Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-04-03
Correspondence of the Enquirer.
FROM THE WEST.

TULIP, Dallas Co., Ark, Feby 1886.
My dear ENoufRER.-Havinga an hour of leisure
at my disposal, propose to resume the narrative
of our trip to the Great West-taking itup, where
left it off in my last, at Memphis, or rather, on
the west bank of the Mississippi.
On the morning of the 10th of December, we
struck our tents and took up the line of march
through the Mississippi Bottom" 40 miles in
width Doubt and dependency was visible on the
face of each of the company for we had heard
terrible accounts of the condition of the roads
through the bottom. Presently our fears we're to
the utmost realized. We came upon what should
have been plank-road, but which is really sad
curse upon the travelling community. One Chick
procured charter for the road, but he built such
miserable affair and committed such grievous
extortions upon travellers that, upon complaint
being made to the Legislature, he was called to
account and the charter was rescinded. On ap-
pearing before the Committee for trial and appeal
ing to them for "nothing but justice" the Chair
man replied, 81 think you had better not demand
so much for if but one half of what hear about
the road be true, Justice would demand that you
be hung" Good, thought I. The abominable
road has broken enough wagons and horses limbs
to pay for the plankng Of the Mississippi entire.
got my share of it, you may be sure; we had
not gone more than five miles when my carryall
broke down, and had to drag it several miles to
Marion C. H., and there pay FIVE prices to have it
mended.
By the way, let me tell you, if you ever travel
West of the Mississippi, you will find it necessary
to carry your purse in your hand. For the sight
of every man you must pay something. Every
forbade stream has o ferry, and, more than that
those that need them most have none. All the
clever good roads are turnpiked, and those almost
impossible, and at some seasons entirely so, are
left without any care whatever.
From Marion we travelled the next day to
Black Fish Lake-thirty miles from Memphis-a-
bout one mile west of which We camped. We had
yious days journey, but we literally knew moth
ing. About mile of plank-road gave US q start
next morning-and then down we dropped into
the mud, and came to 'the tug of war;" enough
to try the nerve of the strongest As far as the
eye could roach nothing was ahead but dismal
swamp-as our friend McALILY would say, "per-
feet sea Of mud" After council of war and
series of reconnoiterings, mounted my team and
led the caravan" The others followed, through
bayou and slough, over cypress, shrubs and cane;
frequently knee deep in mud, though mounted on
the back of mule At 9 o'clock it began to
rain and continued throughout the day, during
which we journeyed but eight miles. When night
came, We campcd in cane-brake.
Next morning we travelled four miles, and cross
ed the st. Francis River-40 miles from Memphis.
Near two miles east of st. Francis, We passed
beautiful, elevated piece of bottom-land, which is
rarely overAown, as level as floor and as rich as
land can be. On the west bank is superb farm
belonging to a Mr.. Allen. Two miles farther on,
is the pretticst farm ever saw in any country
belonging to Col. JONES' very pleasant and
agreeable gentleman hailing from Tennessee. We
then crossed Crawleys ridge, eight miles wide,
I'LL eACceuiiG'J ieiIiS ioho, eoiioio1
cred by ymany the garden-spot in Arkansas-rightly
too, think. The soil is much like those fine cot
ton lands of Fairfield in Carolina. We had now
about days travel of good roads, and hattered
ourselves that the worst of the journey was over.
The Mississippi bottom was the bug-bear-we
had heard no complaint Of any other portion and
MS we had passed that, we supposed our feet were
once more upon terra .Grma." But miserable
deluson it was.
Saturday night, December 22d, cold wind
blew from the North. Sunday the cold increased
all day, and by Monday morning ice had formed
three inches thick. We set out upon n dreadful
days work. The piercing cold wind was still
high and the large quantities of water already up
on the road were forming thick, ugly and dam
gerous masses of ice. Our mules would not read
lily venture upon it, and we were compelled to
mount two drivers 10 each team-one on the
"lead" with brush in hand to force the beast into
the mud holes. We had no chance to shun them.
About two o'clock it commenced showing thick,
fast and heavy. Presently we pitched tents, near
the house Of Col Patrick, whom We found to be