New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-27
suNpAy. June Q 1880.

OF letters from the flatih, Cu'ohNhpS THO P'"6iOsS
efthe trains 70 California We make the following
sxnactsi
10 NILEs WEST oT FoRT KcARNTY.
We len Fort Kearney on Monday evening, June
81 shout O'Clock, and had proceeded about three
niles, when che Of those prsrie thunder storms
broke upon and we were forced % halt Tor the
nieht-completely drencbed no wood and obliged
10 retire, with a cold snack. to lodgings upon
the cold and wet ground. Ii continued raining al
night, with violent wind and most terrible thunder,
for new country. About II o'clock two OF oar
largest tents yielded 10 the wind aud portion OF
one landed upon a mule, which so frightened him
that general stampede eDsued.
The nc xt morning we got of 10 good season. and
that day reached Plum Creek, ard fouad several
trains awaiting fall in the creek, 70 enable asaS-
ford. At this point were unfortunate enough
TO Iose one Of our party lLucios ARson) the par
;iculars If which ! wrote you on the 9th, and sent
the letter by q gentleman on his reiuro who prom
ised 10 mali il &C st Joseph Halls train were also
eneamped a few miles from US snd also lost a man
Young Allen Since then, until 10 day, we have
bsd good weather and good roads; bat we have
witnessed most horrible havoc Of that dread disease
Cholera. That disease broke out about the Same
time in every train that was in PlSm Creek Valley
from the lst to the 9Th OF June. have eudeavored
b ascertain ell the particulars, bat IN great many
instances saw graves with not even a nane eit,
and in others the name only given. Up to this time
I have counted forty graves IN sixty miles travel,
and we have passed several trains where from one
10 six were sick, and probably tive birds OF them
are dead ere this.
The following particulars were given me by
gentleman who overlook yesterday, and have
every reason TO believe them true, although he
neglected to state explicitly everything OF inter
est He states, on the 7th, about s miles west Of
Plum Creek, he found small train OF three wagons,
about half mile from the main road, and bat one
man able TO sit up that there were originally
twelve men in the train, but six were already dead
and buried four were about dying OF Cholera,
one had the measles, and the other well, but
90 fatigued from nursing, that he could scarcely
stand.
Now, Messrs. Editors. you will please call on
DIR. Mcdowell, and others who contend that Choe'
IN ia conts eous and who also believe the disease
10 caused from lack OF electricity in the air, and
hsk them 10 account for this disease breaking Odt
m some fry or one hundred trains about the same
time in the center OF vast prairie at least thou
sand miles from any city and Immediately follow
ing severe thunder storms. And bear in mind, the
tsiys In which the disease first appeared were
from healthy counties-Cedsr, Ray, &c and only
two of the trains were from St. Louis, tours and
HsIPf) and we had left 81. Louis before single
case had occurred, more than a month ago 1t
strikes me that the doctrine that Cholera is con-
taeious is fully exploded, and that it is merely To-
fectous.
Since Mr. Mason's death we have had some few
cases, but DR.. Knox soon checked them, and now
every man woman and child in our train enjoy the
beat Of health.
$40 miles OF FOrt Kssrny.
During the past week we have witnessed
great amount OF sickness and distress in different
1ains In fact, have not yet heard OF train that
has escaped sickness, and In nearly al the monster
Death has taken one or more victims. 10 give you
some idea of the sickness on the Plains TINS year,
Twill only mention a few cases that have come
under my own personal observation. visited
train on Tuesday last. OF the II men composing
1 caoHh uria
seven at one time FIVE or six more sick, and one
diving as passed. In two instances have pass
ed trains where all but bad died. la one To-
stance saw at an encampment one tent leisstand-
ing and another struck" bat lying on the ground
also n barrel Of crackers, several blankets, SIX or
eight pairs Of boots, hats coats, shirts, &c &c and
near by five graves. IL was sad spectacle.
Several gentlemen have passed us who LETT Fort
Kearny four days after we did, and one has counted
$50 graves, but be neglected TO take names. From
all can learn have no doubt that at least 25O
emgI snts have died within the last fifteen days
between here and Plum Creek.
The heavy tide OF California emigration is pass
ing ths post at this time. About 10000 have
passed within the last four or FIVE days. The
whole number registered here as having passed
this Spring stand ss iollows;
hsn..............,SosS4 Horses. l.."l99e
chdrsn ......,. SOS
WseoDs...............I uol
The registration is in the main correct, as the
officers take great pains in eudeavoring 10 make II
correct though some tr ains hs passed without re-
Clustering their names. AS near as have been
able to estimate the numbers, l think one-haf the
emigration is from the State Of Missouri.
Jerome Il Co.'S train, from your city, passed here
on the 18th inst. Alexander X Halls train, also
from st. Louis, passed here to-day.
There have been some cases Of severe di9rraea,
and few deaths in several ofthe larger trains. IL
10 not the cholera as some Of the emigrants assert
it TO be- The sphyaci say it Is brought on
mostly by drinking too much water aud exposure,
ssch as -wadipg rivers and creeks and change of
habits Of life
The grass on portion Of tho route has been very
scarce, especially between the crossing Of the
South or Loupe Fork Of the Platte aud Chimney
ROCK. Horses, mules and oxen suffered for tins
went Of food Stock from Misso1ri suffered less
than from other portious of the Unioo foe the
son. suppose, they had not travelled so far as the