sOOthe and comfort the last sad moments of his
HE; but, In an open wagon or tent, exposed 10 the
stormy elements without, and the miserable com
forts within, he bowed himself with stubborn sub-
mission, 10 the will of his Creator | have seen
the father stand by the bed of his dying son-lhe
brother by his brOther-the friend BY his friend
with them were nothing seen but the stern sym.
pathy OF mans nature; and could also look on
with partial Indifference They had but met the
fate which every one of us might hourly EXPECT.
But on one occasion it became my duty TO pro.
nOunce the hopeless condition of diving husband
and father. At the crossing of Laramie Fork,
had been called to see man who had with him
his wife and seven children. His case cousidsrsI
Then lmost desperate but by close attention might
have been saved. Several days after, CHANGED
to see him again. As | sat by his side, with my
finger on his sinking pulse, and heard in his throat
the dealh-rals, that most ominOus sign to the pbv
slcian OF approaching dissolution, his wife, with
smothered grOan asked me to tell her precisely his
condition, saying she wished to know the worst
| tod her she should not fauer herself any longer
with hope, but be prepared for the worst | arose 10
leave the tent, and as did so, returned the fee
had received on former occasion, and let drop n
tear in sympathy for her desoate and bereayeI
condition. God grant | may not, on this trip, he
called on TO perform such another duty"
The Columbus (Ga) Times repeats the echo
from the Southern Press and other secession ma
pers, that the NewOreans press does not speak the
of Louisiana. But, gentlemen, what
10 you say to the rural " press-does that too,
nsrepresent the people? Where is Senator
Downs, who has lived for thirty years in Northern
Louisiana, and is the strongest man in that section
Of the State. We have heard some persons cues
hon the fact that South Carolina papers spoke the
sentiments of the people, but we should only imi
late the modesIy of these papers, did we undertak,
to know better than themselves, the public feeling
Of their own State.
CRolera-The cholera has shown itself in 4
malignant form at Milwaukee, Wis One hundred
and nine deaths occurred there in two days the 23d
md 2Ith uit. So saysa Geographic dispatch. At
LasaIle, in the same State there had occurred five
deaths from cholera
The following was published in the Natchsz
Courier of Tuesday:
q "NICKsBuRG, Sept 81 p. NJ.
" murder was committed in this civ on Sun.
Law 8tFpFp0DD 9hput -, =