New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-29
LIFE ON THE PLAINS.
of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The N. T. Tribune.
Fort LARAMIE, June %, 1857.
There is an immense emigration oE the Plains
this Summer, mostly from Missouri. Thousands
are leaving the States ~ find more genial climate
the Winters having been 80 cold lately. once
asked = MissOurian why he was going ~ California.
He replied "I be dog gone if III stay in country
"wsere the cold weather freezes the sbucts off the
"cattle's feet" The road is filled With covered
wagons and stock 1t 10 estimated that 40, 600 head
Of cattle are on the road from Missouri alone. The
emigrants have anticipated some trouble with tho
Indians but have had none yet, SO far as have
learned One u FremOnts old '-soyageurs told
NE at Fort Kearney that the Cheyennss, Arapahoes
and Kiowas hSa formed league against tho whites,
and had large camp about sixty miles southWe't
from there He thought they would GET some Si
our scaps before We got through. as they are very
impscable and hostile. They have white girl
taken prisoner last Fall, when Rabbit was killed
They have cut the snews her wrists 50 she HIS no
u.e Of her hands, and they treat her with horrible
cruelty. l understand that the soldiers who lately
came up under Colonel Sumner (who is bully VI the
woods here) intend to pitch into their camp before
hong. May they do better than they did a. A'A
Hollow last season
III. Pawpees had fight with the Cheyennes not
long ago. They went to steal horses, but got nine
of their own humber killed. We passed through
some awful hail and thunder storms on the fiatte
River. Old rangers say it is famoas place for
such. We have seen several small droyes Of bui'
falo. and antevpes In abundance. Wolves are
plenty. We scarcely leave our camp Id the morn
inc before they are in TO what they can get TO
eat. have seen several graves that were robbed
by the wolves, with human bones scattered around.
cot o,t from camp one night and it was not very
conf, rtable to hear the wolves howl and to think
tSat was 10 the country of the dreaded Cheyennes.
But finally arrived safe at the camp about mid
night.
A grand joke came off one night when we were
eaIpped in the Valley of the Platte. Our tram con-
,ists of thirteen wagons, men, women children and
stock. The wagons are driven into kind OF circle
called "currelle making sort Of defense IN cAse
of an attack by Indians. We take turns in stand.
ing guard. The orders are not to fire at any animal
while on guard. If an Indian is seen crawling on
his belly, fire at him. If person is advancing IN an
upright position, hail him once, and if be does not
answer ~, fire, which will arouse the camp A
| PATHFINDER was On guard. About 3 in the morning
| be saw something coming Who comes there !"
| SAWS Pat. No answer. " An yer a gntlemn yell
say T." said he, and blazed away. The camp
| was alive in an instant, and Pat came running 10
| with. "IpgiDs be the howly mother. I've pep
| nrr'd him. the blasted murdern' Shan (Cheyenne)."
tnrned out that 10 the darkness he had taken very
reverend looking mule " be al Indian and lodged
| bucl shot in bis nose.
We have met several large Mormon trains from
| Salt Lake. They are called apostates by the
:. Fahbful" and are leaving because they have
grown ,ick Of Mormonism. They report hard times
vt Salt Lake and say many more would leave if
they could. They say they are afraid of the soldiers
and confirm Judge Drummond's letter in full brig
ham Young has certainly left probably to hns ma
new sno for his yet faithful fOck; and, IN MS OWL
classic language the apOstates may 60 TO III iol
what he cares 1t certainly looks like breaking ny
Of Mormopisn in the United States. great many
th;nk TINT Young has gone to buy an island 10 thu
Pn1ifc Ocean, where they can follow up their sun
eular customs undsturbed by Gentes aud out OF th'
jurisdiction of any nation.