Nebraska advertiser., 1858-10-21
Letter from the Plains.
Mr.. EDITOR: :
NoRTH PLATTE, BADGE, }
Sept. %, 1858. {

Messrs. Russell and Waddell, we have
nothing of interest from Salt Lake or
Brigham. Everything tanquil-Gorer-
nor Young still dictator to Gov Cumming.
A large number of the Saints IN the en-
ployment of Government. Provisions
very low, with a downward tendency.
Money extremely tight.
To-day we leave the Platte, after hav-
ing journeyed on the South and North
branches of that river for more than
eight hundred miles.
We are now enjoying all the luxuries
of the season, in the way of game. viz:
elk, black tail deer, antelope, long cared
rabbits, Sage hens, speckled trout, sc.
Weather yet mild and pleasant for the
season.
At our camp thirty miles back of this,
a Government agent was distributing
presents in the shape of blankets, to the
Sioux Indians. We met numbers of them
returning to their respective encamp-
ments, in the vicinity of Fort Laramie,
not 80 miles from Deer Creek. One
day we missed an OK, when mounting a
mule, ] went in search of him, and final
ly found him in a ravine with an arrow
buried in his side. This was done by a
party of Indians not six hours from draw
ing their presents. Being imprudently
unarmed, and the train some miles in
advance, Messrs r. w. s. CO. might have
been minus a mule as well as an OK if
they had met me. These mischieyous
wretches, idstead of receiving presents,
should be paid for such work with pow
der and ball. These Sioux lay about
their camps and allow the Black Feet to
make annual incursions among them ard
carry off their horses. There is one no.
ted Indian, thlt every year leaves his
moccasins near a lodge to let them know
he has been about. His moccasins meas
ures seventeen inches; and he always
runs away horses on foot. He is chief
of the Blackfeet This might be consid-
erek pretty big foot; but as a curiosity
he is not equal to a chief of the Crows
who has hair thirteen feet long. He
raps it around his waist, and carries il
over his left arm, except on state occa.
sions, when he has it combed out and
trailing behind.
There is a marked difference in the
appearance of the Sioux on this road now
and seven or eight years ago. The marcl
of civilization westward, has, instead O.
elevating the minds and habits of these
savages, has had the most demoralizin!
effect. They have now sank to the low
est depths of degradation, with scarcel
blanket; whereas, few years age
even their females were attired in dres
sed skins, neatly garnished, and mounte
on horses, richly caparisoned and orna
mented. These degraded wretches Nigh
have their condition improved by send
l ing few missionaries among them.
We are progressing with our usual sue
cess; have passed the dreaded Black Hill
without loosing any cattle; perhaps th
first train that has been so fortunate.
: counted as high as seven in a hundre
yards. 81
: The long-horned Texas cattle are
> high favor for journey Of this sort, fc
t various reasons.
: Our train is the first that has reache
4 this far without loosing a teamster eilhe
: by desertion or otherwise. At Larami
a messenger overlook US, who came frol
/ Nebraska City on express for our wol
: thy friend and assistant, Major d. "
: Crenshaw, to return Immediately. Th
t young gentleman, although scarcely twel
e ty years of age, is recalled at the reque
5, of his father, to proceed Immediately
A Ell Passo, New Mexico; there to tax
d the supervision of mail route to StocI
If ton, California. This is>quite a jaunt
+ commence in September,c to 60 thrt
!, thousand miles through the open Prairi
h sometimes a thousand miles without
'e house.
= We have discouraging accounts in r
> gard to grass beyond South Pass.
The inhabitants of the States have
n idea of the expense attending the tran
N portation of freight across the Plains
II Messrs. NJ, R. & w. There is not a
y other company in the United States
competent to fulfill such contract, fro
g their long experience In freighling al
G their unlimited resources. Apart fro
Z this, their strict regard to the moral d
8 pertinent of their employees should be
10 matter of serious consideration with Go
ID ernment. There is no employment
the Plains where moral department is O
ie served by the youth of our land, exec
10 - tho oy,,,Ic1,,,,o,,e oe nToz.-- D-z