The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-06
SACRAMENTO Cry, Nov. Goth, 1849.

SACRAMENTO CRY, Nov. Goth, 1S49.
NY DEAR BRoruER.-This being the first
good opportunity of writing home since our ar
rival in the Valley. will avail myself oft
We came into the Valley just month ago,
and should have been here at least two months
ago, had it not been for our taking wrong road
although it was represented to us as the best
and nearest route;-by taking it we had to trav'
ell at least or 400 more than we should have
done. had we have taken the old route by the
Salmon Trout; or still better the Carson river
route. AS it was, we left Mary's river about 80
miles above the sink, and struck due west
course, OF rather N W. to the head Of the Sa-
cramento, or at least to the head of its eastern
branch The Pass in the mountain was very
good, although it only took yoke of cattle to
pull our wagons over Our cattle suffered
great deal for want of both grass and water in
many places; sometimes we had to travel as ma
ny as 60 or 20 miles without grass, and no wa.
ter, except springs of boiling hot-which to be
used, required to be dipped and let stand until
cool.
we passed Fort Loramier;-about two days ira
vel west from there, Glenat was taken with
diarrhn, which he neglected to check, until it
was too late;-about the 4th day he was taken
with cramps, and had them very severe for
whole night, but got over them, and appeared to
be mending for few days, when a change took
place for worse. / went about ten miles for a
doctor, who was going out with Chas. Gratiot,
brought him back to see and administer for him:
he had his doubts as to his recovery then-said
that his complaint was inflammation of the lungs
left some medicine, and bed him. l admin
istcrcd according to prescription; but it was of
no avail-he died the next day, the 9TH of July,
about clock in the morning, and is buried a
north side ofthe Platte-his coffin cane, which
fortune left near the place where he died. We
got some pieces of a wagon box, of which we
made head stone, on which was put the follow
ing iption:-Valentine Genat, Of Dubuque,
Io1ca, aged As years, died July I, 1949.
| Poor Glenat, felt sorry for him-to think
that he of all others, should be left upon the
Plains. He had many bright anticipations of
future wealth and happiness in California. But
alas how soon were the dreamer and his visions
swept from off the stage of existence. At the
South Pass we lost 3 of our best oxen; they di-
ed, as we supposed, from drinking alkali water,
of which there is a great deal on the head waters
of Platte, and sweet water. On the 10th of Au-
gust, Ned (my pony was drowned in the Raft
rivera great loss, for had he lived, | should
have packed him, and been here at least month
! in advance of the teams.
Well, to sum up all our losscs:-we started
with yoke of good cattle from the Bluffs, and
arrived in this valley with 3 yoke and / wagon
our provisions after, and furnishing to 9th,
ers who got out early on the road, left us to come
iuto the Valley ourselves without any; but We
had some friends, who furnished us enough. -
Flour is now worth $40 bbl., pork from IS tc
So; and provisions generally in proportion. We
have as yet done nothing, having only arrived
at this place yesterday. We havo been month
travelling Is miles down the valley, on account
of the rain, which set in sooner this season by
weeks than usual; but for three or four days
back we have had no rain, and some think we
may have it dry until about Christmas, which is
about the regular time for the rainy to set
in. 1t is very necessary that it should continue
dry, as the "diggings' entirely out of pro-
visions; and you see the miners coming in by
drovcs every day, for fear of starving in the
mines. l have seen great many that know
John Cookery, Ed. Mobley, T. o. Martin, T
| Childs, and many others from our part of the
country. The last | heard of Doc. Crane was
that he was not expected to live. Hart is dead
Charles Blake died about 2 weeks ago in this
place. Roberts and several of his company went
to Salt Lake, and are SAID to have taken the
southern route from that place. Phil Morhis-
err, J. P Evans, Jim Lane g. Co., Pat Wallace,
Conron and all, are in the Valley. Dan. Quig-
ley heard of, but have not seen; Coffee is at
the Weaver Mines; Gus Coriell is dcad AL
version is herc-I have not seen him; also Berry
Tell friends at home that will try to write t.
them when We get scttled-at present it is al
hustle and confusion-post-office arrangements
pdu, dilu SieuL uilCe1L VI cfcl SeIuLIiS y
receiving letter from this place.
AS yet we have done nothing in the way O
work. it is possible though, that if the weathe
continues fine, uncle and I shall 60 to SOM
mines on the American Fork-they are repre-
sented here being very good l have seel
t several men who have done we'll in the mines
t and many who have been unfortunate. 1t is
good deal of lottery, as we'll as other Mines
l The prices you have to pay for provisions in tn
: mines takes near about all the profits. Onl
think of $500 for flour and $75 for pork; 81
f Dbl for potatoes, and of no account at that
, Beef so cents, etc. l wrote to you and Hayde
, from TT. Loramier; l suppose you got the lette
| tell Hayden to write me at this place. AS
advising any one to come to this country,
could not as yet say what would be my advice
For myself, have not as yet fallen in love wit
the country A man with family should nc
come here, at any rate without being first her
and fixing place for them. Other than tn
gold, don't like the country near well as Il
wa; and those who prefer rain and mud to sno,