The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-24
averse to work. and s with the greatest difcuy that
they be compelled 70 do their portion toward mendng

they be compelled 70 do their portion toward mendng
From the Arkansas river 10 scuyvile there ap carod
TO be considerable land under cultivation, but Oh po
ceeded there was less to be seen The land Wen wa,
tered and with little cultivation could DC maze 70 yea
abundany but they prefer TO let their stock grow and
increase without their care and draw ner small
from the government. The Indians we saw along the
road looked squad miserable generally though occa
sonaly we met very fine specimens OF the red men
Of the forest These wepe n an
avail themselves of the Education Fund 70 educate tner
children This fund believe amounts to $4,000, and is
amply sufficient for its purpose. The Chickasaws who
occupy more westerly reservation, are much more ad
vanced in civilization than the Choctaws
After leaving Gov. Walkers, the next station (sxteen
miles distan reached in about two hours and half
and two ohsEstatons at about equal distances in about
the same time H4h took my breakfast and dinner out
OF a provision 6ieket which had been kindly placed in
the wagon yuM forehough of Mr. Butterfeld who had
not forgotten the necdfu with which TO wash il down
Though it consisted Of but few cold cuts my memory
still cngs TO II as the last civilized meal between Fort
Smith and the barren plains where now write l have
said nothing Of the hOmey meals provided the way
from Upton To Fort Smith for considered them but
the well known accompanmonts OF Hoosicr fe but ever
since left that last meal Of cold ham, cakes crackers
Fond recollection recalls il to view
Though am no cpcurcan, could not forbear writing
About nifty miles from the Arkansas river on our road
noticed the first plain prairie Of consequence in the
Indian Territory II was rolling plain, l should Judge
iull twenty miles in circumference The soil looked
black and rich that was surprised little verdure
but learned that this caused by grass
having been set on ire On the western border, Mr..
Mcdonnell, the mail agent, pointed curious
ledge 6 black sandstone rocks which had very much the
appearance Of the ruins Of large building regularly
were they laid. AS We proceeded west, the country
which had beforcat least on our roadbecn of forest
smoother roads grew more frequent We soon met
many bands Of Choctaw Indians, in charge Of
large herds Of cattle They never took notice Of
than TO look pretty sharply US and say good day
spoken TO- We also met many emigrants coming from
ana ali their worldly POSSESSIONS camping at night and
uxuriatng on their dried beef coffee, and perhaps
from the nearest cornhcld At Pussey, "a station for
changing horses, where Indian Of that name ves,)
about sixty six miles from the river, met old Indian
who owns seven hundred head Of cattle and pretty
daughter and is willing 10 give the half Of the TO the
white man who will marry the other Here gave an In
dian boy paper of tobacco TO give water enough
wash my face put a blue flannel shirt and considered
myself pretty well on my way out West.
In the little plains which we passed. we frequently
the tall posts which the Indians use in playing ball The
players divide themselves into two parties standing
at each post The throwers aim 10 hit the posts and the
catchers must capture the ball in little bowls with which
each provided penalty being inflicted for catching the
ball with the hands They become very much excited at
this game, and gamble with il very often.
Prom the night OF Thursday the 10TH TO the night Of
Sunday the 10th had travelled continuously without
cden both night and day and at pretty rapid rate On
sunday night when within a few miles OF Blackburn's
station which is about sixty miles from Red river i
thought all hopes Of quick rpfor the first overland mail
were at an end We had taken splendid team of horses
at the last station, and had been spinning over
the rolling prarcs al rapid rate our route for some
hours bad been these hills with their gradual eeva
ons. and driver had urged his pretty well We
now came 10 patch OF woods, through which the road
was ortuous and stony But our drivers ambition 10
make good time his caution and away we went
bounding the stones at fearful rate The
shone brightly but ts light obstuced by the trees
and the driver had 70 rely much on his knowledge of the
road for guide. To the heavy mail wagon wzzing
and wbirng the Jagged rocks through such laby
rinth, in comparative darkness, and to feel oneself
bouncing the hard seat against the roof aud
against the side Of the wagon, joke.
