The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-07-31
journal of an Overland Trip to California
BY A. c. MORSE.

BY A. c. MORSE.
y May Sd. Weather continues pleasant but ra
Their cool. $50 teams arrived at the ferry since
yesterday, and about 40 crossed to day; most OF
them from Linn county.
4th. The weather still pleasant; nights cool;
great many teams coming in today, and great
| contention what companies shall cross first. A
large number have been reg stered to cross, over
one week, but the rush is SO great they have not
| been able to get over, and it is probable large
number will not be able to cross within ten days
of their reg istered time.
Great excitement here at Council Point con-
corning some horse thieves in the vicinity who
are up from st. Joseph. They are perhaps well
known through the State Of Iowa and illinois
by the name of Broady's; they have been in the
place for one or two days. The older brother
Stephen, was arrested to day for disturbing the
peace. A jury of ~ cmigrants were assembled
on the river banks, and after hearing the evil
dcnce brought in verdict Of guilty, fined the
party 1913, with instructions to the whole party
to leave within 6 hours, or be tied up to stake
and be shot; the company left this evening for
parts unknown, but fears entertained that
they still in the vicinity, and for better secu-
rity, double guard have been mounted every
night since they left.
9TH. Weather still pleasant-nights COOL
grass continues quite backward; about IS teams
crossed to-day, mostly from Lake Co. Ill.,, and
Keosauqua Iowa. Our party crossed the Mo.
to- day, and joined the Linn Co. company, Capt.
lothian Kyes, consisting of 25 wagons, 20 hor
ses and &c men, Encamped at the Indian Mis-
sion miles below the ferry on the Nebraska
side little west of the river.
9th. Weather continues about the same-re-
manned in camp to-day; organised, elected wa
gon masters, Captain and Secretary for 20 days.
Iowa City company left to-day for Elkhorn.
9TH. Left our encampment to-day quite ear
ly and struck for the plains Passed the Palcs-
tine Co., Capt. Frost, encampcd on Pappea riv-
er Travelled to-day 25 miles to Elkhorn, the
Iowa City company crossing when we arrived.
Finding Indians quite plenty, and showing quite
a disposition to steal, put out double guard to-
night. When we cncamp, we drive our wag-
ons into double circle, about $50 yards in cir
cumterence; we then pitch our tents on the out
side the wagons, our camp fires still further out
A post is then driven into the ground in the cen
tire of the circle, to which each tastens
, rope from their wagon, and to these ropes the
horses are fastened for the night. At dark the
camp fires extinguishcd, and 4 or S scnti
: ncls posted for the night. These rccv
ed at o'clock; at day light 3 guns fired
to awaken the company, and at sunrise they
are all ready to roll out
| Sth. Left Elkhorn quite early, ferricd over
our wagons and fordcd our horses. At ten O
Road still continues good-traveled to day 20
miles and encamped on the banks of Platte riv-
er-Passed the Pawnce Indian village-largc
numbers came out to sec us-we were treated
> friendly by most of them-some showed quite a
disposition to steal, but as we watched them mar
n rowly, were soon disposed to leave. They are
a very ignorant and INDECENT race of Indians:
live principally by begging and stealing; most
, of them in state of nudity with the exception
e of buffalo perhaps the remnant of blanket
v around them.
y 9th Weather still warm and pleasant the
nights cool-roads very dusty. Left our en-
e campment quite early, but travelled only ID miles
as we were compelled to wait for two Of our
company Passed the Rock Island company,
n Capt Morley 8 wagons, 20 yoke cattle, ~
+ men; encanped to-day at Round Lake; some
little grass, but no wood.
Il 10th Last night cold and unplcasant-Left
+ our encampment quite early-saw large body
f of Pawnee Indians, last ght, mounted on horse
\ back on the opposite side ofthe river, who seem
ed disposed for time to give us battle, but find
: ing it difficult to ford the river, they put their
horses at the top of their speed and rode oil
down the river.
u Crossed Shell Creek, a beautiful stream about
s Is feet wide sandy bottom, very rapid current
n were met by large numbers of Pawnee Indians
who came out for the purpose of trading ano
bcgging-purchased Of them 8 buffalo robes, fol
II which gave them 5 check shirts. Travelled
j. to day 81 miles to Long Lake, 5 miles east o.
= Loup fork; good camping ground; plenty o
, wood, water and grass. Passed 2 dead horses
- Jlth. Cold unpleasant nj ght, and heavy frost
u Left our encampment at sun rise, travelled
a miles to Loup fork ferry and encampcd. The
r. Stephenson Co. company, Capt. VIM Hawkins
10 wagons, 40 horses, AZ men, were terryinE
> Loup fork when arrived.
" Found companies encampcd. Racine com
pany, Capt w. F. Sheppard, 6wagons, 26 hor
SEES, II men.
Lake Co. company, Capt I. G Raglan q
IF wagons, G. horses, 81 men Dubuque compa
!. ny, Capt. James Mcmillan, 2 wagons, horse
- II men. Oquawka company Capt. R. S. Pence
3 wagons 35 yoke of oxen, :}6 men. was IN
n, formed by the itrrvman at this place that owe
700 teams had crossed up to 3 o clock p. NJ. Q
to-day-Somc crossed as early as the 10th @
March. A large number have crossed at tn
upper ferry, and several have forded the stream
"a Two teams were lost last week, in attempting
ID to ford the ferry.
:. 18th. Commenced Forging this morning a
sunrise, and not very pleasant undertaking.
The 2 boats are only capable Of fcrrying2 lgf
or one heavy wagon each. The current is vcr
rapid and streams very shallow, making sane
bars in every direction in the river. The strear
is 300 yards wide, and it is necessary for tn
safety of wagons, that IL or Is men should ma
der take tow line and wade the stream up t
the waist and not unfrequently over their heads
e. In this way the California emgrant works hi
way foot by foot, the labor at these ferries bein
re done exclusively by emigrants.
=, After great deal Of difficulty we succeede
in terrying our wagons and fording our horse:
c. and at 3 P NJ. took up line of march fror
lie the opposite side, travelled only miles, encamr
ed at d P. NJ, on Poplar Lake-found good wa
49, ter and timber with very little grass-Company
% wet cold and fatigued, but after the camp fire
were lit up and supper over, all was forgotte
o. in sound sleep.
- 18th. Quite cool last night; left our encaml
~ ment quite early; travelled ~ miles up tn
mt Loup fork-Antelopc and elk quite plenty fc
all several days past. One Of our company kille
nd a fine antelope last night and brought it int
g. camp-the flesh is very fine, and much like yer
" ison and is said by some to be far superior
Travelled q miles to-day up the Loup fork-a
on bout miles back, left the river and struck OF
in N E. to avoid bad sloughs Camped to-nigf
without wood and hit little grass on a sma