Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-22

the shape OF foundation. webster
Peak five miles from Topeka looms up in
the distance, the last land mark of the
town. Shot prairie chicken which arr
numerous in this part Of the country.
Having crossed The Wax arusa we came
upon one Of the numerous paper towns
with which Kansas a6Ounds, we were IN
formed of the fact at house on the creek
where we stopped to make inquiries
about the road. Wakarusa city contains
no houses, merely 800 acres layed eff in
squares by pegs driven into the ground.
Three miles further on we struck the
old California road which looks very
much like an Indian trail being almost
worn out. After proceeding two miles
further we came TO a creek, and it being
after five o'clock we determined 10 camp
for the night The creek was very low
and cons .sted Of nothing more than pools
OF water Having built our fire in ra-
vine with few scrubby trees around US,
the wagon was driven up 10 within few
rods, mules unhitched and tied 10 the wa
gon, so as TO be as near US as possible.
In this country where there are so many
horse thieves we have 10 be very careful.
After getting out our bedding and cooking
utensils we proceeded TO cook our first
meal in which took my first lesson in
cooking. Our supper consisted of boiled
potatoes, coffee mlnus cream) and bacon.
We have just finished our supper and
spread our bed before the fire under tie
trees. My two companions have laid
down to sleep while | have taken my
book and pencil to commence my journal.
Ii is bright calm night, the moon shi-
ming down through the trees and the camp
fire blazing up and dispelling the damp.
ness of the night air. My prairie chick
en- is impailed on stick before the fire
roasting slowly for our mornings meal.
The frogs are cgoaking in pond close
by. willie "Jule" (my dog is sleeping al
my feet. This being my first experience
in camping out feel the want of confne-
ment, and that my chamber is rather TOO
large for comfort However | shall gel
used TO ii before long.
TueSday, March 23.-Went TO bed
las. night at nine o'clock. We sleep
camp fashion, 3 in bed. Having taken
off my coat and putting i, under my head
for pillow, | followed The example Of
my companion and covered my head with
the Buffalo robe and went TO sleep. Got
up al l2 o'clock 10 replenish the fire,
found julie very quietly sharing my pill
low. Did not sleep much the remainder
Of the night, probably on account of the
novelty OF the thing. Got up at five o.
clock, found the fiost thick on the robe.
Having replenished the fire which had got
very low we made our breakfast off Of
coffee, prairie chicken, potatoes and bread,
making use Of our pocket knives in lieu
Of knives and forks. Hitched up our
mules, packed up our bedcing and uten.
sis and lept our camp on Armstrong creek
at half pastsl with a beautiful day before
us. In the course of the next miles we
crossed Stolrig and Camp Creek, when
we came 10 Georgetown, another paper
city, but little more fortunate than the
last one, it contained one house. Here
we got information with regard 10 our
route. We had The choice Of two routes
either 10 strike the Santa Fe road and pass
the Sac and Fox Nation 13 miles distant.
or stick 10 the old California road. As the
latter was more in the course we were
steering we determined TO stick TO it. So
leaving Georgetown with its one store,
three inhabitants and its plentiful lack Of
houses we pursued our course. Here
We left Shawnee and got into franklin
county. The counties here are about
twice the size of ordinary counties in the
States. The country for the mex, l6
miles to Centropolis is very undula,ing,
one vast prairie without a stick Of timber,
the soil not very good and but ,hinly set
tied by squatters. There is something
peculiar about the hills in this territory
which have never seen in the States,
the hills al! resembling forlifcalions, the
sides coming up very steep while on the
top it is perfectly level and not coming 10
a point, looking like the top of the hill had
been cut of. Sometimes there is long
line of these hills close together rising alb
ruplly from the level of the prairie bat
tie could be Tough, hele on grand scale.
we see immense knobs per-
fecily round al the base and running up
to point, exactly resembling sugar
loaf, without stick of timber on them.
Along The road we frequently came across
low mounds supposed TO be graves of per-
sons that had died on the road across The
plains. They are generally buried on the
road side. We saw great many deer
feeding al a distance but TOO far 10 get a
shot, Wolves are abundant, they can be
seen on the ridges at distance they