Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-07-04

had gone through reaching the long anticipated
Ilumbolt or Mary river. Here il was that we
| fell in with those who took the more northward
course by way of Fl. Hail. At once after com.
menclng our course on this river to its sink lin
the sands of the desert, east of the Sierra Neva.
ia Mountains we began to pass graves, nearly
all of which were fresh, newly made, and one
thing which much surprised us, was to read on
nine out OF every ten, Mo, Missouri, the state
from which the deceased emigrated. Nv own
hands had 10 lnscribe one as memento of one
which composed our family company number
often thought of J. ID. Benedict's opposing re-
mark as to going to California, that there was no
difficulty in finding the way there, as there were
plenty OF graves by the way, such | found to be
the fact across the desert portion of the way
such an amount of travel on one road proving
to be such by the cutting down in the track, tho
entirely dry, could not be again found in any
portion OF the T. S lift could be in the world.
But one shower from Salt Lake to and across
the Nevada mountains. Much more than this
wonld have shut US up entirely and located us
IN trouble. The earlier emgrants had a hard
one, before the snow water from the mountains
had passed out of the way. To give descrip-
ton OF the loss of property by the way, and
through to California, would be a task. The
thought is sickening the sight more SO. Cat
tie. horses, wagons, harnesses, chains, clothing,
(nonc of provisions this season. tools and al
most everything lined the way, filling the sight.
and creating the thought recoinp reflection.
OF the waste and destruction caused by the I'M
bounded influence of gold, all of which thus far
obtained, has not in the judgment of any one
Witnessing these things, formed an equivalent
1t would seem that species of insanity sway
ed the minds of the whole emigration. Some
aged men, many youths and lads, and by far the
the greater part OF the middle aged class, made
up the travelling community. All characters,
good, bad, indifferent; INDUCING anxiety eau.
ton, Jeaonsy and suspicion, mingled in the train,
contentious, anlmOsitcs and divisions were at
tendant on most of. the route.
Who would ever wish to 90 it again Not l.
Who would like to eiiace it from the mind, and
consgn the exhibition to oblivion would
tor one. But enough of this After reaching
the sink OF Mary river, we crossed in the night
the most OF the desert before us being is miles
The curtain of the night screened our eyes from
0eholdlng by far greater exhibition of death and
destruction than hitherto had been presented to
us. What we saw on the balance of the desert
during the next day was sufficient indication of
what we had passed through the night | hap
pcned to sec one man graphing with death, by
1t. ~
cordlng to report to us, by far the most of the
sickness was back of us Many suffered for
sustcnancc. Supplies had been but moderately
secured. On reaching the other side of the de-
sert we found a trading post, on Carson River,
of flour, liquors. &c. Flour from 81 50 to 81
per ID. Hard case for those who were destitute
of means. Large quantities were packed from
Cal. across the Nevada mountains on mules.
supplying stations from s to II miles Before
we reached the mountains, we obtained flour at
10 cts. per h., every fort had its liquors. We
passed on and following up the Carson river, we
at length came to the foot of the mountains
From to miles we passed up through kan
gon, where, but for the influence of gold no at
tempt would ever have been made to pass with
teams. Stones and rocks from the size of a
barrel to hay cock, composed our road. and how
50 much travel has ever been through there with
50 little destruction of life and property. is not
tor me TO explain. Good water with but little
grass was the best fare we had for our teams
Alter getting over, and in among the mountains,
we had one more pull to gain the chief ascent,
the back bone of the Elephant. On its sum-
NIT we found snow to a considerable amount
about Sept. -, some of which probably did lie
over another winter. From this highest land of
rocks we could survey a great extent Of ridgv,
OF the Pacific Ocean, being prccuded by the
coast range of mountains. From the many
smokes arising in different directions. we began
to think we were getting into the gold country.
About Sept. 18th, we began 10 fall down, down
Into the region OF the gold and on entering it
In ful, we found ourselves in what was called
I1anyto"n, from the circumstance of some or 3
IN time past, who being indisposcd to dig like
Others, and having no good cause to beg for "a
share OF the good, saw fit to pilfer the earnings
OF others, and meeting with very good principle
IN lie by the way, were hung up out of the way
This iiangton was hollow somewhat long, say
4 or mics, and narrow The earth appar
emily had all been dug up, in depth from , to 3
feet, presenting an Eruption of its surface like
the digging of 50 many old fashiored potato
holes, around, in, and among which were
much less number working than had been here
toiore. But the novel sight Of one man picking
ShoveIImg, carrying and mp'ying into the wash
ing cradle common grayclly earth, and an 9TH
er dipping constantly water with one hand, and
thus working all day chuCket, chucket, and at
night testing the amount of his thus far unseen
gam, not positively knowing that he had any Of
the yellow stuff, was indeed TO me a novelty, and
like lottery. However out of this place a
large amount had been gained. Many piles OBJ
rast season, but little more than their board had
been paid. and some not so much as that The
place promises to be the grave of many. Ply
slcianS in number sufficient to keep the evil on
the march, while they were digging their once
per visit thus making their piles faster than the
rest. Being 80 miles from Sacramento, we
passed onward to reach the city which we did
on the eve of the Both day of Sept Having
sent some letters in advance from Salt Lake.
fastened early in the morning OF Oct. lst 10 find
what might there be to my address, and after
waiting my turn which was early. shortly after
s o'clock, | happily found letter from nv wife
and household, and from J. ID. Benedict and wife.
all which proved like water to thirsty soul.
But is have made. though at a late date,
somewhat heavy demand on your patience in
conformity to yonr suggestion TO write v5,s a
letter" a. from all thus promising you had re-
ceived none at all, please accept this as interest
annual, while III suitable time to come will
give You the principle, in detail, embracing an
account of Oregon.
Yours Respectfully,
ALBERT II. OTIs.
4 ('7frL iJ;-, fir 40.