The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-06-26

discount 70 ihoaf Who sdyertiss By he year =
Notes of an Overland Journey to California.
IA gentleman, who wields and graphic pen has
furnished the following taken By him on recent
overland journey to California They will be read with
much INTEREST,"
JcnuaJy 14.--Arose early from a sleepIess couch
and made finai arrangements for my long Journey.
Actsr breakfast bid adieu to home and friends, and
wen. aboard the steamship Fanny, bound for Cor
pus Christ The steamship left the wharf at
o'clock. and as she rounded to in the river we re-
cslved and gave our parting cheers to the crowd
Of friends that had assembled on the wharf to bid
US long farewell. We arrived at the Baze at
sundown took pilot, and crossed the bar at =
and at o'clock were out of sight of the shores of
our native land. As the sea was little rough
most of US spread our blankets on deck and turned
in for the night.
January l5.-The sun rose bright and clear
and we had pleasant morning but toward even
ing the clouds began to gather and before night it
commenced raining We passed cold, wet night
the vessel rolled heavily and most Of the boys
were sea-sick.
January 16.-It has stopped raining, but it is
still cloudy but the sea is smooth and the boys
are all well and in fine spirits, with the exception
of one, who says if he ever gets on terra frBsG
| once more, he will never put his foot on board
| another vessel again. On account Of sleeping
in the cold and wet last night, my throat is little
sore this morning, but have taken one of those
powders, and l hope l will not be troubled any
more. Came in sight Of land at II o'clock, but
owing to the dense fog, were not able TO cross
the bar at the entrance of the town of Saloria.
Having freight for that place, we came to anchor
outside the bar, and remained until morning
January 1.-THE fog having cleared away, we
took pilot about 8 O'ciOcK anocrUssed the bar and
to anchor in a snug little harbor off SalOria
where we intend remaining until Tomorrow Sew
eral OF ashore on the Island to shoot snipe
Stewart Halsey and myself took supper with DIR
McCraig, who resides the Island. Went aboart
ship about o'clock smoked our pipes (for W,
have given up the luxury OF cigars), and ther
turned in for the night.
January IS-Got under way about 10 o'clock
and, after run of five hours, arrived at St. 10
seph's Island, which is far as the steamer cal
take Soon after we arrived, a Norther sprana
up; it blew very hard, and was very cold and dis
agreeable. Several of the boys begin to feel a
little home-siek. Spent portion of the afternoon
in writing home, but it is doubtful if any of our
letters will reach their destination, for they have
treated very badly on board the vessel and they
will be fearful that will inform our friends of it,
As we have Jared rather badly for the last few days.
Stewart and myself propose going ashore and get
ting our supper and spending the night.
| January 19.- We have chartered a small
schooner to take ourselves and plunder up to Cor
pus Christi. Got most of traps aboard, and
started about o'clock. The Norther is still blow
ing very hard, and it is raining We are so crowded
| that have no room to sit down, and have to
stand and face the cold, cutting wind and rain but
as every thing has end, we came to the end of
our trip after of six hours, (the disagree
able, | think, | ever passed,) and were all landed
safely at Corpus Christi. Spent the afternoon in
landing and storing baggage, etc. We are
quartered for the night in house, rented for
that purpose.
January 20.-Spent the day in pitching our
tents, putting wagons together, and moving our
things to camp. The Norther still continues, and
| it rains necessarily; but as we shore
and very busy, we do not mind it.
January Give have got our tents all up,
messes all formed, and each man his appointed day
| for cooking; and | have little leisure to look
around. Our camping ground is eminence
that commands fine view of the Bay and the
| little town and the surrounding country. 1t is a
| fine site for a town, and although it is now quite
small, will, l have no doubt, in a few years, be
quite flourishing place, if our Government estab-
fishes depot here, is hoped for by the citizens
l find several old acquaintances here that met in
Mexico. 1t has stopped raining, but the wind still
| continues to blow.
January 22.-As camp-life is new thing to
most of us, it is quite amusing to see the manner
| il which we discharge our several dutes espe-
| c.ally that of cooking Some, however, take to it
quite naturally but the most Of make badly out
at it-burning fingers upsetting cofee-pots, drop
ping the into the fire, and such like things are
OF frequent occurrence. Being on hill, the wind
has full sweep at us, and last night one or two of
the tents blew down, not being properly fastened.
| am happy to say that there no hUss lost and
no damage done, excepting that the occupants were
Heartily laughed at by those of the other tents.
| January 23.-Our Captain has been to see Col.
Kinney and we find that there are but few, il any,
IN lies or horses to be had here at any price. Col
X. sent out when we first arrived to see if he could
get any at the ranches in the country and his men
have come back with few mules and three or four
poor horses, although he told Col. Abbot that he
could get plenty He has sold Col. Abbot ten
mules for our wagons at $50 each they are un.
broken, and we have been engaged most of the day
in breaking them to the harness. 1t has been pro-
posed to the company to change route, and
instead of crossing Mexico to Mazatland to take
the route from this place to Preside Del Ric
Grande, and from there to Ell Paso, or to Presidi,
Del Norte, and from there over the country t.
tie Ga river and thence to California, followin;
Gen. Kearneys trail. The proposition was made /
our Captain by Col. Kinney. He says it is tn
quickest and most economical route we can take
besides being pleasant one; that there is goo
wagon road from Corpus to Preside, plenty
grass and water, and if we 90 that way, he wi
send guide with us. There is also Col Ephe
son, who resides at Preside, who will go with 1
and take wagon along with him. The vote OF Ii
company was taken, and three-fourths OF the con
pany were in favor Of it; so we go that route. o
the strength of our going that way, Col Kinne
sold us another wagon and three yoke of ft
/ $780, So we have now six wagons ten mules an
twelve yoke of oxen. We were oblighed to bu
oxen for four of wagons, for we could not g
n mules at any price. We have been engaged f
the last two days in trying to buy animals to rid
: but as yet only few have been successful. w
" are all allowed SIS to a out of the treasury Il
that purposeall that the animals cost over that "
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