you, though can truthiuy that rather liked the
excitement OF the thing But too dangerous to he
continued without accident and two heavy thumps
and bound Of the wagon, that anseated us all, and
crashing sound denoted that something had broken We
stopped and examined but found no damage except a
broken scat and proceeded TO the station Here afrther
examination TO our utter astonishmcn, disclosed the fact
that the pole tongue oi the wagon badly split II
mystery me how reached tho station with
out completing its destruction. II took more time TO mend
IL than the ambitious driver saved Moral Make haste
slowly After repairing damages got start again
and travelled tho next Is miles in hours and quarter
The night beautifully clear and bright, and
tempted stay M and enjoy H. but had become
much iAiCasd with the journey 70 BE- able 90 withstand
the arynsnis of somnosce and wrapping myself up no
my shawk obviously snoring the extended
of ~. wagon awoke but during the night
having been ol,ed INTO rositon where INV neck fell a.
II there knot IN H. They had stopped At sta
ton 10 change horses, and Tor the time not sound
could hear ] had been dreaming Of the Camsnchc In
dians and the confusion of drowsness rst thought
that the driver and the mail agent had been murdered
and that being covered up IN the blankets had boen
missed then recolieciod that had pistol and thought
of feeling for IL; but nnay thought would stir for
fear the Indians would me, when was brcugh, my
by familiar voice saying Gt there old hoss =,
and found il the driver hiehng up new team
During the night went eighteen miles hours and
ball. III. next Thrice miles took three hours. owing to
the bad state Of the roads bringing 10 Gareys station
Mr.. carey has hundred u which IS coni-
dered pretty fair lot for this section Of the country
Another ride Of seventeen miles occupied but two hours
and a hail. bringing 10 tho "Borgy Dcpot," where
there are several painted houses and few stores.
! learned that here a few days since an
Indian got shot while in quarrel about pon-
tics, for yon must know that the Old wigwam
ai Tammany IS not the only spot where the braves
settle political questions with hard knocks The
nation divided the question Of forming go
vcrnm,ni parties wax strong their respective
thar a.
not wish 70 be unfair on the subject, bat am gwen 10
understand that the half breeds and whites and
elgent fubloods in layor q the state
Fourteen miles from Borgy ncpo; came to Blue
river stann where very heavy bridge building for the
company. Here saw copy of the WrKIy IIEpsfD-a dis
lance o six hundred miles from A. louis and nearly
hundred from New York overland and twenty five
miles fron any Post once. ! thought the HERALD
appreciated there.
three hours brought Cohorts ferry on the
Rod rvcrthe boundary between Texas and the Indian
territory. We arrived here Monday the Goth inst
ten minutes 20 tebcing, altogether, thirty -four hours
ahead " time 10 ihis point bst here diflculty
There team carry the mail. Arrangements
had been made to put u through quick time the
regular day, but not expected a day aud half IN
advance Indeed, there nothing lc 20 do but 10 put
W with u We had, by several mere accidents, been
enabled io obtain relays % far in advance and
We could afford aiic loss q time We had good din
Nor and took advantage of the opportunity 10 write TO
you-tlx hrst chance on the wagon since Thursday the
10th. Mr. Colbert, the Of tho station and of the
Jerry. IL a haf breed Indian Of great sagaciiy aud
business tact. Iic young man not quite
thirty. should indec and has n white wGe-his third
lie has ow ned ana run this erry i've years and has had
excellent patronage from IT, central orsion bcng about
MIDWAY between Preston and the below Mr. Colbcrt
evnces some enterprise ~ carrying The stages o the com
pany across his Ferry tree az charge consideration OF
the increased travel which u VIII bring his way He
also stpuates TO keep the neghbcrng roads IN excellent
order and has already done much towards a. lie has
large gang o slaves at work the banks &C the river
cutting away the sand, TO make the easy
Ills boat simply sort Of rai pushed the shall
low stream ny the ad o poles, the hands &C sturdy
slaves. The are too four. horse " a dollar aud
quarter, aud the net Of the ferry about xi 0o
pqrnn 40 af nth hpx xsnga hawra Ia.t
having stout cable drawn the river 80 that Que man
could manage the boat suggested tc him 10 buy
the Atlantic cable but hs was " the opinion that would
he tee costly. lie about twenty-five slaves and
says he considers them about the best s,ok there
his increase about tour per year. Ne has line isrm
aud raises considerable Cofn-i0w much do
~ his table saw sugar butter ani pastrythe FIRST two
of which have been exceedingly articles since I
lett Port smith, and the last oi which have
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