The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-04-17
CALIFORNIA CORRESPONDENCE

III. OWENS for q letter from JaiiIoTnla, en-
closed in which we tind sa u,,ch Of his
journal across the plains us he deems Of
sufiicien, in,eres. for pnhl'ca'ion The
'e,,er came by private conveyance to 81.
Louis aud has been soveral months on the
way. lie says, "Your paper Commune %
receive regularly, and il live 10 return,
will bring you speciman q the ore ,ha,
has drawn so many thousands here. The
weather has been much colder than ever
kno~n here sefore, freezing so hard rs 20
make ice one aud hall inches thick"
NAV l6ih--Started at 4 O'Clock P. NJ. and
travelled up north. OF Laramie fork, and camped
on the river At o'clock; distance miles; road
good.
l1th.-Rained all last night, got under way st
Z o'clock, travelled over uneven road with many
steep ascents and descents-bu hard and smooth.
The road is strewn with almost every thing but
provisions. Corn, which have been thrown ava.
BY emigrsnts to tighten their loads. string OF
teams can be seen as far as the eye can reach be-
fore and behind us. We have for The first time
saw pine trees, but they are very scrubby and
grow upon the brow Of the bluffs, most OF which
are limestone rock aud almost perpendicular
Camped one and half miles from road on the
Platte at 3o'cloek distance to-day 8 miles.
i8th.-Fiae morning. All the trains before
eft fhap sro
do. But we shall see, what we shall see. Start
ed at 6 and after travelling one mile came to . good
cold spring. 81 mics further brought us to a
fine creek 30 feet wide, 2 feet deep, good water,
plenty Of timber and grass, fine place TO camp.
Road to-day a. good as turnpike. Camped at
4 O'Clock near dry creek, but good cold spring
near. Distance 25 miles.
le,h.-Started At half past 6, travelled miles,
which brought us to La Bonita river, 30 feet wide
2 feet aud half deep, swift current but good
fording. S miles further brought US to branch Of
La Bonita. After crossing you will find yourself
among the red hills which continue miles,
Road good, camped on Laprie river, rod wide,
Q feet deep; good place TO camp, being plenty of
grass and timber, we found large company
camped just above US, and knowing the DELAYS
occurring at ferries after letting our animals feed
three hours went 81 miles further and camped on
Labous river, 30 feet wide, feet deep. Dis
lance to-day IS miles.
GOTH Started a o'clock sent 10 miles 10
lower ferry on Platte, but finding great many
teams ahead Of us waiting to be ferried, We push
ed on to the upper ferry. We have passed since
YESTERDAY, over one hundred teams, and overlook
a. tn. ferry part Of the first company that start
ed from the bluffs, fifteen days before us. Roads
to-day sandy and billy; distance 36 miles. We
find all the companies broke up or divided into
small ones, which fully convinces rs that large
company cannot travel long together We have
now for the FIRST time fresh antelope in our mess;
it is much better than yenison. Had an invita-
ton TO dine with Capt. Gilmore on oysters to-
day accepted Of course. also received pres
ent Of fine large Goldfish from gentleman Of
another train, which makes me think have just
come from friend Sanford's. The good things
seem to come in showers. Don't have such
things every day.
2lst.-Our turn at ferry came about 8 O'Clock
this morning. and in about one hoar were on the
north side. Feriage four dollars, and river being
high had to pay it. Travelled up the river over
a sandy road and camped at noon for the day Oh
Platte distance miles.
22d.-Took Capt. Gilmore and his team in our
train this morning. Started out OF camp at o.
clock, fouad good roads and camped on Willow
Creek Small stream) at halfpas 3 O'Clock; dis
tance q miles. We have now been insight Of
snow two or three days. it lays IN large bodies up
on the high bluffs south Of US few miles; poor
grass to-day. We passed to-day the s'aIkali
many cattle that died last season from the use Of
this water. Travelled 25 miles to-day before We
could find pure water.
23d.--Started al half past 6, road sandy and IN
even, being over very barren country, where
but little ifany vegetation grows except wild sage
and prickly pear, which are fonnd in great abnn-
dance. The former is our principal fuel now.
Campsd at o'clock on Sweet Water river, q
swift current and good fordng. The bluffs which
are very high along its banks, are composed Of
hard granite rock. The bottoms along this river
are narrow, say from 100 feet to half mile wide !;
distance to-day 81 miles.
24ih.-Started at o'clock, after travelling ore
mile came TO "Independent Rock" where We
halted short time for the purpose Of examining
it. We found it TO be hard granite-20OO feet
long, 300 feet wide and fifty feet high. The rock
is almost covered with the names Of visitors upon
east and south side, where most oftrayelers seem
to have gone TO view il from. But found the
north side much the best side to view it. II is
surrounded by small lakes Of water, and would
we'll pay the traveller, TO stop day and examine
il. We drove on miles further, which brought
Us to what is called ssDeyil's Gate" The Sweet
Water river here passes between two perpendc-
ular rocks Of granite four or FIVE hundred feet
high This is certainly the greatest curiosity