The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1854-12-06
CoUEcIL BLUFF, IowA,l
Nov. l3, 1854. I


Wednesday night, where we had the extreme
pleasure of sleePirg in chamber contain
ing ten beds all we'll filled, and so neat that
we did not think it advisable to take off any
thing more than our hats and boots. Here
we laid our weary limbs to rest on the out
side of the clothing and used my old cloak
for covering. In the morning, after poor
breakfast, we circulated through the city
a place OF about 1900 inhabitants, situated
on plain bounded on the west by the Des-
moine liver. The habitations are generally
made of logs, with few exceptions, one
was the Hotel where we put up. l called
into some of the stores which are small, and
was informed that it was a good place for
busness-that they had customers from
distance of fifty miles; and discovered by
the marks upon their goods (Which were in
fgures,0 that they made about one hundred
per cent To get goods however, they have
to haul them in OK teams about 200 miles.
The place is blest with good share of the
chill fever, and fever and ague.
About noon, we started on our journey,
and arrived that evening at WInterset, a
small log-cabin town, where we had bed
that was halfway decent; but when you
come to eating, language is Inadequate to
give ou a description. My friend Russell
DAVIS says it was like the Fusion party in
Ohio, congIomerated mixture of the fag-
ends Of every thing mean. Next morning,
we left about 7 A. NJ. and rode over prai-
re which might be called rolling, for %
miles, without seeing a tree or shrub, or
any thing else bat prairie and two elk at
distance, when we arrived at the habta-
ton of Mr.. Hallowell, a small log shanty.
Here we took dinner and changed horses
We then rode 25 miles further to the next
station, over similar country without hav-
ing seen either house or tree.
1t was now dark, but as the little log
shanty and its inmates presented no very in
vting appearance, we thought we could not
/ fare worse, to ride l6 miles farther and then
take supper; so we piled into the stage Is
men and LADY, and started. After proceed
ing few rods, we came to creek, when
the driver informed US it would be necessa-
ry to get out as he was afraid the stage would
upset. We unloaded in the ain, and STEP
ped on to raft and from thence walked d
rail to the shore. The coach got through
!, safely and onward We moved; when the vino
commenced blowing and put out the lamps
soon after whch,our driver stopped his horses
and informed US that he had lost the road
The lamps were again lighted and he start
ed with one of them to find the path, while
we took the other inside to make the stage
look more cheerful; and for fear the hosses
would start, my friend, Russell Davis volun-
, teered his services to hold them, and did 50
for half an hour, the rain all the time pour
ing down, and the wind blowing perfect
gale. The driver not making his appear
ance, we made the prairie ring with our
shouts SO that he might know where to find
the stage. The noise soon brought the land
lord Of the shanty to see what was the mat
ter. The driver about this time also made
his appearance and reported that he could
= not find the road, and would not undertake
to drive the stage back to the shanty for fea!
that he would upset. He therefore conclu-
ded to take off the horses and wait until the
moon rose which would be about o'clock
: As we knew we should get wet to the skin
if we attempted to walk back, we concluded
to remain in the stage until the moon would
make her appearance, except three who
started for the house and in attempting tc
cross the stream one of them went in head
over heels, and had good time getting dry
by the cabin fire. The rest OF us waited in
r the stage very patiently. About midnight
the rain changed to snow and it grew so cold
that sleep or rest was out of the question
At A. NJ, Russell Davis and myself start
ed to find the shanty. On entering we fount
eigteen or twenty persons Of every age ant
size stretched on the floor sleeping, and oul
fellow passengers standing by the fire drying
their garments. About o clock we renew
ed our journey and arrived about A. M. a
another shanty where we changed horses
and had what they called breakfast
After partaking Of this rich repast We
proceeded on,and arrived at Ivanistan towr
in Cass county of perhaps twenty inhabit
ants, where we dined. The dinner was some
better than our breakfast. We travelled II
miles farther and stopped over night where
we had something clean to eat and gooc
: bed, and after breakfast started for, ant
reached Council BluG at P. M, Saturday
This town contains about 100 Log cabins
in size from by 8 to IL by 90; some GOV
cred with straw, some with turf, a few will
cotton, say five or six small frame, and fou
Brick, among which number is the Pacific
where the writer has been sojourning sine
Saturday. About five miles from this plac
west, stands the city of Omaha, in Nebraska
We visited ii this forenoon. 1t is on lev
, ell ground about five feet above the river
with sand bar formed in front; but pre-
sumo that boats may get up when the rive
is high. Back from the river about on
fourth of mile, the ground rises gradual
' into something of hill. which is calle
skol q, 80 =