Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-03-20
CG@D1WGG 0CCg.
T0wn Of LahaiHa. Hawaiian ISLANDS.
November 18th. 1850.
Mn. EDITOR

Wnen L took leave of you on the 25th
OF last April, you requested ne to write
Wien | should reach the shores Of the Pa
c.hc Ny apology for not writing then. is
that / did not have an hours health while
in that Golden Land I arrived at the
Settlements fifty miles north of Sacra-
mento, on the 18th Of August, Just ninety
seven days from the Missouri
We crossed the summit of the Rocky
Mountains on the 25th June, and the Ne
vada, on the 18th of Aug Our route
was ,tiom the Missouri. over a Prairie coun-
try, destitute of timber, tolerablv well
watered, for three hundred miles to the
Platte Bottoms therce up the south fork
to Sawyers Crossing thence up the south
bank of the North Fork to Ft Laramie
thence over the Black Hills to the last
crossing Of y. Fork thence over an ak
aiiEe Desert on the eastern slope OF the
base Of the Rocky mountains to the river
Sweet Water. Here the mountains may
be sad TO begin Independence Rock
with its neighb3rs Of grey old Rocks ap
parcntly tumbled down from the ..everlast-
ing hills, present themselves, in sublime
confusion. We continued along the Sweet
water to within three miles Of the diyid-
ing ridge, and in the short space Of two
hours reached Pacific Springs. three miles
west OF the summit. tie first water that
flows west. The road to this point was
excellent, as good as any roads that | have
ever seen III the States the feed. however,
was very scarce. We had but three camp
Ing PAGES where the feed was good in this
whole distance, one of these was at Chin
ney Rock another in the Black Hills and
the other OH the Bluffs 4 continued line
OF Wagons were in view the whole dis
taHce. The Horses did not gain mile
on the Ok teams until they arrived at this
point, when hundreds CT Horned Cattle
died from tile effects Of the alkali The
Horse teams then took the lead through
the Cascade Mountains. some taking the
Salt Lake road, some the Fit Hall road
and others. Myers cut off We all came
together again on Humboldt River, show
ing that in realty there was but little diff
ference IN the routes The OK teams that
Lad received Il cheek now rolled up. and
many Of them led the way over the
Desert and Sierra Nevada upwards Of
twelve hundred head of stock Law dead
along Humboldt River and over one half
tLat number on the Main Desert bevoud
the Sink. Ga distance Of oulv 20 miles -
" e crossed over this on the etl. of August
and commenced a. .ceading the mountains
on the 18th. after attaining q height Of
NE Il OUU feet, We raised over banks Of
snow from to G ice5 deep and began to
descend into thc valley Of the Sacramento.
Alter visiting t.at important city. I went
into tae mines about 50 niles 10 thanlItl
cas-. and commenced digging in company
vi tw1 partners. The first hole we sunk
about o feet aud took out about 500
worth Of sold we dug on all sides Of it
AID obtained nothing one OF my partners
started iar tle States, the other went to
prospecting. whiic | went to travelling for
the beDcLt If my health: I accordingly
put ~ earthly possessions on my back
aud tie first dag, travelled - miles and
spread nay blanket under noble oak
l was awakened at day break by band
Of Cyota's (>peeies OF wClres) dancing
c0tiliion a few rods from ne While |
was pairing to make a charge upon the
intrudera tLey very prudently ,loped fear
lending them wings On the following
day | reached the Sacramento and embark
cd ia a whale boat Tor san Francisco where
arrived III safety.
After q short stay in that place. | left
in the ship Edward bound for the Sand
Uich Islands
After 4 pleasant passage of sixteen days
we arrived and anchored at the town Of
I.a.aina on tae Island Of Mani when [
arrived at san Francisco. l found t. a |
lad teIl short Of my usual weight six lbs
since | lett that place have not only made
up ti.at duhc eHcy but have actually gain
cd ( lbs. Weighing more by l5 lbs than
/ ever did before. this Is what l call tr0U-
cllug f0r htuth. We are ROW 220O miles
from San Francisco, III the midst of the
North Pacific, a iIttle south Of the TrOp-
ic, IN wlat we may call the Far Vest
a place Of but little Importance up to the
present time, but which is destined a no
vecy distant day to be by far the most i'm
purjaut place, IN q commercial point Of
view, on this side Of the Western Conti-
Eeut | never expect to see a rail- road
across the Sierra Nevada, TO connect the
two oceans, yet | expect to see a highway
for nations across the Isthmus, and when
that Is completed, these Islands viii be
the great depot for European and Ameri-
can vessels as they pass to and from the
East Indies.
Lave been here three weeks. and at
no time during the day has the Thermo
meter stood above 80 or below 40 com
pare this with California. or even with
Wisconsin, and yoa will observe quite
difference. | have observed the mercury
standing at l05 degrees above zero and 70
decre below, in your town. making diff
ference Of I3t degrees in temperature.-
How the mercury stood in California 1
did not observe. bat think II must have
stood at about trlte heat.
l viii now dismiss these subjects. aud
proceed to make few general remarks for
the benefit Of those who intend taking the
overland route, the next season. Let 1t
not be understood that | advise any one
to EN- CRATE to California but | am aware
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