Indiana American., 1855-02-23

sSe"e sa's Steeh oeePs eofeiihB oht
buggy, and the banhs very steep; but
the bottom was good AID we got over
with merely a little wetting. We then
followed trail about seven miles over
another high ridge Of land, and sud
denly came down some time after
dark upon Atchison City. While on
the hight wo had the pleasure Of wit
nessinga n prairie In the distance. on
fire at night. And well would we
have found ourselves repaid for the
toll and lonely tedium Of a night trip
in shat strange and unsettled land, had
we not been somewhat apprehensive
Of peering into It's Iealities ere we
reached our destination. On the dis
tant background, almost appallingiy
dark, were penciled out in the broad
and boundless lines. the lurid glare OF
the fire. while through the murky
smoke the rising halo loomed to the
very heavens. The intervening ridg-
es were all lighted up, and every
grove stood out in full view. Even
the rocks were quite visible.
Atchison City is one in embryo,
laid out by company, in a heavily
timbered bottom, and on the most
western point Of the Missouri River,
and at one Of It's most important eros
sings. is backed by an amphithea.
ter of bold projecting points. and has
the advantage OF agreat abundance
OF stone of an excellent quality. A
clear little rivulet, emptying just be-
low into the Missouri, almost sur
rounds 1t. There was sale Of lots
few days before we arrived, the lots
selling for from 00S 10 300s each. II
has one log store-house completed,
and two frame dwellings building.
The surrounding country though
mostly prairie, is good. There we
had the luxury Of spending cool fros-
ty night in a shanty. amid a host Of
laborers. The proprietor and family
seemed very civil and kind; but the
store was crowded oil night with gam
blers and ruflians from the other side
Of the river. This is one Of the hot
beds Of pro-Slaveryism.
Leaving Atchison, We passed over
much Of the same kind OF country as
before, with the exception that fro.
quently We found ourselves suddenly
on a high bluff bank. rising almost
perpendicularly from the waters edge
to the hight Of two hundred feet or
more, and commanding n fine view Of
the river many miles up and down.
We passed some rich alluyial bottoms,
some pieces Of land well timbercd,
and some portions Of upland praire
exceedingly rich and beautiful. This
was particularly the case where we
struck the California road, i2 miles
from FL. Leavenworth, and continuing
on to the Santa Fe road.
This is tho great highway between
TT. Leavenworth and Santa Fe, by
way Of TT. Riley, and is wide. deeply
worn and good. We took this road
seven miles from the fort, and directed
our course westward. up Kansas Riv-
or, and were constantly passing heavy
government trains with large mule
teams; also movers and traders in
abundance. The sides Of the road
the whole distance we travelled, were
often lined with the bones and skele-
tons Of oxen that had perished in their
travels.
This being Saturday, we halted
about 3 o'clock at the house OF tra-
der on Strange river. He had on In
dian store, large farm, ESQ yoke Of
oxen and q large number Of wagons,
which he kept for conveying govern
ment stores TO FL. Riley, New Mexico,
DC, and had large number Of men
in his employ. lie had had the good
fortune OF gaining n residence among
the Indians by marrying Kickapoo
wife. When we reached there he was
absent, drawing his wife's annuity
78s. The land along this stream is
really good and petty well timbered.
There is q coal mine near.
On Sabbath morning. hearing that
Methodist brother was TO preach
some FIVE or six miles of. we started
out in quest of the appointment. but
after several hours Of vain search, we
returned 10 head quarters, and at the
request of the family and several of
the young men, preached in the even
ing to good audience Of settlers, ira
ders aud Indians. Many Of the traders
had not heard n sermon for ten Of
twelve wears. At night large train
of gcyernmen wagons arrived, and
you nigh. have imagined yourself in
the midst Of military encampment
Indians by the score, with their tents,
fires. squaws, and pappooses, gather
ed for trading, the government team
sters, with their host Of mules, and
above all, swarms af hungry, yelping
dogs. There by the aid Of the red
mans yell, and the bowling response
of wolves on the neighboring bills,
kept up concert with the lowing Of
oxen and the vociferous braying of the
donkey. through the whole night.
On Monday morning, after press
ing invitation from our host to make
that part Of the country our residence,
we set out westward, over the same
kind Of beautiful rolling prairie, with
the exception of some high points that
were not so rich and even-more full
Of gravel than what we had passed
before. We passed only one resi-.
dence until we came upon the plot Of
Oswekee, "a miles from Ft. Leaven-
worth.
This is very handsome site for
town, on the Grasshopper river. all
laid out In lots. II was formerly a
govrnment station, furnished with
c....l... fo~ tho fraino Ii haa fvro