Mountain Democrat., 1857-11-28
h1r. Kirk and the Honey Lake ROute.

Of the 18th, we replied to an article in the
ShGStG Republican, in which twas stated
that,
"Mr, Kirk represented to them, (Mcssrs. II.
RawsOn, A. Rawson aud W. Grayson,) that if
they adopted the Honey Lake route, they would
be compelled TO travel a desert Of about one
AHndrcd Ghd fftv miles. Mr.. Kirk represented
70 them that the waters Of Honey Lake Valley
were poisonous, and that an immense number
Of stock bad perishcd from its use. Mr.. Gray.
son was induced by these representations to
adopt the favOrite route Of Mr.. Kirk"
We stated that Mr.. Grayson was not
influenced by the statements of Mr.. Kirk
to "adOpt" the Carson Valley route; that
he was an old resident of our county, had
crossed the Plains previously. and of his
own accord had adopted" the Carson
route We stated further, "that If Mr..
Kirk represented that the waters of Hon
oy Lake were poisonous" he represented
the truth. Members ofthc expedition, and
not the friends Of Mr.. Kirk, had so assured
us, and VIC had no right to question their
veracity. They, not Mr.. Kirk, stated that
mono Of the stock Of the expedition "pcr-
ishcd" until after they had drank of the
waters Of Honey Lake. The Rrpublican
says its "articlc was based upon state
mcnts made by Mr.. Rawson." and that
when the editor secs Mr.. H. again he twill
answer the Democrat"
The Butte Record, with more zeal than
prudence, evidently doubling the Rrpu6-
licGn'a ability to maintain its ground, or
ambitious to "stCal its thunder" comes to
its rescue and "pitchCs into" tho Demo-
SrGt with considerable more vchcmcncc
thsn sense. The Record says:
The Plaecrvillo D,m@1u', ,Kirk's official
ofgan) replies tO the HttWbicin with rcitrr
alton Of the untruth."
We beg leave toinform the Record that
tho Democrat is not "Mr. Kinks official
organ" lie has never requested us to
say word in his favor and if We thought
he had done wrong, had abused his trust,
had imposed upon tho immigrants, had
misreprescntcd the Honey Lake route,
wo would ccnsure him as freely as the
Record. We have defended n faithful
and efficient officer from groundlcss and
unjust assaults, and for doing so We have
aroused the ire Of the Record. What
''untruth" have we ''rcitcratcdy" That
the "watcrs Of Honey Lake are poison
Ouss" Gentlemen Of the expedition,
"whosc veracity We will vouch for" have
30 Informed us repeatedly. 1t is an in
disputablc fact that "nonc Of the cattle of
expedition 'pcrishcd' before drinking Of
the waters Of the Lake" II Is an indis-
putAble fact, that from the bend Of the
Humbolt TO Honey Lake Valley, dead cat
tie were strcwcd all along the road, ono
gentleman counted upwards Of five hun
dred. Ifgrass and water were so obun-
dAnt and so pure, what caused the death
Of so large a number of stock: To be
consistent you might as we'll charge the
loss of cattle to "Mr. Kinks advice to the
immigrants
Tho Record published communica-
ton some time since in reply to the Dem
Ocrdt, (Which We did not scc,) 'from
gentleman who went out with the Kirk
party" and it again quotes from that won
derfGl and crushing production. The au-
thor may be gentleman of vcracity !"
he may have belonged to the Kirk par
ty," but men connected with such cxpc-
ditiOns, filing subordinate positions, from
some real or fancicd slight or injusticc,by
which their vanity receives a wound, not
unGrequently return from them violently
and Vindictivcly prejudiccd against their
aupcriOrs, and in tho heat Of passion say
and do things which they regret after
wards, and which arc highly colored, to
say the least We know that some of the
employees regarded it as pleasure trip,
prevailed upon Mr.. Kirk to take them
along, but soon returned dissatisfied and
disgusted, not only with the Supcrintcn-
dent but with tho whole affair. They
wero incensed against Kirk, and ndirely
reported that he was working against the
Carson Valley route, and IN .Jdror Of the
Honey Lake route! 1t is not unrcasona-
bic to suppose that the RecOrFs cores
pondent returned with similar feelings
Very probably Kirk discharged him, or
reproved him - he dislikcs idlers and
grumblCrs-and is seeking revenge under
an anonymous signature. And yet the
Record calls him "a disinterested party"
and grAvely says his assertion is worthy
Of moro credence than Kinks! What
objection has your correspondent to sign
ing his real name to his productions? II
they are true, he certainly ought not to be
afraid or ashamed to father them. If
they are untrue, his mask should not pro.
,toct him from the contempt of those he
il trying to deceive.
It will be seen by the proceedings of
the Common Council, that the MOUNTAIN
DEMOCRAT has again been selected to do
the city printing. We shall not enlarge
at present
Rev. Elias Merchant, q member Of the
California Conference Of the NJ. E Church,