Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-03-05


after we encamped.a "a company Of Sonollans
came up, on their way home from the
oold mines of California. We could talk
bui lille Mexican, but learned from them
rha, there were great many Americans IN
the mines. that mules were worth IRON
100 to 300 dollars, sc. They showed Us
quantity of gold dust aud said 1t was very
abuudan, GU, in the diggings. Since leav-
inu home, We had seen or aeard nothing
from our place of destination. and we had
almos, forgotten the principal object OF
our journey. We had thought that we
were on the safe side OF the joInada, but
learned ,ha, we had yet d" long drlve'
before we reached Cariso creek. After a
long search, we found some beans about
two miles from camp, where we took our
took to feed The day has been very hot,
and the mezqui,e affords but poor shade
Distance. (,ince las, noled,) 70 miles
1850.
Wednesday, Aug. l5.-Left our place
of encampment a. dark last evening, and
drove along at very rapid pace. Me,
rreat numbers of returning Sonorians.
Crossed stream about ten yards wide,
New River, of which we were not aware
IA, the ,ime,) and so deep that it swan
some of our smallest mules. Some per,
sons encamped on the bank, said 1t was
running stream Of fresh water, and that
We had better stop having Travelled only
or 5 miles, and our canlecns being yet
ull, we concluded to 90 on. About 10
o'clock we crossed lagoon OF salt water
The darkness prevented our seeing, bul
We knew that the Salt Lake must be but
shor, distance on our right. Yesterday
we were much deceived by "mirage," thai
is.a large lake of water surrounded by trees
and shrubbery, constantly appearing be
fore US, and recedng as fast as we neared
it. Our animals being greatly iaIiSued'
We were obliged TO stop nj 2 O'Clock A. NJ.
and lie up 10 some bushes. was very
plad Of IT. for had suffered all night from
drowsness, and more disagreeabe feel
ing can not be experienced. We lay
down with empty stomachs. Our entire
stock of provision is now reduced TO about
3 days' rations, and we have already fell
the cravings of hunger. | was too much
latisued and sore to sleep, during the two
hours that we lay down.
When the moon rose, about O'Clock
in the morning, We packed up and started
in N. W. direction. About 9 o'clock A.
NJ, we entered the mountains. Armstrong
abandoned his riding horse this morning,
and more Of our stock show strong symp'
toms of "sivins ou,.' Our can,eens are
empty, and we are obliged to push for va
ter. After hard struggle, we reached
Carso creek. but found no wafer The
siuht Of the dry bed Of stream would moi
aIIay our thirst, and we made all haste up
1t, until we reached The head, where a
small rivulel is formed by the water oozIns
out of the ground in several places, flowing
a short distance. and then disappearing IN
The sand. In our easerness TO reach wa
Ter. il was the bes, man, or rather The best
animal. foremost. We were scattered all
along the way land the last of the company
did not get I'D for two hours after the first.
We reached this point at IL o'clock A. NJ
The water, though clear as chryslal' has
peculiar and unpleasant tas,e. We ale
piece, but could find nothing for our ami
mails TO feed upon. There are large
number of Sonorans encamped here, rest
ing their stock before they undertake
crossing the Desert. They have several
hundred head of fine horses, which they
have no doubt stolen on the way, for II
would seem poor policy to purchase ami
mails in California TO carry to Sonora,
where they are said 10 be very cheap
They gave US glowing accounts OF the
gold digsings, and had large quantities oil
the dust in their possession. This appears
10 be general encamping place, but the
stencil arising from the number o: dead
animals slrewed about, is almost slckening'
Packed up and left Cariso creek at
o'clock p. NJ. Travelled up narrow val
lev in N. W. direction. The mountains
on either side have barren aspect, and
the only vegetation in the valley IS the
mezcal plant, and a few siunted, Pr'ckly
bushes. Seeing some palmetto trees on
our right. we judged we should find water
there, and we were not disappointed.
There were several springs. but the water
was very bad, besides being polluted BY
The dead horses and mules that lay in and
about them. We were obliged 10 encamp
for the night, and left our animals 10
browse upon the few lunches Of bear grass
that grew around. Satisfied that we are