Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-09


few days since, we published portions of
private letter received in this city, giving in
teresting narrative of scenes and incidents in
Morn ondom, and from the same source we have
below sketch of travel upon the Plains Dat
ing on board a Missouri River steamer, Oct %
the writer says;
1t was only on Saturday last, the 23d, that
escaped from the Plains. having been flying for
twenty two days and nights, for that purpose,
behind six mules, catching glmpses here hnd
there OF the thousand objects of interest that at
tract the attention of the traveller on the Plains.
The first noticeable objects, after leaving Salt
Lake City, and passing through succession Of
gloumy defles, are the military works--fortifca
tons, barbados, and dtches-which the Nor
mons built last year IN Echo Canon, to keep out
the U. S. army These works, none of which
very formidable, except the bitches and barri-
cades, celebrate the genius and skill of S. nj.
Blair, the chief engineer of the Mormon army.
But manned as they were by fanatics who would
have died in their trenches they accomplished all
the purpose for which they were erected. This
canon is twenty five miles long, and the noun.
tains rise either side from to three
thousand feet On the right. the ascent is gen
thy sloping, and is easily overcome /; but the left
is almost perpendicular blutf-a naked rock,
broken at intervals BY abrasion OF the elements.
These bluffs are very difficult of access, but they
scaled and occupied by the Mormon legion,
for months. Breastworks Of rock are erected at
many points that command the road which runs
most of the distance directly under and within
range.
These works are at a fearful dizzy hight. and are
almost beyond gun shot range from below, while
they command the road in every direction. Mil
itaTy men, who never attempted to capture these
works, Fidicule them, and declare that it would
be mere pastme to knock them all to pieces with
small arms. Doubtless this is true, but they an
swered the purposes for which they piled
up, and they now remain on their frowning
nights, silent witnesses of the great event which
they commemorate. There are other evidences
besides these, concerning which the traveller is
curious to be informed. mean the bones of
finals and wrecks of carriages that lie scattered
from Green River to Hams Fork, victims Of the
fanaticsm which guarde these passes The face
of the bluffs in Eche Canon is much like the ar
chitectuie of a city, and at little distance ap-
pears like the fronts OF elegant blocks Of houses
This singular formation continues through the
whole canon, and is very attractive feature.
Between this canon and Fort Bridger our road
led US over the highest of all high points which
travellers attain in these We tern mountains.
1t is called High Ridge, and is 1850 feet above
the sea. The air was chilly on the summit. and
the mountains on either side, which rose several
thousand feet above US. were covered with snow.
Bridger stands in wide, open plain, and we ap-
pro ,ched it in the night, while the lights were
blazing in a thousand tents Government is
erecting permanent quarters here, at great ex-
pense. The next day, after leaving Bridger, we
met old Baker end two other mOuntaineers on
their way in to the city, having been summoned
as grand Jurors to inset on Tuesday, the 10th,
when Judge Sinclair was to open his United
States District Court. The proceedings Of that
grand jury and court will be interesting and will
show whether it is the intention of Government,
through its officials, harrass the Mormous after
the amnesty which the President proclaimed
We crossed the clear limpid waters of Green
River, which takes its name from the green clay
bluffs that in many places line its banks. On
the fourth day out we assembled the long sandy
rauine between two barren mountains, that leads
over the South Pass to the Sweetwater, which
flows into the Platte. When | struck this beau
tiful stream, near tae top Of the Pass, over 1000
feet above the sea, and flowing with gentle
current Eastwardly, felt that was really jour
neying homewards, for before this all the streams
had been running the other way.
The Sweetwater gets its name from accident
that happened to provision train belonging to
old Vasques and Brldger Several of their wag
ons were laden with sugar, and, in crossing, the
sugar became wet and was dissolved. The stream
has been known as Sweetwater ever since. We
followed this stream down one hundred miles, to
the Devils Gate, an abrupt assure in the Rocky
Mountains, through which it escapes and emp
ties into the Platte.
never till now had anything Of correct idea
of the Rocky Mountain country. | supposed it
to be rough up and down country, with a road
winding through deep gorges, and dark, % vershad-
owing forests, and where there good deal
Of walking to be done. But, such is not the case
There is no forest, and the only timber is the
small growth Of cotton and willows, along the
borders Of the rivers. The Rocky Mountains are
isolated piles of dark rocks, rising abruptly out
OF the plains, if they had been piled up to get
them out Of the way. There is no vegetation ex-
cept what cling between the crevces OF the
rocks. few stunted cedars, some sage bushes,
little patches Of mountain grass, and a diminu.
a chanUed he Of
the rocks.
At Platte Bridge the government is erecting
new military post, without regard to expense.
There are immense beds of bituminous coal at
this point, which crop out Of the bluffs for many
miles. 1t is fortunately there, for FIRE wood is
sought for at long distances. At this place we
came in sight, of the Black Hills, south Of Lara.
ME, In this range is Laramie Peak, Pixies
Peak, &c, and their dark submits loom up
against the southern sky like black clouds Ii
Is down among these peaks that Cherry Creek
rises, which, at this time, is the subject Of so
many golden dreams. 1t was not until we got be.
low Laramie that we met the train Of pilgrims
who we're vending their weary, uncertain way
thither. The train seemed almost endless one,
and the men we're all confident Of success. All
the way along, till we came into the settlements,
we met those people. They would ride up TO US,
and, in roundabout way, ask us n we could give
them news Of Pixies Peak and when told that
they were on the road to fortune they would rush
Jus anu WIN fHkttuehof give tutu JhuCu cattle
an extra blow, to hurry them up. Until met
these crowds, ! had never heard Of Cherry
Creek, and was quite curious TO know all about
il, and the reason Of so many strong, healthy.
looking men being on the road, when they ought
20 be at home, gathering crops, aud taking care
Of their families. They replied that times we're
so hard in the States, that the faces Of all the
poor people were ground of, business was so
dull that there was no known substance that
could give It an edge, and the whole West was
obliged to put out in search Of employment.
"The fever" they said was fright smart" every
where, especially in the frontier States and Kan.
gas, and there was a chance Of It's spreading "a
heap" We pAssed a great many Of these men,
aud think most Of them belonged to that class
Of men whom you and have seen and known,
and who are the first 20 rush off under an excite.
ment, and the frat TO come back disappointed.
The county about Pixies and Spanish peaks
needs exploring, aud these men will do IL thor.
oughly. Perhaps new cities aud new State may
spring up in that far off region.
But cannot tell you now Of all saw upon the
plains. | hunted buffalo, saw thousands Of
tnen, shot of reyolgers among them, and ate
buhalo steak. One night, as we were driving
along the Platte, we took "a great scare, !" for
there came moving towards ua, from the river,
black mass Of these huge animals, probably,
tbousands 10 number, directly across our road,
making fast for the hills. The earth shook be.
heath their tread, and their bellowings were not