The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-07
yo~rnal s an overland Trip to CALIFORNIA,

sss3aAe III "A. c. MohS -.
18th. Warm pleasant day with some appear
ance Of rain; Left our cncampment o'clock
A. M, travelled in 8. w. direction between
Loupe fork and Platte rivers; reached the sand
hill bluffs 3 o'clock r. NJ. Heavy sandy road
for the last ten miles; found a little water at 3
O'clock; travelled until r. M. without water,
over heavy sandy road, heat very oppressive
Encarnped at the head of muddy slough with
out wood water almost impossible to drink, be-
ing strongly impregnated with alkali Travel
ed to day 90 miles, company and teams very
much fatigued-found the Stevenson Co. Com
pany encamped opposite to us-passed two or
three companies quite late, digging for water
teams almost famished Quite an excitement
in camp last lnight-about o'clock A. NJ, the
Stephenson Co. Com close by us wishing to
try their horses on a stampede, commenced
deafenng noise on their tin pans, bells and what
ever they could find that would make the most
noise. Our sentry being taken little by sur
prise, and thinking it to be regular Indian
stampede, cried out at the top of his voice, "ev-
cry man to his gun, the Indians are down on
u.s.. In moment every man stood at his post,
rifle in hand, waiting for the expected foe. In
short time the mistake was discovered and all
crept softly back to their tents.
18th. Weather still warm and pleasant
Left our encampment as soon as we could dis
patch cold breakfast, there being no wood to
be had in the vicinity. Passed Prairie Creek,
good water and sandy bottom, but no wood on
its banks. Travelled to-day in S. w. direc-
ton, between Loup fork and Platte: Passed the
name of whom could not ascertain, both bu-
ried on the banks Of Prairie Creek, who died
last season.
Passed the Oquawka train, Capt. Linn, 8 wag-
ons, "a yoke oxen, 33 men, Came in sight of
the Platte again this afternoon-passed Wood
river, Is feet wide, foot deep, sandy bottom,
empties into the Platte, about miles below the
ford Travelled 20 miles and encamped on
branch Of the Platte-found good water and
plenty Of timber; the first we have had for SIS
miles-have found priokly pear (cactus,) in great
abundance the last few DAYS There is spe
cies of it that bears beautiful red berry, inside
of which is small black seed; it is very pref
ty plant, very much like that which is found in
southern climate; grows principally on low or
level ground.
The slough water has for several days past
been more or less impregnated with alkali, and
the ground is in many places covered for seve-
raj yards around with it from to inches deep.
Saw large herd of buffalo to-day; one of our
could not get shot.
10th. Left our encampmcnt at o'clock A.
NJ, travelled west up the Platte. Passed the
grave OF Mrs. l.. Carter, aged IS years-died
June 9th, 1S49-buried on beautiful little
mound, mile S. West of Platte, near the road.
Passed the remnant of or 8 wagons this week,
most of them being used for fuel. Passed the
grave of w. Hale Of Bectown Wisconsin, who
died July LIST lS49, of cholera, aged AZ years,
buried on the banks of Platte Travelled to-day
70 miles and encamped on the banks of the riv-
er, II miles from the road, found good water and
grass but no timber, on the North side
18th. Travelled S. w. up the Platte 2 miles
from the river most Of the day-grass growing
rapidly-plenty of water but no timber near the
road-passed 81 dead buffalo, supposed to have
been burned on the plains.
Crossed Elm creek and found good water and
timber, with little grass-encamped on Buffalo
creek, S miles N. W. of Platte, having travelled
26 miles to-day.
18th. Lett encampment and crossed wolf
creek, small stream of clear water-no timber
on it. Travelled up the Platte finding no TIM
Der on the north side. Discovered 6 trains on
the Fort Kearny road, south side the river num-
bering 81 teams. Passed 3 companies to-day
encamped on the east end of Round lake. Biz
mingham company, 8 wagons, 80 horses. In
diana company, Capt Lindley, wagons, 3s
yoke oxen and 80 men. Encampcd near the l.
owa City company who were two days in ad-
vance of us. Saw large number Of antelopes
but killetinone. They are very wild here and
very ulLlCult W lEuVelcu ~ niles TO-
day and encamped on the West end of Round
lake, 2 miles north of Platte-saw a large num-
Der Of buffalo to day near the road; l2 of our
company gave chase but killed none.
18th. Remained in camp to-day, it being
Sabbath, weather warm and pleasant, prospect
of rain.
Two of our company who went in search of
buffalo on yesterday, returned to camp late to-
night, having killed on yesterday. Both of
them got lost in the sand hill bluffs, and conse-
quently did not get into camp until Tonight
One Of them, an old hunter states that % shots
were fred at one of them before he was killed.
5 of the balls struck him in the head, in the
breast, and several in different parts of the body
before he was killed, and no one dared to APP
proach him until after he fell. They state that
about miles from Platte, near the Sand bluffs,
they found over 200 dead buffalo within a space
of mile; these dead buffalo are supposed by
most persons to have been burnt to death on the
plains, great many that are found have no mark
Of violence, but in most the hair was sing
ed off and eyes burned out. They congregate
in large herds, and when the dry grass which
grows very high is set on fire in the spring it is
impossible for great many to make their es-
cape.
At 4 P. NJ to-day, a very heavy rain storm
blew up, with sharp lightning and incessant
peals of thunder. 1t lasted about hours, but
done no material damage, as we took the pre-
caution to double lash our tents and put strong
weights on our wagon covers.
GOTH Weather cool and pleasant Left en-
campment on Long lake ate; passed Patch lake
at z, Dry Creek at 8, the Iowa Co. Com, wa
CONS, Is yoke oxen at 10, A. M, and Grant Co.
Com, Capt. Bond, wagons, % yoke oxen %
men at IL NJ; reached the sandy bluffs extend
ing to the river at ] roads very heavy and san
dy for or 8 miles, saw several trains to-day
the south side the river numbering about 60
teams-one of our company returned to camp
just at dark, having killed fine buffalo; fired S
shots before he fell.
Travelled 81 miles, and encamped on Skunk
Greek u miles north of Platte; lat 40 O. A..
Found good grass and water but no timber
Snakes and lizards very abundant
2lst. Left camp at 8, at IL reached cold
spring at the foot of sandy bluffs II miles west
Of Skunk Creek; had slight rain this morning
which rendered the atmosphere quite cool and
pleasant; found heavy sandy road for miles
to-day. Passed the grave of E. T. Williams of
Detroit Michigan, who died of cholera, June
10fh 1910 huried ahonf I mil, north of Platte