The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-09

-~s@-v7rp--zy-~
Letter Frem the Western Plains
TRAVEL ALONG TIE KANSAS RivHn AHD fHR0UdH
THE P0TAwATT0MIE MSSlON-RA R0AD0-
cHoLERA-RETURSING YMIaRANs-GREAT NvN-
BEERS OF TRAvELLERs-FRRILs AND PLEASURES OF
JOURNEY ACROSS TIN PLAINS.
From the St. Louis Republican July LIST
In CAMP, NEAR FoRT KIAKkxY: May Path, 1850.
tho o nea 'n made ss Few yssrs ss eoS Sh.s
addressed you from "across the ocean" We Left
the farm Of Capt Parks, Chief Of the Shawnee In
dians, in the neghborhood Of Westport, on the 9th
instant, following up the south side Of the Kansas
river to Smiths Ferry, six miles below Uniontown
IAN Indian village and trading post,) crossing said
ferry. passing through the Potawattomie Mission,
and thence on the usual route to this point whore
we arrived late Saturday night, the I'D inst. 1t
commenced raining the day we started, and con-
tinued to rain almost every day until we arrived
here, not only making the roads heavy and bad, but
everything gloomy and dissagreeable. But we
had fine grass for our animals the whole way,
the rains helping it to grow amazingly, until we in
terseoted the st. Joseph road. The regions Of the
Little and Big Sandy and the Little Blue, were ale
most destitute Of grass, miserable country, and
trying to stock so early in the season. Being very
lightly loaded. and having a little grain, we came
on finely When we intersected the st. Joseph
road, We met some st. Louis friends who left St.
Joseph on the same day we left Westport. They
reported most terrible roads and cholera From all
can learn, the Kansas, or Westport, route is the
best. Fort Leavenworth would be the best if sup.
plies could be had there The distance is about the
same. Provisions were just about as cheap at Kan
sas and Westport as in st. Louis. Corn and oats
soc per bushe, and mules 20 per cent cheaper than
st Louis. am satisfied it is great mistake to
start from st. Joseph. The difficulties Of crossing
the river at that point with resh unbIoken teams,
and that terrible bottom TO be crossed before reach
ing the prairies, equal to fifty miles additional
distance through the beautiful country along the
Kansas river.
After intersecting the St Joseph road we met
several parties returning with jadod teams and
patched up wagons, looking downoast and sorrowful.
They had started early, had made insufficient pro-
vision for the journey, had poughed their way through
the rain and mud, had lost some of their teams,
broken their wagons, buried some Of their numbers,
and were now trying to work their way back 1t is
great undertaking TO cross the plains to California
or Oregon, and Notwithstanding the experience OF
former years, thousands start off as though it were
journey of week through an inhabited country,
lily prepared with means mental resources for the
long trip through the wilderness, inhabited by
thievlng savage tribes Being lily prepared, they
encounter accidents and misorIunes they lose their
property, they become dissatisfied with themselves
and each other, they quarrel and ight-and instead
of lettering their fortunes they impair them, and
end their journey with loss, disappointment and dis
gust
The emigration is tremendous Up to to-day,
here have passed this fort S, ia men, 2S5 women,
l,776 children, 1888 horses, 2,2l6 mules, % 1863
oxen and cows, 1854 wagons, 500 sheep, together
with hog and hand cart. We see people travel
ling III all sorts of ways. Ok teams are most hume
rous, and travel up fast as horses and mules the
rainy, cold weather favoring the cattle. noticed
some very genteel looking young men driving
oxen with long whips, whose erect carriage and
fleet walk showed them bred in different calling
1t is trip which tries mans mette as we'll as his
aptitude. To perform it successfully, man must
make drudge of himself, n very niger, to cook,
wash dishes, take of the mules and oxen, stand
guard nights, wade sloughs, sleep in wet clothes,
eat like pig, and kennel like dog. The difficult
ties and annoyances of the trip are legion. While
! am writing see young physician OF st. Louis,
holding the bit OF an obstreperous mule in one
hand and dirty dish-cloth in the other, having
gone in haste from his dish to kick sdevilish mule -
But notwithstanding the difficulties. there is much
pleasure. The change of habit, the change of APP
petite, the free and pure air. all contribute to health
There is something sublime and grand in the new
objects of nature which meet eyes and press on
our senses.
No mountains bound our vision by day no dwell
ing encloses us by night the storm drives its
course along, the Lightning CLEANS In our facet the
loud, sharp thunder ali around us and we feel
that we have exchanged the luxuries Of easy living
in the city for the rougher realities of life amid the
wilds OF nature-near the presence Of God. 1t is
well thus sometimes to stand amid the grander ex-
hbitons of nature, wild and fearful though they be-
The country we have crossed is principally prairie
We could see the road for miles ahead, showing
one continuous line of covered wagons, while every
rayne was filled with tents, and every bluff covered
with ocks of sheep, OF droves of cattle. The bulk
OF the emigration is behind us. Thousands are
passing along the north side of the Platte 1t is be-
eved the emigration will be equal to that OF 1919
II one wishes to know how States are to be made OIL
our Pacific coast let him travel this overland route
and he will see for himself. The settlement of Ca
lIiorna and Oregon has no parallel in history.
Thirty years ago, n stream of population poured
across the AIeghanies, and spread out in the capa
cious valley of the Mississippi, increasing year BY
year, until now rich and fourshing States have
grown up in the bosom of the wilderness. 1t was
an exhibition progress that astonished the world
Thnx .f r.
able story when it shall record the settlement of the
rich domain on our western coast, where State is
born in day, and grown to manhood in a year.
Fort kearney is a sort of one-horse affair stuck
long distance from wood and every other comfort,
the site of which could only have been selected by
some person who did not know what he was doing
But we have been handsomely treated by the officers
OF the fort Captain Wharton is q very obliging
gentleman wide awake to redress grievances 50 far
as 1t is in his power, and accommodating to all.
We were so happy as to find some old and esteemed
friends here, connected with the post. We arrived
too late for church service on Sunday morning; but
the chaplain, Rev. M. Depui, being informed
that there was a number here from st. Louis,
preached especially for US, in the afternoon, most
appropriate and beautiful discourse. We will long
remember our pleasant visit of three days at Fort
kearney, where we have been treated most kindly
and Hospitality.
If had time could write you of some Indian
Expectations. of some murders, of men lost on
fortunes from attack Of cholera down to the kick
of mule, but it is late at night, and we start in
the morning on our way. We hope to find better
roads-to see some bufaloes, and expect to find
the boy ''who struck Billy Patterson"
MURDERED BY A MANTAc.-A correspondent Of
the Detroit Tribune, writes from Almont, July Cd,
as follows:-One of the most outrageous scenes oc
CURED here, to. day, ever witnessed. A man By
the name of Wesley Hubert, who for some time has
been laboring under slight m entail arrangement,
and who has been imprisoned Of late in the county
jail for an assault upon one of his neighbors, had
but just returned, when he again commenced his Mt
tacks by threatening to shoot several Of his neigh
bors. warrant was procured for his arrest, when
the constable, with posse of men, repaired to his
residence. On arriving there and demanding him
to surrender, he prepared to defend himself by tax.
ing one OF two pistols and musket, repaired to the
nlnI Il lnr Lc.Ia IL