Mariposa Democrat., 1857-09-17
From the San joaquin Republican.
FROM THE SOUTH.
Arrival of the Overland mail.

ilbIii Duh ititHO anu LUIS <AbHtltS W tie Dll
and Santa Barbara to the Sd inst
| The first overland mail party arrived at Sal
Diego on the 3lst ut., bringing the mails tina
left San Antonio, Texas, on the 9th and 24tl
Of July. The whole time occupied in the tril
: was thirty eight days-traveling time thirty
: four days. Considering the facts that these
the pioneer parties, were hurried off wthou
! complete preparation, that they had no relay
of animals, and none of the facilities that vii
soon be placed upon the route, for rapid ant
, regular travelling we must look upon the tint
made as great triumph, demonstrating th'
practicability of an overland mail
The party of the 9th July, under the com
mand of james Il. Mason, was overtaken a
Crcncga, some distance this side of FL Paso
by the party Of the oath, under Capt. Jane,
Skillman The two parties then came on to
gether as far as the Pimo village, where Mr.
with a single company pushed on to Sar
Diego Mr.. Mason was compelled to procure
his animals as best he could, along the route
between San Antonio and El Paso Capt
Skiman was better provided for, and Travelled
the whole distance from San Antonio to Gre
mega, in an ambulance.
Mr. Mason informs the San Diego Herald
that he found an abundance of water along the
entire route. On the eighty mile desert between
Tucson and the Gila, water was found in three
or four places, in sufficient quantities to sup.
ply hundreds of animals.
Mr. Masons party saw no Indians after they
left FL Paso, and but few before that. Capt.
Skillman, however informed him that subse.
quent to his departure party of Lipans and
Mescalores attacked party of six men who
were proceeding to Fort Clark, with twenty
four mules for relays, between the two cross
ings Of the San Pedro or Devils river, in Tex
as, and killed one man, wounded another, and
possessed themselves of the entire band Of
animals, one of which, however, was subse-
quently recovered Had these mules reached
Fort Clark safely, so that they could have been
used for relays, Capt Skilman says he could
have made the trip to FL Paso in ten days,
which would have brought the mail to San
Diego in thirty days exactly.
The immigration across the Southern route,
at present, is reported by the mail riders to be
quite large, upwards of one hundred wagons
having been passed, with considerable quanti-
ties Of stock. As the mail riders, however,
travelled mostly in the night, they had not
much opportunity TO elicit information from
the immigrants. A party of six, however, had
been attacked at Puerto del Dado, by the
Apaches who killed two men and stole sixteen
yoke Of cattle. The immigrants intend mostly
settling in the northern sections of our
State, although their first resting places will
be in Los Angeles and San Bernardino coun-
ties. The feed across the route was generally
very good, and as a plenty of rain had fallen,
it was expected that the crops in the Purchase
would turn out extremely well. The country
is being rapidly settled up by farmers and
others, and as soon as property is well secured
/ from the Indians, vast tracts of land will be
taken up. In the Purchase are included some
of the finest lands in the United States.
The mail party which left San Diego on the
9th day Of August last, and which it will be
remembered was detained by very much the
same accident which delayed the first train
from San Antonio, was met on the Gila close
to the Pimo villages, pushing rapidly ahead,
and with every prospect of making schedule
time. The out train of the Oath was met near
Indian Well, on the Colorado desert, in good
spirits, and making good time.
The Wagon Road Commission, with Mr..
Leach at its head, were expected daily at San
Antonio, when the mail of the oath left, the
party having been detained at Memphis wait
ing for the Paymaster. Mr.. Leach had one
hundred and forty men engaged, with eighty
wagons, and would increase the complement
of men to four hundred in Texas and the ter.
ritory adjoining.
Lieut. Beale passed through Fort Fillmore
thirteen days before the arrival of the mail, to
commence operations on the road from Albu-
querque west, for the improvement of which
$50, 900 was appropriated by the last Congress.
He had twentyfour camels with him, which
were enjoying excellent health. The party
were all in good spirits, and would push rapid
ly forward to the scene of their labors.
Capt Pope was at Indianola when the mai
left, with his apparatus for boring artesan
wells on the desert 1t was not stated on what
road he would commence operations, but il
was believed he would follow Lieut.. Beale.
Major Bliss has proceeded to Calabazas as
Paymaster for the troops there. His arriva
had been anxiously expected for long time
past.
Corn was selling at the Pimos villages at s.
per fanega.
LAFAyETTE.-Last Monday week being the
Centennial Anniversary of the birth day O.
Lafayette, was celebrated with becoming hon
ors at San Francisco The Grafton Of Mr.. La
than was pronounced by all who heard it tt
have been eloquent and soulstrring, and the