The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-02-01
Tint Letter.

we last week spoke OF letter from Mr.. James |
Butler now in California, which reflected severe
ly upon the conduct of Messrs Saml l.. Cody 4
A, J. Miner, who, with few passengers started
for the gold mines astspring. from Indian Creek
1t appears after the party left St Joseph, they
began To make some very important discoveries
in each Others characters each finding the other
mot the man he thought lac was Quarrels and
contentious sprung up and threats and fights en-
sued until finally, near Fort Laramie, Mcssrs Mi
ner II Cody dismissed upon the broad ocean of
prairie, Mr.. Caleb Marsh, their cook with but .
days provisions, lie however happened to get
in with party Of Mounons who were building
ferry boat on the north fork Of Platte river where
he earned five dollars per day. After passing
Fort Laramie all went right again, until within
about SO miles OF the 40 mile desert, where, pre-
tending to be impatient with the slow progress
the train was making, Cody proposed to take two
horses and hasten through, while Miner should
bring up the train This being consented to, he
started Oft with two horses packed down with pro.
visions. He, however, did not make much head
way, keeping with the party for several days, and
meeting Miner secretly. whenever an opportunity
was afforded. The following is the plain, simple
narrative ofwhat happened afterwards, as elnted
by Mr. Butler himself in his letter to VIM. Nun
son, Esq.
After leaving Cody, we proceeded on our
route till night, at which time Miner, contrary to
his usual customs, encAmpcd alone and about
midnight lie and VIM Warren packed every thing
Of provision kind, and ,hcr own baggage and
cleared, leaving . Of Us Mr. John Warren, Mr.. j.
Cowcn n Hungarian, and myself fast asleep. one
Indian might easily have killed US all Cowen
the Hungarian, awukc first and his first impression
was that the Indian, had stolen the horses but
when he come To look around he found the folks
and provisions missing there We were left by
our humane Captains There we were left with
out provisions ard what was to be dono was
/ the only one WHO had amy money ot any amount
I and proposed for Cuwen to take our baggage
rs he had span OF good mules, and Warren and
| would pay lis expenses to this lac consented,
and proceeded with the wagon which Miner left
The first provisions we met, price Of all articles
the same, s. pound for -four bacon, coffee, tea,
Gc, MS all tn, we found took of money very fast,
We continued on, however, until we entered the
80 mile desert, there the mules gave out and we
. had ~ throw away everything.
We separated and went on singly. made out
quite well averaging about 20 miles per day, I'm.
I'll near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, when IN
jumping creek hurt my knee, and leg below
the knee by making m-step, this occasioned
NO some pain, hut | continued on however NV
leg KEEP, sruwu; worse all the time. and had
finally Ia stop on the west slc Of the highest
peak Of the Sierra Nevada where the snow ut
this time IN August, was or 10 feet deep.
lay here days, unable to walk with nothing for
my covering 10y night but the canopy of heaven
and blanket for my bed. | tried many team
STEERS, a they Were passing, to take me out of
this dcsuIate region, but none would until SIr
Miller gentleman from Iowa turned in to see
me; he said il would not do for me to lie there
my leg would mortify, he let me have horse to
ride. hGl ped me on ii, and finally conveyed me
to tins place. arrived here on the 10th of Au.
gust and have been under the Surgeons care,
DR. hcens nm eminent practitioner, ever since
lie with otheas OF the faculty decided that nv
leg could not be made whole, and the only way
to save my life was to amputate. To thi. sub
mitted, but you may rest assured it was a most
painful operation. | have undergone most sx
circulating pains for many DAYS and nights. the
pains not allowing me to sleep
The other two, John Warren, and Cowen, also
got safely through-reaching the Valley Of the
sacramonto beior, Cody AMI Miner did As the
whole Of this party are known in this vicinity,
We have consented to publish these particulars for
what they are worth, and let them touch where
they will That they are true there is 10 doubt.
Mr. Butler is an elderly man. and was, We be
lieye, employed as school teacher near Harding.
previous to his departure.
\ writer in Notes and Queries sends the
following cure for the tooth ache, taken from =