Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-11-06
For the Freeman.
For the Freeman.
Extracts from the Journal OF
Afr'. Aa'c'G ~ Shoemaker. sCho sOent to Cal
gernia by The Overland Route.
LETTER VIII,
July 9th, 1852.

ed oy spring Of cold water issuing out of
the rocks. Here we left Goose Creek on
which we travelled ls miles. Descended into
valley this evening, where we found good
water, and plenty of grass by driving the
stock over the bluffs. Have travelled 5 miles
to-day in Warm Spring Valley; the best of
roads. but warm and dusty-water slightly
tinctured with Alkall The okaw Rangers
from Illinois, have been in company with us
a number of days, and are camped tonight
near by.
July llth. Sunday rained last night and
this morning, something unusual at this time
of the year, and the day continues cloudy and
co9L Passed Boiling Springs this morning.
water so hot that could not bear my hand
in it. They are at the left of the road, and
we saw them at some distance, by the smoke
and steam rising from them. They boil up
in many places, ard folm The head
of the stream on which we camped last
night. A few miles farther we left the val
ley, and entered canon, where we have
camPed for noon. Travelling and good health,
give US excellent appetites, which we're well
sstiated by a dinner of biscuit, dried beef,
coffee. apple pie, &c. This does not look
much like the suffering, which many of our
friends predicted before we left home Ira
veled six miles this afternoon over ridge of
the mountains, and camped in valley, with
barren hills all around US. and mountains in
the distance, covered with snow; here we
found good water and grass
With the Okaw Rangers, Mr.. BARRIERS
Train, and several others camped SO near US,
it looks quite like Lilliputan village. We
are now among the Root Diggers. said to be
the most hostile of any tribe We have to pass.
July 18th Six miles after starting, we come
to little stream, on which we travelled one
mile. We then assembled the mountains, over
which We travelled miles, to the next valley,
where We again reacheG the little stream just
mentioned, and stopped for noon. There is
much poisonous water about here, and many
natural wells, the bottom of which cannot be
founG. The earth around for some distance
seems hollow, and shakes visibly in walking
over ii. The water is hardly tL to drink, the
poorest We nave had
We had a splendid rice pudding. ginger
bread and coffee tor dinner, and feel no in
cllnatlon now for the most sumptuous rePasL
Travelled eight miles this afternoon, over
good road, making in all over p miles TO-
day and camped on stream with good grass
July 18th. Nine miles after starting, we
reached Mary's, or Humbolt's river. which
rises out OF the ground-waler pure and
sweet. Soon after stopped for dinner. and
found the first grass since we started; also
wild wheat, rye and flax in abundance We
travelled % miles to-day.
July 18th. Crossed branch of the river
to-day, and camped on the Humbolt; and to-
night We baked biscuit and rice pudding for
to-morrow's dinner. There are several hot
springs Just across the river from us. One
deep and bos out of solid rock-the wa
Ter clear that it looks blue.
July 18th. Crossed the river four times
this forenoon, by raising our wagon boxes
By taking this 'cnt off, instead of going up
the mountains, We save a distance of 26
miles. We are camped again on the river
For the last few miles our road has been the
dustiest ever saw, blowing into our wagons
and covering us completely.
July 10th. Left the river for IL miles; ouI
road over the mountains very rocky found a
spring on the mountain top, almost in the
road, IL miles otter starting. STOPPED for noon
in canon just beyond-very little grass.
Mountain Hare are large and plenty here,
and we have them often. Extremely rockey,
and dWtM dusty, this afternoonl Crossed the
river, and camped for the night.
July 18th. Rode on horse back this morn
ing, and assembled a high mountain about IL
O'Clock, and stopped soon after on the river
for dinner. Here We made bower of willow
bushes, and spread blankets over them, in
which we passed the time comfortably, till
the wagons came up. We intended to make
short drive, but were obliged to make a
very long one, there being so many slou CHS,
and SO miry the river, that we could not get
to it for water Where we are camped, it is
not much better-water bad, and some of our
horses mired Immediately after stopping. We
have come 25 miles to-day.
July 18th. Another Sabbath has again Wis
tied US on this long journey. We have made
by drives lately, and are resting this afternoon
and our quiet camp indicates that repose is
agreeble to all.
We are travelling on the north side Of the
river, and find difficulty in getting to it for
water, sometimes for many miles together
This whole valley orerhows early in the sea-
son, and many parts are still wet and miry.-
The valley of the tIumbolt is wide-the river
not large, and very winding, its banks covered
with willow bushes of large size, and SO
thick as to be impenetrable to the eye.
Here the willy Indian conceals himself, and
from these dark thickets. his well aimed al
row has sent many lone traveller to his last
home. Yesterday a man from a camp near
US, went over the bluffs in search Of some
missing horses, and his body was soon after
found pierced with arrows, the points OF which
are made of flint, and remain in the flesh af-
ter the woody part is extracted.
These Indians do not show themselves
friendly, by coming about the camp, and we
have seen but one of them yet. They have
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