Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-10-23
For the Freeman.
Extracts from the Journal OF
Affa Lucia M Shoemaker, avko weat TO Cal
ifornia By the Overland ROtte.

yorsia ty the Overland Route.
LETTER v.
@ June llth, 1882.
DEAR PARRNrs:-To-day passed Alkaki
creek. and have travelled 22miles. over beau
tifuf country aud fine roads. CamPed on the
firss stream Of good water since we leit the
Platte, near Willow Springs. We find many
companies camped here were tired and hun
Vry-have made and excellent though late
supper. of xenison, corn pancakes. and coffee.
June 18th. Morning delightful Rode on
horseback all This forenOon-ascended Pros
peet hill where we had splendid view ofthe
Sweet Water Mountains, which are white
with snow,
We stopped On hour in a lovely green val
aey, and rested ourselves on the banks Of
small chrystal stream. busted myself in
gathering from its bed, curious stones and
shells ls-Aowers from the velvet grass, and
moss from the side of the mountain; and
with those built grotto. to commemorate
our yisit. and then left the place with regret;
following down the stream for several miles,
where We met our train. and stopped for din
neE We are now six miles from Saleratus
lake. and eight from Independence Rock
Roads sandy; grass poor, and no fuel but
wild sage. Alkali springs most ofthe way
land swampy. aud water poisonous. Camped
90 night on the Sweet Water, near the lake,
from which the boys are gathering saleratus
The grass here is fine our teams are tired
and hungry.
June 18th. Sabbath day George w. Wood,
OF Milan, O.. an esteemed member of our
company. has been very sick during the nigh.
--and they say he is still growing worsel-
We had hoped to escape all further signs of
.cl5olera-but this fatal disease is still in our
midst; and we are awaiting the result of his
sickness with fearful anxiety. Last evening
he visited Independence Rock, and last even
ing I eonversed with him Of It's wonderful
structure and magnitude.
10 e'cleek, H. m. Mr.. Wood is dead l-and
my feelings are such as have no power to
express The loss Of human life under any
-citcusnstances Is fearful thing! But TO suf-
1sr pain 1he most agonlzing iur a few short
hoHse. and then die ia this desol,lte country,
40 Tar from all that is dear to the heart, is
terrible in the extreme But such is life and
wecaa only weep for the departed tears
stears Of uuavaihng regret. that one so young.
so light t-hesrtrd. and SO much beloved, is for
ever taken from ns-to sleep The sleep that
knows no waking. Ere.this. his spirit is doubt
less hulding commanion with his angel wife,
who some time since, exchanged MORTAL for
and immortal hfe-and We trust that, free
from earthly ills, they may enjoy 10 Heaven
that perfect bliss, denied us ,here.
With silent step and slow, we laid him to
reston the beautiful green banks ofthe Sweet
Water, and having performed this last sad
rlle 20 The dead, we proceeded on ur,ioarn.
cyl But We shall miss theeye that ever met
us with sinile-and the voice which, in our
ssaddess moments, could always inspire US with
animation.
Soon after starting we reached Independence
Rock tothe left Of the road. Ii is 600 yards
long and I2o wide; composed Of granite and
.hinL The sun shone very warmly, and my
feelings were SO everceme BY the sad events
Uf the Gay, that i resisted my strong iacliua.
Hy
and expressed themselves highly gratiied-
One mile above we crossed the river on a.raft,
paying for dhe use Of it so cents per wagon.
Travelled about Iour miles farther and camp
ed On the river, Mild sage 10 abundance,
arOMing in bunohes fikescurFent bushes-the
tops tinv green leaves. and the body from one
TO SIX inches in characteristics whrn dry and
large, makes good tire. Ths shrub is the
only kind Of vegetation for hundreds of miles,
without which u would be impossible to cross
.the plains.
June a. Rode on horse back this pleasant
morning. and visited DEVILS Gate, another OF
.naaurcs noble structures. We followed the
banks Of the river. TO where il flows through
the gate, between perpendicular rocks 400
feel high, and not more than 90 feet apart,
where is .daShes over the rocks with roaring
sound. Ne then retraced our steps TO the
south aide, where We found quite steep and
difficult ascent; but by jumping from rock to
rock. and occasionally stopping to rest, we
managed after an hours walk, to reach the
highest point which is called the Gate-post
This is where lheirocks are on either side the
highest and come nearest together II made
ame quite dizzy, to look down into the abyss
below where the river does not look but a
lew feet wide. From here we could see the
Sweet Water, with all its windings, which are
many. and is without exception the most beau
tiful stream ] have Jet seen. Its banks are
covered with short green grass, without
shrub or tree of any kind. AS general
thing, the river and banks are upon the same
level; and at no place which have noticed, is
ahere more than hundred yards Without a
graceful curve, or sudden bend / could not
be satisfied with this view, SO limited was our
time. A hundred times | wished any friends
At home could see it, for no one can have a
very correct idea, without beholding it. Al
Enough believe 10 'gising the Devil his due.''
according to the old maxim, yet 4ind While
standing At his Gate-post, the words grand
5ofty! sublme-wild--terrii convey but an
imperfect idea of his dominions herei
Crossed Saue creek and CANNED on tbe