The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-11

morning Of Saturday, tho 25n of September, and found
there most comfortable camp The men had not yet
nad tme 70 build house, and were hv,ng n 'enas .
They hst made large corral oi bushes and mad large
stock Of mules which had been left them before our
arrival by Mr.. Glover, the SUPERINTENDENT Oh he hne
from Chadbonrne E Paso who had gone on before US
hours Our arrival was unexpected, and all haste
was Immediately made to get Us something 70 .at ana
start US again on our journey ihe geoa hateo uuea
who oflcia,ed as cook quickly ranged the TN cups
and plates and got broiled bacon, shorcahe and
coffee which considered quite an arsocrat'c meal
for so early settlement and which our long fds GER
lany acceptable however different from New York
fare.
Al least an hour was lost in catching and harnessing
Wild mules for team, and Tor the ede'tado or drove,
which We we're to take WITH having no other change
o! team for seventy i've mics The frightened animals ran
in terror round the corral, the greasy Mexcans welded
their arreos and frightened them still more that by
the mule caught and harnessed, often nearly
choked 10 death almost ALWAYS nearly be-
fore lis work had commenced. We got a team at last,
however and soon were on our way, with our wagon
well supplied with ean,eens OF water TO the
Great stased PLAN. After passing a well
weoded plain, We came 10 the Mustang Springs,
which arc Judgements OF water durable during
Of the year. II the last water before the
tydyc miles OF desert and We let our mules drink their
I'LL II just after sunrise that entered the desert
road am was agreeahy surprised 70 see instead Of
tedious sea OF parchcd sand variety OF curious though
wired vegetation while the whole plain studded with
musGni.c bushes, looking fresh enough certainly. Our
start rather unlavorabe, for before left Mustang
Springs, two OF mules IN the cayacade made a STAN
pede ior home, and the other two toon followed suit the
latter only beng recovered after hard chase and de-
tcpton OF another hour.
But tine was hard and smooth and
blcd 10 travel at pretty lair gait when got started
ludeed the road literally baked hard IN the scorchng
The quantity Of musquc bushes somewhat
prise6 The leaves much resemble the cedar but the
bush Many of the bushes covered with ripe beans,
resembling our string beans IN appearances. They are
excellent feed for stock and II said the Indians make
sort Of meal Of them There was an abundance Of large
cacns plants Of nnmberess varieties, chitm wood and
soap weedtne Of which used by the Indians for
soap-and several kinds Of grass There many places
time since the last ram. One OF the most
plants what is called the Spanish dagger,
which grows in many varieties this PLAIN The leaves
long, ami tapercd To sharp poin and being very
tough may well be called daggers Ihcy very sharp
torgh and have been told that antelope has been
shot that had one Of these leaves run clear through his
fore leg. The plant grows often in large lunches, like
sheaves Of grain and may easily be mistaken for them
In the twilight they may easily be transformed into ina
enary Indians by the umd. The leaves may be made TO
appear the tut OF his head his outstretched arms,
while its thickness quite the consistency OF ordinary
Indian often misook them for we passed along.
As We travelled lcisureiy through the DESERT
ireshed with decidedly cool and delicious breeze while
the atmosphere BY means unpleasant To as
in New York in hot August day, though we were then
about half way be the thrtcth aud thirty second
parallels o. latitude. There seemed to be abundance
Of ANIMAL life the desert We saw large droves OF
ielopcs frequently and numbers Of quail snile aud other
specimens Of the eahercd tribe while the "dog towns
holes Of the prairie dogs innunerabe. This ami
NAL 10 be a between squirrel aud rat
rier amt lives ia holes which digs N the ground A.
