Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-07-11
I~ntsrssting Letters from Captain Marcy.

Interesting Letters from Captain Marcy.
Through the POlitensss Of DR.. MARCY, saws
the New York Times, we was permitted 10
publish the material portion Of several letters
written BY bis brother, Captain R. B. NANCY,
while on his way back from New Mexico to
Camp Scott, and recently received. They con-
tain particulars relative to bis expedition,
which will be read with interest at tie present
time;
CAaP os TIE AKEAssAs.
The last letter l wrote you Was from Fort
Union, lust upon ny departure. From that
place / went 70 the extreme outer settlement
called g RTsdo,D where I had concentrated al
ny horses and mules, 1y2OO in number) and !
remained there i've days, waiting for ny ss-
cort, and making preparations for the march 10
Utah. Capt. Bowman, Lisuts. Henderson and
Du Bots Ioised ne there with one hundred and
fftV men.
While We were detained there, the owner Of
the rancho OF farm, sent to Taos, fifty miles,
hired three musicians and gave US two balls or
fsndsngOsss which the young gentlemen enjoy
ed very much
You viii, probably, ask where the ladies
came from. These ranches have a great many
Mexican families connected with then, and
here we found about thirty siguorsttss who
were dressed quite cOmme-ii.fGuf, and really
were very graceful The lowest Mexican man
OF woman is never awkward, and ! was aston
ished 70 see the cook from the kitchen Of cur
host. with bis greasy apron, dancing a sort Of
Mexican Polka with as much ease and grace
ss a dancing master. ! only danced once with
Mrs. Maxwell, the hostess, who is a native Of
New Mexico, and whose r was a French
man. The ball was expressly for our
benefit, and Of course we were 10 duty bound to
attend. The proprietor Of The rancho had re-
ra-wr . Ha-na a- - r--ua- H-r- - g.
mules and horses, be wished to make our stay
with him agreeable
TEE GRASS on FIRE-A MARROW EsCAPB.
We marched from that place on the 18th Of
March, and have been travelling ever since.
Yesterday We were all very much alarmed at
the CIV Of hre IN the camp. On going out ]
discovered that soHs one had set the sry grass
on IRE above Us, and it was coming like a race
horse directly toward our camp, driven BY q
fierce tempest Of wind. Icslled all the men,
pulled Up the tents, piled everything into the
wagons IN the utmost CONFUSION, and dragged
them 70 d place Of safety. / then hurried to
the large supply train Of forty large wagons
which were standing perfectly exposed &c The
IRE, and upon which the entire fate OF our ex-
petition depended, as it contained an our pro-
visions, and we commenced burning the grass
around 90 as 10 prevent the fire from sweeping
over them; but before we had finished our
preparations to meet the approaching FIRE, it
cane In an immsn sheet Of fame twenty feet
high, sweeping everything before it 10 a most
terTihc manner, and enveloped a part Of the
wagons; for a moment I supposed they were
all doomed, but the burning we had previously
done fortunately stopped it, and / assure you'll
never felt more relieved. The only damage
was the burning Of my tent, which was two
hundred yards from the FIRE. II caught some
sparks driven BY The wind.
THE RrTLIEG FOUNTAIN
The Captain, writing from scamp on FoD-
tame qui Bruille," April 5, SAYS:
Since | wrote to a few days
since, we have been travelling toward Utah,
without anything Of interest occurring to please
or annoy us.
went about twenty miles yesterday, to visit
a mineral spring, which gives the name TO his
stream" Fountain that Boils"-sHd I found
a. one Of the greatest natural curiosities / have
ever met with. There is a very round and
smooth rock, elevated several feet above the
earth, with an oval top, and directly upon the
summit is a round basin, like an artificial foun-
tain, into which comes from the bottom a
stream Of water as large ss my arm. with as
much force as il thrown By q FIRE engine. The
basin remains filled constantly, but does not
run over, having a subterrsneOus outlet. On
tasting this water, much to my sstonishmeut,
! found II very similar to Congress water, only
much more pleasant. I drank large quantities
OF It, and it produced a delightful sensation,
giving M a vnraeioas appetite for the hunters
dinner, which ny guide set before me, in The
shape Of a deer's head roasted before the FIRE,
without salt, bread or any condiments what
ever. We made a most sumptuous repast, and
returned TO camp much pleased with our day's
excursion.
If this spring was placed in any Of TIE East
ern States, it would be decidedly more popular
the Congress Springs, I have no doubt
Ii Is supposed BY the people ia the country to
be pure soda water, but it probably contains
other salts. The Indians call il the 81 Big
Medicine Spring." and Whenever they pass il
they put a prepitistory oflring into It, in the
form Of kettles, cups, arrows, &C
We have great abundance Of game here, and.
indeed, we have not been without deer. ante
lope, turkeys or bear meat, for the last three
weeks. This with onions, potatoes, &c. makes
our fare better than it was on cur trip over the
last winter.