Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-11-16
Correspondents Of the N. American and u . ''A''''
e Great Suffering on the Plains.

Correspondence Of the N. American and U, > esAe''
Great Suffering on the Plains.
s7oo offered for cup Of ,cdter and REUSED
Flour $40 per pound-Ihs c"o'e'a w
Platte R,ver,
SrocxroN, California, Sept. 80, 1880
have lust conversed with gentleman
from New York, who with three OF his pro-
theirs. arrived here yesterday, after iou'
months journey across the country ne
states that about 10000 persons are on 'he
road now. The four brothers started WIN
two six mule teams, plenty OF PROVISIONS
clothing, money, ETC., and arrived IN o'0cA'
ton with loss of nlmo., every thing
He states that on both branches o' 'he
Platte the cholera prevailed TO horrible eA,
tent, hundreds dying daily. The waters Of
the Platte are thick and muddy. and ne at
tributes the escape Of his party from '''k'eSs
20 their precau,ion in boiling The water GEAR
;ng II with isinglass, and making IL in'o Tea
,r coffee before drinking. Tile graves OF
,mipran,s. he says, were thick at every camp
nr n,aces near the Platte In crossing the
yrpat Basin this side of the great Salt Lake,
heir suffering were Undesirable.
The sand was knee deep, the sun broiing
10, no, tree was TO be seen; there was no
water, and their provisions were all gone
fortunately, after passing over about ioo
niles Of this hideous desert, they came across
man who had gone 40 miles further, found
. good sp,ing, and returned with two barrels
# water. This water he FIRST sold ioe 81 per
.allon, then 81 per quart, then Slo per p'n';
md as the em;rrants came along, each chok-
ID alpps, 10 death and completely exaus'ed,
,is prices raised, and no sum he could name
within the power of the poor em'grant was
efused to be paid. When the water was
early all gone, man came along who
or three whole days and nights had drank
,ut half pint of fluid. He was almost dead,
nd begged for some water. The answer
vas, &" have not enough 10 last myself and
,nimals back to the Spring." $50. 500,
500. $500 was offered in succession for
me little cup full of water, and the dealer re-
used it. The wretched emgrant threw
lown 500, all he had in the world, and 10y
nain force grasped the cup aud quenched his
hrst.
This statement seems Incredible but my
,formant is Il mau of intelligence and pro.
ity, and his word cannot be doubted Soon
fter leaving the water iiader, the party
anne across accompany who bad little Hour
,hich they would not part with until the OF
" of $40 per ID. tempted them 10 sell. One
bl. of -four was sold for eight hundred dol
IA, and glad enough was the purchaser
get it Upon arriving at Carson's river
,ey found provision plenty, but very h-h
lour was 50 so per pound A single mea
rtwo small pies coffee, and some pilot bread
,st them Sl1 per man. Provisions, 1t wa
ypec,ed. would suon be much lower on Car
ms rivier, as my informant met mmenc'
aims of provisions OIL the way from this val
~. Whilst crossing the Sierra Nevedi
fountains, the party was euveloped in snow
form, and at the last pass the snow fen 81
seven inches in one night. This pass i
ot over l50 feet in width, and is on the sid
a steep .'eclivity. Above the road lh
,ck towers almost perpendiculaily, $50 feel
,hils below it is almost equally abrupt a
h. bottom was seen innuInerable carcases c
,ules, cattle, and wild animals. My inloi
,au, saws it is the almost universal opnio
Carson's River that not one-hlrd Of IN
migration can cross the Sierra Nevada mour
aims before the winter sets III and render
he road impossible. He thinks they ca
winter very well in Carson Valley. His pal
expected 10 meet with, and thought the
we're provided for every hardship. He say
,e has travelled extensively through Europe
,ut no scenery there equals in subml'y an
,eauty many Of The views on the land ront
.cross this continent. Nevertheless, he dc
,lares he would give all he possesses in III
world, or all he hopes 10 possess, II he con'
,nly Danish from his memory the many no
rors he felt and witnessed on his terrible lou
ncy. Yours truly, G. r. W.