The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-08-08

SATURDAY, May 27th.-Campcu iast pignt
upon tho open plan---no wood nor water and
but little grass for our cattle nearly all day we
have boon without water, excepting what wo
could dip from the pud Hes. Some heavy |
thunder storms to day. A prairie storm is
grand and sublime sight. the thunders rattle
the lightnings fash, the bowling gale and tho
mournful sighing music of tho wind as 1t
sweeps through tho tall grass, then the dark
columns of rain as it dcsconds from the clouds
resembling ia the distance an immense pllo
blue earth storm can be seen twenty or
thirty miles. and the dense columns OF rain
are seen to change every moment as It comes
rolling and rushing on toward you, the thunder
and Lightning far in advance leaving dark
streak showing the pathway of the storm. IL
is grand and sublime, frequently the storm ana
wind Is so fierce we have to tie our wagons to-
ge,her side BY side TO prevent them from blo-
ing over aud lay ourselves on our faces until
tho storm ceascs Tho lightningi i- most vivid,
the rain most denze and the thunder making
the whole plain .renble and Jar.
MoyDAY, May 29,h-Au early start this
morniny-thunder storms and hot sun most ot
tho day. Or trail has been along the banks
of the Platte, which is from one to one and a
half miles in width, full of bars and islands.
with some timber along its shores; innumera-
bio musquetos Disputed our path. Killed an
Antelope and made a fine feast from him, cam
ned on the Loupe Fork of tho Plato. This
is a wide shallow stream resembling tho Platte
except in size. A narrow skirt OF timber
on each side tolls tho weary enigrant, when
many miles distant that there he will find
wood. wator and resting place, and it does
seem good after travelling all day without see-
ING an object Of any kind that casts shade on
the sun scorched plains 10 know that yonder
green clouds close under the horizon are trees
green and shady, which are welcomed as
friend and when beneath their shade, you look
above into the foliage, it seems as though you
could not look enough, for here they tell us,
is the last shade we will SEQ FOR long distance.
I tried fishing in the turbid waters Of the Loupe,
bot the only bites got weie from mnsqpetos'
not wishing to make bai. of my valuable car
case adjourned to tho camp
TUESDAY. May 3oth.-Crossed the Loupc, a
good ferry at this point; fare three dollars an
| individual for crossing, and then we were land
ed in the middle Of the river. and by wadeing
managed to reach "tod er side Of Jordan'-
Passed long train of emigrants mostly Nor
mons. Had cold bite of Elk for dinner
Canped this evening beside n mudpuddle, gath
cred Buffalo chips and cooked supper. Shot
n buzzsri, dressed and tried to boil it, but the
moro IL boiledthe tougher it got and come to
| the concusIuu ursJ "Uuid -. --.'.> ua-r
good soup.
Found two emgrants graves near our camp
We pas. graves nearly every day. mostly died
las, vear of cholera What a sad thought tn
contemplate? 80 many lying beneath tho sd
on these lonely plains; what must DO tho feel
inrs of friends as ihcy lay loved ono n n prai-
rio grave; they leave him alone in that solitary
place-the wolves howl his roquium, and the
| wild winds SIGH q funeral hymn. One year
and no one passes that grave. the grass waves
tall and green Ger it, somo weary emigrants
camp beside it and reads upon tho board a
rule inscription. and wonders if ho too will
be laid in prairie grave.
WEDNESDAY. May 3lst--Campod on the sand
thirty miles from any place. Not any wood,
water nor anything. mover saw such des'
olate looking spot. Nothing to write tonight.
THURSDAY. June lst.-Passod a company of
! omirrants to day, who had been attacked by
, tho Indians, they had two mon and one lady
shot, Their wagons we're perfectly riddled with
bullets The Indians fought four hours and
fed taking thirty head of cattle and horses. :
: Two Indians were killed. They aro supposed
! TO bo party of Sioux on their return from the
) Pawnces. We have met Indians frequently
! on tho road. and have had no trouble with
5 them. wc generally give them something to eat
{ or some tobacco and they leave satisfied.
, FRIDAY. June I'd Last night tho wolves
l made stampede among some emigrants cat
] tic. who were camped near us. There were a
{ bout thousand in tho herd; and when they
+ came toward our camp. Thought IL was m,
last hours. II fearful sight to see STAN
r pede on the Plains and causes groat loss o
; cattle and not unfroquontly of lives. Tho cat
$ tlc seem perfectly crazy and rush on with al
! their might. running over and trampling eaci
# other under foot: nothing can stop ihem unit
d exhausted and they can run no more. Man.
:. things causes stampede. The Indians. tn
4 bowling of wolves and thunder storms will pu
o herd in motion. When an old veteran o.
n starts running the whole tribo follow snortint
o and believing like mad bulls. Cattle, horse
: and even some men appear TO parako OF tn
d strange wild character Of this country.
J. SATURDAY. June 3d-Camped abont four o
y clock beside an alispring. Saw large her
: of Buffalo, three of us started in pursuit; ou
d horses being unwilling to approach very near
% we let off our guns and revolvers, and had tn
8 satisfaction of killing one, which proved to b
o an old and tough individual, and wo could no
IS eat him. On returning to camp one of ou
70 company shot fno Antelope. which l think
,. much better than Buffalo, from which we mad
k a hearty feast of the choicest portions
ID wo find il necessary to use tartaric acid J
VI the water here, as it is so strongly mpregnate
n IL o