Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-11-15
News from California.
IHE OVERLAND LMMTGRA TION.

The papers contain the most deplurablc ac-
counts of the condition of the overland immi-
grants. A statement from Col. Waldo, who
is out with relief expedition sent 10 ther as
sistance, says -
From Boiling Spring TO this place.
Great Meadow-have met with but few who
have any provisions at all except the poor ami
mails Which have worked from the States
footmen who comprise nearly one fourth ofthe
number now on the road, are not bcS, even
with such food as this but are reduced to the
necessity of subsstng on the purified flesh of
dead animals which so abundanI!v line the
road. This has produced the most fatal con
sequences. Disease and death are now m ow-
ing them down by hundreds.
Those Immigrants that are yet back several
hundred miles must receive relief, or die bv
starvation and to whom can they look but to
the citizens of California for their salvation.
The land of their homes is too far distant to
render them any aid in this hour of distress
and danger.
1t appears that the judgments of God have
pursued them from the time they set out up to
the present hour. First, Cholera then star
valon-ncXt, war, starvation, and Cholera
The day has now passed when any one will
have tile hardiIIood 20 say. that there is no suf-
at least 10 one that is within 200 miles of this
place will make such a declaration. No one
now thinks of gold, but OF bread. This is the
cry of all.
The following is an extract from a letter
written by 5. B. Bright, one Of the immigrants,
dated
SALMON TEoUr RIVER, September 81
Some noble fellows have already pershed for
want of food.-Others are eating cattle that
they have found dead by Tie road side, which
lave cied by double cause-disease end s,arva-
ton. The most common food used for num-
Der OF weeks has been lame and worn down
cattle-whch, il every particle OF taloW WAS
rendered out, would not make one candle !
ithers have eaten their dogs and horses
There is at the Sink of Humboldt and also
on Salmon Trout river, flour for sale at one
dollar per pound, but the people are out Of
money. do not mean to sfy that beggGrS
ere out OF money, for this is a common case
but those in good circumstances in the States,
whose misfortunes have been brought on in
various ways. Whole teams have been lost
in crossing the various deserts The immense
crowds Of stock have eaten up the grass and
willows, and for days they have had nothing
to eat, which have mGcE retarded their spe. d.
Money, teams and parts of teams, have been
stolen by the Indians. Many emigrants have
been killed by them. Others robbed, and even
killed some OF the Indians, SO you see there re.
mains so brothery feelings on the road between
the red men and the whites. From the best
estimates OF my own, and from others that
daily overtake ne, there must be some fifteen
or twenty thousand souls yet behind, impeGcd
by various causes, and unless some immediate
relief Is rendered by your great and God Ike
enterprise, they will either be cut off by the
Indians, or perish in tie snow on the East
Of the mountains.
The Aita Californian of October / says -
A gentleman who has already done the
state some service" came down to this city on
Wednesday, and represented the cXigencics of
the case to Col. Collier, the Collector of the
port, and we are rcjoced to learn that that of:
ticer assumed the responsibility aud stated his
willingness to turn over to Gen. Smith the sum
of $4,000, TO be disbursed by him for the re-
lief of the suffering immigration, assuming the
responsibility of accounting to the Government
for the same. We regard this determination
in the Collector as praiseworlhy in the extreme
and perfectly justi ,ble, and we htve not the
| slightest fear that the United States Govern
meut will ever condemn him for such an ap-
preparation Of the funds.