Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-16
WHOLE NUMBER 1851.

as that over which we had already
passed, and the scenery much the
same, only that We were getting be-
yond the settlements and were wrap
ped in the sublimity Of almost entire
solitudc. Indeed, the emotions we
experienced, with but little Interrupt
tion, can scarcely b. described; con- |
tinuod blending OF the beautiful with
the solitary serene. Sometimes IL was
oppressiye-sometimes almost insup-
portable. We were favored with one
Of those days Of Autumn, peculiar 10
that region Of country. But there We
were. far. far. away from home, and
from every familiar object-oyer our
heads, q brilliant sun pouring his rays
through n cloudless sky, around us
one vast expanse Of rolling prairie,
bounded only by an interminable mil
ky haze. and not vistigc Of anima-
ton 70 relieve the eye, not q breath oil
air, nor u rustic Of the grass. nor even
a chirp OF the grass-hopper 10 break
in on the death-lkc silence. So great
was the sllllness thatthe trampling Of
Of the horses feet, when in their usa-
al trot, sounded Mt distance rs if the
earth was hollow beneath them; and
when standing. the pulsation Of their
hearts were distinctly audible. AT
such times we could scarcely resist the
momentary impression that we were
entirely cut of from the world, orr
rather that all animated nature, with
the exception Of ourselves. our faith
ful horses, and our lonely dog, had
retired, and we were left on this
wide world, SOLITARY and alone.
About 20 miles from 0sweka we
came to n wide scope of exceedingly
rich prairie aud heavy timbered bot
tom land, on Soldier creek. This.
however. is principally claimed by the
Pottawattome Indians. Travelling al
few miles on In tits reserve, we came
TO Pappan's Ferry; on the Kansas Riv-
er. where we crossed, and as II was
getting high time that we should turn
our faces honewards. we wended our
way back on the south side Of the riv-
er. but being anxious To reach the
white settlement that night. and deem
ing il safer 10 ferry, we concluded TO
cross as we did.
The country through which we pass
ed on the south side Of the river, isl
not generally so well timbered. nor so
rich as that on the north. This want
howoyee, is amply made up in rs su-
perior sites for towns. and consequent
ly the land is nearly all claimed.
We passed several town plats al.
ready laid of, and bidding fair TO be-
come places Of importance. The FIRST
was Tecumseh, seven miles below the
ferry. Il is laid off on an elevation en-
iirely above high.water mark, and de.
Tended from the encroachments Of the
river by n solid stone bank. The land
around lies beautifully and is Of very
good quality. About six miles farth-
err on, where we struck what is called
the South California road, is another
handsome site for an inland village.
But rs il is some distance from the
river. il twill probably never be large
place.
While passing point Of timber
near this place, we started large wolf
and could not resist the temptation Of
chase. Soon our dog. large and
noble hunter. was on his trail. and
leaving our span TO the care Of Mr..
s., we were soon in their wake. Mt the
top Of our speed. So buoyant had
we become by exercise aud that invig- !
Grating climate. that we skinned over
hill and dale scarcely aware Of the
distance we had passed. Sometimes
his wolfish majerty would turn upou
The dog, but whenever our form was
seen in the distance. be would take to
his runners again. We were favored
with the hunters luck, and We were
forced to plod our weary way back.
consolng ourselves that he was but a
,solf at any rate. and il we had caught
him, he could have done us no earth
ly good, We had, also the solace Of
being forced to travel nine miles, after
dark before We could find n resting
place, for the night The night was
very dark. but the road was good. and
frequently lighted up by the burning
priaries.-The effect Of these, howey-
er. was often to make the darkness
appalling. Atlength we arrived at the
house OF Mr.. Wakefield. the late Abo-
lition Candidate for Congress. We
were kindly treated, and comfortably
lodged. We will notice our host again
when we come to the slavery question.
Some 8 miles from Mr.. WIS. next
morning, we found ourselves on an ell
evated plain. commanding fair view
Of Lawrence city. and the surrounding
Yankee" or "Abolitionist" settle
ment, asiti is termed by the pro-slav-
cry men. The site Of the city is two
miles square, laid out on the most
southern bend Of the Kansas river,
and near the confluence Of Waharus-
sa Creek. The whole OF Waharrussa
Valley and much Of the surrounding
country has been surveyed by private
enterprise. and is already taken up.
the settlers entering into solemn aom-
pact to abide by that survey.
We have so frequently used the
terms, good, rich and beautiful that
they may now seem as O tautology,
} yet it is but verifying in detail, what
we made as general remark. thai
"Kansas is really a rich beautiful and
, rolling country" and we must still b
, allowed to say, that as viewed from
our standpoint. Lawrence, with thu
whole region around is ercmdingl!
beautiful, one Of the choice parts O
. the territory. On the north, lay III,
city. literally, al present, city Of tent
South aud east, stretched out th,
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