Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-05-31
Correspondents of the Missouri Democrat.
From Kansas
WOLF RIVER, KANSAS TERRITORY, !

Wolf RIVER, KANSAS TERRITORY, !
May 18, 1855.
The extreme drouth which has retarded
and almost destroyed vegetation in the forests
and upon the plains, and dried up many
copious streams, and made the country heart
sick with dependency, has at last been
brought to an end by abundant rains. Eve
rything again looks new ana fresh, and life
like. The rivIIlets have resumed their won't
ed courses, the grass is growing with Its
usual luxurance, and the corn is springing ND
with vigor and rapidity that gladdens the
eye.
For the last two DAYS the wind has blown
from the southeast, bringing together va
grant clouds that were wandering fleecily
around the skies, and which, gathering into
masses over us, begun a noisy warfare that
continued through the two Understanding
in the day--and gave us lightning and thun-
der, and rain enough to startle nature from
its lethargic sultriness, and to refresh and
make it vocal. The eartn is green, the sky
clear, the atmosphere pure, the birds more
musical, and the human cOuntenance all IA
diant with satisfaction.
We may now look confidently for high
water in the rivers. The report which Col.
Vaughan brought from the mountains, that
there was no snow aud that we should have
no rise, is fortunately slightly incorrect. Old
Picott got in yesterday from the Great Chief
Mountains, three thousand miles above St
Louis, and more than thousand miles above
the point where Col Vaughan passed the
winter, and he says there is as much snow as
ever in those mountains, and that our June
rise will be inevitable
These mountains consist of several stupen-
dous ranges, dividing the head waters of the
Columbia and Missouri rivers and Hudson
bay, and are covered with eternal SHOWS from
five to fifty feet in depth. AS the southern
breezes reach them in the spring, they yield
from imperceptlble thawings, sufficient water
t. fill the rivers from their sources to their
mouths. From their huge proportions and
towering >zevations they are STYLED pie Big
Chief Mountains"
Where Picott lives, it is only fifteen
minutes walk fOm the Missouri to the Col
umba.
The Blackfeet Indians occupy that coun-
try. They are wild and warlike, and are con-
stantly engaged in predatory excursions against
the Sioux aid other bordering tribes. They
are great hunters and kill thousands of buffa-
10 during the winter Picott has &c, 600 robes.
He says the buffalo of the mountains differ
from those of the plains; that it is larger and
more shaggy and ferocious; that there is the
excitement of adventurous daring in hunting
them, and he who is successful must have a
bold heart, deadly aim, and mastery horse
manship.
The multitudes of these animals are incon-
ceivable. More than a hundred thousand
are annually slain; hundred thousand more
perish in the SHOWS and rivers, and vet there
is no apparent diminution in their numbers.
Some fifty or sixty thousand robes will be
brought down the Missouri this spring
As Picott came through the Sioux country
he found those tribes all talking about the war
which they were expecting TO have with the
United States. They were moving in large
numbers down towards Laramie.
This confirms the report of Mitchell, Robi-
dour and Wlscamp, who come in few DAYS
since from the mountains beyond Fort Lara
ME, and told me that they come upon bands,
numbering some thousand warriors, at Ash
ilollow-that place of fear and drea,l to the
emigrants. They were treated kindly BY
them. In speaking of the anticipated diff
Guilty, they said they desired relations of amity
to exist between them and their great fathers
at Washington, and that their object in assem-
bling was to effect q treaty of peace if they
could, or to defend themselves if they must.
Col. Cook left Fort Leavenworth on the
10Th inst for Fort Laramie, with two detach-
ments-one of infantry and one of cavalry
He will reach Ash Hollow early next month,
and we shall get news of the result by the
25th We cannot hope it will be treaty of
enduring peace,
The excitement at Leavenworth CITY still
continues. Mr.. Philips, the partner of Nc
Crea, who killed Clark, had been absent some
time in obedience to an order from the peo-
pie of that city, but returned the other dav,
and was seized and locked up and threat
ened with tar and feathers first, and death af-
forwards, unless he left forever. Upon his
peremptory and positive refusal to do so, he
was yesterday taken to Weston, Missouri,
stripped, tarred and feathered, his face black
ed, and rode upon a rail through the princi-
pal streets.
! am glad to say for the people of Weston,
that they did not sanction this course, and
had no participation in it,
An eyewitness told me that Phillips was
calm and firm through all this ordeal, and
still declared that he would live in Leaven-
worth until it suited him to leave. He posi-
lively denied having given the pistol TO Nc
Crea to shoot Clark He said he was no
Abolitonist, but Freesoiler; that he was in
favor of Kansas being free State, and would
vote to make it so. Be he abolitionist or not
one thing is certain, and that is, he is re
markably resoute man. do not pretend to
be able to form conclusion as to how these
PROCEEDINGS will terminate
The election for those precincts in which
the first election was declared void, is to take
place on the 22d instant-next Tuesday. II
creates no excitement indeed, it is not men,
toned. 1t will pass quietly by, go as it may
AT the meeting of the Legislature, those who
were first elected, as well rs those who will
now get their certificates, will present them
selves and claim seats and the Legislature
will decide who are entitled. We NAV form
some idea how that will go. will, how
ever, be among them, taking notes.
Yours, IBID.