Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-09-27
From the Placer Times, of July Goth.
FROM THE PLAINS.

FROM THE PLAINS.
Mr.. t. A. Springer, late publisher of the Ga
lena Advertiser, arrived on Wednesday last
He left his party al PlaceTville, having reach
ed there in S5 DAYS from St. Joseph. whence
they started on the 29ih April. The emmi-
grafton are reported generally short of proyi-
sions, but in good health. No cholera had
been heard of among, them, as far as Mr.. s.
was informed. The only sickness was 2
mountain fever which was seldom of a seri-
Gus character. A great difficulty encountered
on the journey was The height of the rivers.
About twenty miles this side of the South
Pass of the Rockey Mountains, they took the
Sublett cut off; thence the distance to Green
river htty-two miles, was entirely without wa
ter. They found this stream very high, re-
qulrlng them to raft their wagon and swim
thelranimals. Againat HAMS Fork OF Green
river the same thing had to be done, as also
at Smlth's Fork, on Bear river, and Thomas
Fork. From this point, to the Soda Springs.
the grass was plenty and good and road easy
Here they took the Hudspeth cut off, verv
mountainous route, to Raft and Goose rivers
thence to Mary's river, where their troubles
commenced. The valley is almost entirely IN
undated with water for three huleired miles
While IN 1t, there were but three nights when
they were compelled to cut the grass for their
animals IN water from a foot to swimming
depth, and IN many instances to rope and haul
It over the rlver. At this place the animals
gave out, and left the emmigrants without the
means Of carrying the supply of water req
uislte IN crossing the desert. After leaving the
Humbolt, 4 painful scene Of deva station and
misery was witnessed; men who could not
speak from thirst, and Offering (when fortunate
enough to have it) five dollars for one drink
Of water; animals dead and dying by the
path; provisions, wagons and every article OF
the travellers S necessity or comfort cast away.
Mr.. Springer's party found between five
and six hundred PERSONS at the Sink of Ma
rvs river on the 18th Of this month. At the
Carson Valley, they first met provisions, a
train Of twenty pack mules from I house in
this city, which they advised to pash on to
the desert. The traders here Carson Valley
buy broken down animals at from one to 20
dollars; the Immigrants are compelled to sell
them at any price, being too poor to travel
further. The water and grass are fne and
the animals will soon recruit, to be of use,
prehaps, to those who arrive there a month
hence.
There could hardly be a more profitable
speculation than to carry provisions to Carson
river, and invest the proceeds IN live stock
The Mormons were building houses in the
Valley, there were but few stopping howev-
4 large number Of parties had gone into
Salt Lake to obtain provisions; but liule was
10 be had, except butter, milk and cheese
flour almost exhausted. Many We're induced
or compelled to remain in the .aormon settle
meuts until the harvest was over. They were
giving there from five to eight dollars per day
for labor to get in their crops, which promis-
cd abundauuy.
There Were five men drowned at Green II
ver, just before IIr. S. party crossed and
they heard Of other similar accidents On the
route.
They (jh. S. party) came in on the Law
son Route, taking the Truckee river cur off
from the second peak Of the mountains, sa-
wing thereby about fifteen miles for pack AMI
mails.
A Digger Indian was shot at the mouth of
the cannon, in the act OF stealing horse
Other Indians, at the same time made an at
tempt to rob the camp Of some travellers. 1t
was appreheuded that the tribes intended to
give trouble, signal fires being lighted thro'
the mountains.
The names Of the six gentlemen who came
through with Hr. Springer were Grant ]. Tag
gart. Galena, Illinois, l.. ID. Springer. keo-
kuk, Iowa, II. Baldwin and ]. Jewett, Port
age courey, Ohio, Henry Johnson, louisiana,
.]llssourI. and Edwin Jenks Roscoe Illinois.
Ii Is quite probable that the later trains may
not undergo all the prIvatlons of those who
pushed on at the earliest PERIOD and who too6
the smallest possible complement Of supplies,
expecting TO maze the trip in sixty days,
which has been delayed to over one hund-
red.
These pioneer paIties found themselves sew
eral weets IN advance of grass, aud thus their
animals were weakened and rendered unable
to endure the journey. Later parties viii
calculate upon more protraeted Journey, and
It IS hoped, be better provided for il. Be
sides having cattle with them, they can in an
extremity, use animal food for support We
cannot but believe that the knowledge of the
countless thousands Who were contemplating
emHllgratlon, must have suggested aad dicta-
ted timely provision at least against the man
liested niseries, the anticipation Of which Is
now being met by the Sympathetic action of
the citizens, boIh Of Sacramentoand San Fran
cisco. That there is suffering among them
and as much too as as all our united efforts
viii encompass the relief of, Is, however,
unfortunately most painfully apparent
It IS not generally known that the poorest