approached their towns could see their shaking
tails they rushed frightened TO their homes. They live
grass and weeds. and tronbe anybody, except
by undermining the road with their suerranen borngs
With al these evidences of animal vegetable life aud
the delightful breeze could not realize that was in
desert II seemed impossible that much life could exist
without constant, never failing supply OF water But
there the evidences along the road and tar
the eye could reach along the plain. decay cd and de-
cayng aumas the bones 81 cattle ana sonnet mes Of nen,
the dc drying on the SKIN IN the ard atmosphere, all tod
afeartu story Of anguish and terrific death from the
rnFs II TINS FOR miles ana miles these bones srew
the plan, the silent witnesses ot the eternal laws Of
turc, which, tic hopc ~ gam, man hcsttes not 10
brave. Iny silent, ont speaking monuments Of nnde-
WAITING fate. Az proceeded Tie plain grew more
dreary aHd the vegetation eys Dck, until rnaly
I'm into onii pan, With scattered grass spots and
stunicd misqutctrecs. In ,h, morning tl' nionotony
OF ride varied by The sight of huge
ratssnah which Was promptly despatched ~ driver,
named Jones II ilcrculcan Frame from which he has
been surnamcd the "baby." lie daringly pokcd
stick iof the fcite 70 bse apd en coo twisted on Ii
rattle s tail, which "a" gave 10 IN the afternoon
we got NJ quite cloud OF dust, winch
II nGst taken To- be Nj. Glover and his traiu Tn
mules whipped ~, the horns blown and genera
excitement raised among the four n tie WAGON.
Much chagrin, on radnk ourselves disappointed,
ohlged 20 stop frequently and allow faded
mules 20 rest ard Cra1c, though We had no water for
thcn II struck me thai Il one 0f the men had been left
and his weight OF water brought IN his place, should
have been somewhat better on rno pam somewhat
rolling yet found much diicuty in urging mules
down NH ana Notwithstanding my rst ia yorabe impress
sion pronounced the Great Staked Plain bore.
We nearly twenty four hours "a crossing. and what
seemed 10 most romarsahc thc extreme cold OF
the ut after thc warmth a tue day. found thtt my
two blanket. D, means too warm.
NJ The scat, about tTee CLOCK sunday
morning, heard from Joues tat We had rcJchsd
the Fecos river. aud there were, tree enough. right
ino Il. Aficr hllooing aud blowing our horn. we oh
tanned supposed from the other side ot
the river telling drive M stream, whirh advice We
followed, Wien 10 astenistnent found Ourselves
camp ON the same side ol The river. Tie fast a. the
rocos makes such turn here that ,0u hardly tell
which side YOU on. II Is swim stream with good
body of water rising away IN The Rocky alountains,
and empty ing INTO the Rio arandc II - mucn the color
Of the Mississippi There trees any unusual
luxufance q foliage ON the banks at the nt where
struck Il; that driver had MT been the look
might have been waiIow ny IN rs M .iy
dcrth We found that Mr. Glover bad arrived
with his train but few hours before ~, and
had brought the stock or so King the road He had
ppycd here fifteen Msvicaus, 'greascrs they are
more commonly cscd-snd more miserable looking sct
a fellows never saw They stood shiyering the
FIRE and had 10 be- fairly driven get the things in
readiness for immediate departure, and then ensucd
another hslocng and lasscag tune With the Wild mules,
trying tho animals strength beyond endurance but
got started a. 40 A. q sunday, tie 2Gth. pretty
long ride up tie east, northeast, bank Of the Pceps
The pcrgon IN charge of the nail from this point was
Captain skrnan, an old trontcr man, who the hrsi
70 run the san Antonio anu santa ~ mall AZ tme when
fRht With the Indians every trip was considered VA the
contract lie Is about FORTY Eve years of age,
appearance much resembling the portraits of the Wander
ng Jew with the exception that lie carries several re
yosers and bowie knives dross,s buckskin and has
sandy head of hair ant heard lie loves hard work and
adventures, and hates "miuns, ard knows the country
about here pretty well We started with four mules 20
the wagon and eighteen The cordo: but the latter
dwindled duwn IN number, ~ tn animals
ont Most of them had bot Just been brought
the siakcd Pam on The rrcvos dav and we're pretty well
tre ou before they started. TIE prospect seemed prct
dtary iof ~ at Tie outset, IS had lls niles 20
travel before could Get any fresh stock aud those IN
the car.igdoweFc euy ho'e for change during she
whole distance But ~ others could b. had sni
were obliged % 10 With hgm and make tile best
could, which turned vut hc bad enough cur course
lay NJ thc ccos. what is called popcs rnad hav
inc been made by captain rOpes artcsau well expedition
Ia tsS7. Il was mu a stutups sud huuctcs Il weeds
which maden by means pleasant riding IN t Thorough
orsccd wsFons ior &c lorne YES amos, n'erminao!c