Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-09

"
are much interested in either.
Now the way we came and how we
got here, &C., &c.:
AS wrote you from Fl. Laramie. we
left the Missouri River on the 10Th o
May, came on Ia wagons in company;
followed up the north side of Platte ant
the usual route TO junction of Sal, Lake
road. There instead of taking Subliu's
cutoff across the SO mile desert to Green
river 10 Salt Lake road 80 miles to June
ton of Kinney's cutoff; took it crossed
Green river and ir,ersecIed before get
ting to Hams Fork of same; thence old
Route TO Soda springs on Bear River and
to the junction of the Oregon and Cali.
foinia roads. Now | started for Rogue
river valley, Oregon, and it was evident
from The geography of the country iha,
1t was 300 miles nearer to that part oil
Oregon by the southern Route or the
Aftegate route than by the northern route
to Oregon City. Sol resolved to take
the nearest shoot, hit-or miss; believeing
| could go where any one else could;
thence California road TO junction Las
sin route on Humboldt. There we took
The Iassin route to California, as far as
Goose Lake, crossing that terrible des-
ert about which SO much fuss has been
made since'49; we continued the APPLE
| gate route north west to Klamoth Lake.
There were Ia wagons ahead of US on
this route, and at Klamoth Lake they
took the left, leaving the Oregon road,
passing between Shasta Butte and Sheep
Rock, striking the head Of Shasta valley
passing down to Wyreka the county
seat of the northern county in California.
We concluded to take look at that
country too, and followed their trail
We travelled about 20 miles on, Of our
way in coming here and had worse
road, but we got to satisfy ourselves with
the country IN northern California;
Many who took the northern road 6y
Oregon City for this valley, have not
got in yet. Two or three wagons got
in day or two ago. .-...
AS to crossing the Plains it is no hard
ship for me. would do 1t once a year
for ten years if it were profitable. len
Ijoyed myself better than | could have
done in Iowa; although performed the
most laborious part, viz: Grass hunter,
camp,locater and general guide and di-
| rector for the company. Performed the
trip on mule back and necessarily had
to ride several miles farther than the not
ed "Ottuns,oa Iot0a Horse Irain."--
Travelled most every day. / got into
that station from necessity-to save my
own stock, for there was no one else To
do 1t that seemed to give any sa,isfac-
lion. Whether | did or not | don't
know nor care, they neger complained
to me. The Train hung together thro'
10 Wyreka, the only one know of do
ing so on the plains this season. do
not think however it was on account OF
any particular pains that was taken to
keep them together; nor any particular
LOVE for each other; but some like sheep
herded in for fear of danger--while 9th
ers drone like, chimed in with the noise
ahead, indifferent TO all else. Stunning
our company all up they would make a
very good average, for we had some as
good ones and some as mean ones as
could be scared up on the plains; all
good enough in their places, but the
Plains don't suit them.
The higgins" We had no trouble
with them on the trip, nor lost anything
for we guarded our stock every night
from the Mo. River to Wyreks. Some
companies lost nearly their whole train
of animals by not guarding, You will no
doubt see accounts in The papers. of the
great difficulties between the emigrants
on our route and the Modock Indians;
situated at lula Lake the sink of Lost
River, 20 miles below the natural bridge.
They had committed some depredations
onathose that proceeded us day or two,
by killing few scattering men and giving
hard battle 10 the main Con. pany, wound
ing 2 or 3 of them. A pack company
of 8 men IN our rear l or days, were
surrounded and killed, save one man.
An other train Of wagons were surround
ed by the Indians, some or 4 fine men
from Wyreka, who had went out to meet
the emigrants, were killed, but the train
was rescued by Ben Wright, celebral-
ed Indian fighter and his party of whites
and Shasta Indians. Ben pitched in,
shot down some lS or 30 Modocks, pur-
sued the army through The Tulas to the
Lake where they took canoes, and then
he raked them from stein 10 bow. Ca.
noes upsetting, squaws and papooses
floating abou. in the Lake, and noted
Indian of Ben's party, named Seyill,
swan in and commenced war of ex-
termination. Caught every squaw and
papoose he could get sight OF, put them
under and hold them there until drowned.
They are still fighting them and will ex-
terminate them If possible. The Muir
docks are some 5 or 600 strong, and
have cave in rock butte, situated in
the centre of the marsh where they re-
treat TOO whenever pursued. The cave
is thought to be one mile in length, well
furnished with provisions, water and mu.
nilions of war of their kind. The en-
trance is small and cannot be passed on
account of The shower Of arrows let loose
by those devils that occupy that pit
| Ben Wright had them in there some two