The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-11-20
DUBU4UE:
AI::::::::":NOvEn1BER go, 1850.
Written for the ssExprcss''
Journal of an overland trip to California.
BY A. c. MORSE.


18th. Continued our racourse down the river;
weather hot and sultry; roads very sandy and
difficult. Met company Of Is packers from
the mines, 10 days out, returning to the States;
they report little grass for $50 miles ahead,
and the suffering Of cmigrants very great; many
have lost their entire teams, and are now pack
ing on foot over the mountains, and down The
llumbot, with but little provisions, and no pros
pect of getting moro until they reach Carson riv-
or. Travelled to day % miles, and cncampcd
on small slough at the left of the road, | mile
from the river. Water bad, and grass very
scarce; no fuel but wild sage.
1914. Left cncampmcnt this morning at three
clock, and pushed on in search of grass; after
travelling about ten miles, we turned out our
teams until we could find grass; after hastily dis
patching our breakfast, waded four sloughs,
and succeeded in cutting sufficient to keep our
animals alive until we could find moro. Roads
to-day not as rough as yesterday, but the dust
was almost intolerable. After travelling "a miles
| the last lG without watcr-wc reached the
river again, and cncampcd for the night on the
edge of deep ravine. After preparing supper
and grazing our teams upon the scanty supply OF
grass, we pushed on again at dusk, in order to
travel to better advantage while it was cool-our
teams having become very weak and weary up
on the scanty grass found the past week. Pass
ed the grave of Henderson Shropshire, Of Paris
Mo-, d:ed July 9th, 1885, aged 81 years; buried
upon the bank of the river.
18th. After travelling until ~ o'clock last
night, "a distance Of 10 milcs,) we wrapped our
blankets around US, and laid down under our
wagon until daylight at which time we harness.
ed up and pushed ahead in search of grass; at
3 clock, p NJ, we reached Willow Springs, 25
miles east of the desert; the water here is very
clear and cold, which we found a great treat af-
ter travelling through the heat and dust most of
the day; and especially after having been confn-
ed to the miserable water of the Humbot for SO
long time. This spring, just referred to, runs
off into deep ravine, and cmptes into the st.
Mury's, or IIumbolt, about 9 miles distant, and
is within 6 miles of the Humbolt, or Grass Mead
ow. After filing our vessels with water, we ira
yelled on, and at 5 p :, reached the Meadow,
at which place we found over 400 teams, prcpar-
ing grass to feed on the desert. The feed here
is the finest have seen since | left the States
there are over 600 acres of the most luxurant
grass that could be imagined, from to 81 inch,
cs high, and growing thick any that can be
found in our meadow ground III the States; the
water at this place is very cold, but all Of it more
or less impregnated with alal
After remaining at this place the !St. and
10Th, for the purpose of cutting and curing ouI
grass, we made preparations for leaving Was
informed while at this place, that DR.. Joseph
Phantom, of Adams CO., ILL.,, aged 81 years, was
drowned on tile 18th, 25 miles above Willow
Springs, in the Humbolt, while attempting tc
swim the river with a bundle Of grass for his
tcam-the same misfortune that came very ncal
happening to me days since, in the rvcr,wllc
engaged in the same business.
Goth. After leaving the meadow, just before
dark, we travelled until daylight, at which time
we reached the sui phur springs; remained at
this point until II NJ, for the purpose of rest
ing our teams. After filling all Of our vessels
with water, we struck out over the desert, with
the intention Of crossing by I o'clock the
following morning. For hours we found the
heat very oppressive, and ourselves and teams
suffering greatly from the small allowance of
water which we were able to carry. After stop
ping times during the trip, for the purpose of
feeding and resting our teams some hours in
all, we reached the Carson river at s o'clock, A.
NJ, having made the trip across in 16 hours ira
vel. The fore part Of the crossing very
hard on teams, owing to the excessive heat; but
after dark it was much cooler, and consequently
they suffered but little. On the last stretch of
lo miles, the sand is very deep; and but very
few were able to reach the Carson river with
over half their teams, and large portion left
their wagons; water was very scarce; met
large numbers carrying back water on foot to
their friends behind, who were almost famshed;
some 10 or 12 men had hauled water back from
the river IL or Is miles, and were selling it for
SIS per gallon; in fact, many persons paid horse,
and sometimes two, for what water would last
them to Carson river.
The distance across what is called the Great
Desert, has been called, by many, distance of
As miles; but in reality the distance of 70 miles,
all desert; no grass or wood can be found, and
the water between the two points it is almost
impossible to use, all Of it being strongly i'm
pregnated with alkali
The loss on the desert this season has been
very great, and no doubt will be ten-told greater
before the emigration is oyer. ! counted, while
crossing, l13 dead animals, killed on the desert
principally horses, besides 207 wagons left; also
stoves, guns, clothing, shovels, picks, and every
thing that would tend to rctard their movements
for moment r..,..., ..s..,...r.. p 49, t,.s
After reaching the river, we gave to our hor
scs the small allowance Of grass left, and a!tel
preparing breakfast and resting Q short time, VIZ
travelled up the river 3 miles farther, until W.
; found better grass. Carson river also being We
ry high, our only chance Of eating il was BY
wadipg slough, as usual, and cutting with ou
scythes. Was informed to-day that two mel
had died on Carson river yesterday, from drink
K