The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-08-08
oogREspoypEycE FROM NEBRASKA.
WooD RrvEa, NEBRASKA CEsrRE,
~ June 90, 1854.

| portions or my journal, as tnlnA may oo VI"
tercstng.
| MONDAY. Nav 22. Left Council Bluffs, cross
the Missouri Rver fifteen miles above at Win
ter Quarters. This is beautiful table on the
western bank of the River, and at no distant
day will be large place. Here once stood
Mormon City of seven thousand inhabitants
They built upon Indian lands, aud occupied
| il until Gosernment drove them away
Some went to the Valley Of Salt Lake whero
they founded that city, and tho remainder built
the city of Kanesve. or Council Bluffs, as it is
now called. The romans Of their buildings
ana improvements are still to be seen around
our camp tonight.
Anse Arnold, formerly of tho "Franklin Ho-
use" Coldwater. has erected an imposing log
house, in tho centre of this ancient city. You
we'll remember fat and jolly unco Anse. Here
| found him with several men at work making
farm; which is the only whito plantation here
at present. but learn many others will settle
near him this summer.
We are camped TO night with fifty Mormon
wagons on their way to Utah. L find some vo-
ry good people among them, Notwithstanding
the hard name they have abroad. oth
TUESDAY, 23i.--Our company consists OF
! threo wagons, twelve horses, seven mon and my
old mule "Rocky Mountain: mule is the
most perfect specimen of that lon, cared race
1 ever met with; kind and gentle at times, and
again as obstinate and contrary as possible
To-day has been warm and pleasant; the
country through which we have passed is roll
ing prairie, almost entirely destitute of timber
crossed the Papio, beautiful little stream
with green border of timber on either side
/ Canped tonight on the Elkhorn deep crook
cd stream, tributary to the Platte. it ia two hun
dred feet broad and would be navigable, were
it no; for its winnings. Some Indians visited,
us this evening, belonging to the Pawnees
We gave them some bread and told them to
pdckochee.
Il WEDNESDAY,, 2ith.--Crossed tho riser in a
scow-rouud many emgran,s on this side,
some going To California. to Oregon. md to
Kingdom Come, or Salt Lake. The tents and
: wagons among tho besutiful green trees re-
semblc large town, and IN the distance pre-
sents quite picturesque appearance. The la
dies on the Plains M Universally dress IN ''boom
err" we pass hundreds Of them daily, spme dri-
wing cattlo, some ,rulgng along barc-fo'ted
pckiug dowers and singing. seemngly as hap
M as il at their comfortable homes in he
Statos; far moro social feelings are exhibited
among the people of wild camp tic tnau FDy
where else, person can become acquainted
in few nutes, where il would take months
! in different life.
We are now upon tho Plains so celebrated
, by California and Oregon emigranrs. On this
\ lonely wild prairea score Of hardships and pri-
o yations have to DO undergone, which, to be
known must 30 endured. What these plains
, wcro made for do not know.what can be made
, of them cannot imagine; entirely Destitute oi
: timber. water poor and mostly saline or inn
;, prcenated with alkali, rendering it unhealthy
for man or cattle; the soil il Of tho richest kind
, deep and black, producing luxuriant grass
upon which herds of Buffalo. Antelope and
Elk feed.
THURSDAY. 25th.-Campcd last night thirty
f, miles from the Horn on tho Platte. Hero We
a found somo cottonwood and good sweet wate
l. from tho river 1t has been raining all day ant
we had an uncomfortable time, the rain pu
!, out our fire as fast as il was made. at last w
# gave il up ms a bad job and went to bed sup
o PEERLESS. Going to bod in this country is rath
:. or curious scene; each one takes hlanke
! and picks his own spot; lucky is the individu
i al who gets under wa ,on,. for there he cal
70 keen dry on ono sdo and dream tho other j
1T dry too, frequently no wakes in the mornin
l. and finds himself surrounded by watcr-hi
:, body made an island Of upon which millions @
,t musquetoes congregate in battle array. Tn
d musquetoes of the Platte Valley are a large an
e powerful race and present bills of nnusua
y - length which-you cannot protest they presen
thom and lioudate with your blood, some 9
,r tho largest easily pierce through your boots.
I'd FRIDAY, 26th.-One young individual In ou
70 company was much pleased with last nigh
- he is a pipe-st built human being, who ha
Vs. never before vcntered far away from his mott
IN er's lap, and consequently knows but little {
ig life on tho Plains. The young man whino
10 some when no found he could have no suppe
h. and much moro when he was told that ne coul
n. not sleep in the wagon ii 1 could only pictur
RS his looks as he tooh blanket and spread 1t
% = the mud, it would immortalize my name as tn
he egroatest Of living artists" Alas for poor Yol
* ick. he laid him down in his wet Prairie be
ne and we heard no more of him until near mic
''o night, when tl,e whole camp were aroused
on the most doleful yelping ever heard and Yo
I'd lex rushed in, his hair flying in the wind an
H. his coat tail sticking straight out behind. TT
"a poor fellow. suppose had seen some wolvc
NJ but persisted that five hundred Pawnees wo'
trying to take his scalp; We seized our fire. ara
and marched around tho correll; nothing can
VI to view except a few sneaking wolves--wo r
es turned to our blankets, somo cursing Yori'
no most soundIy. satisfied myself WITH a kin
to of gu,teral sound, something between gro
ed and erunt. Poor fellow! pity him, yet
os must laugh to soc with what bad grace he tax
ers everything, whether good or bad; our lodgin
no are not FIRST rate IL is true but still they ha
II 80 kaJe Tboro