Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-12

is now for the most part healed.
Montgomery stands fair chance of being
defeated, though after being nominated by the
Democrats he pledged himself to the Republi-
cans. That act so disguised faithful men there,
as that though the district contains Demo-
cratic majority of 500, the Republicans will
probably beat him. If so, no sound Democrat
should cry; for such politicians as Mr.. Mont
gomery deserve such rewards for their treach-
cry The regretable point in connection with
this Pennsylvania election is the fact that local
questions and divisions prevent it from being a
contest over the policy of Mr.. Buchanan's ad-
ministrstion. Could that have been the issue,
the State would have been triumphantly swept
by the Democracy.
JOURNEYING ACROSS THE PRAIRIEs-BUPPA-
Lo HUsTING-ISDIANs ARoUND-THE WOLVES
OF THE PRAIRIE-THE ANTELOPE AND PRAIRIE
DoG-SANrA FE, &c, &C., &C.-To-day, we
publish the balance of the interesting letter
from the Far West, commenced in Saturday .
Star:
Ell PAso, (Texas,) Sept 3, 1853.
Editor Of the Washing ton Star:
we are now fairly on the plain; the road IL
good, and is much travelled Every day we meet
train or two, sonnet mes consisting of one hum
dred wagons; the supplies of goods are going to
Santa Fe and the Government Transportation is
very considerable. To every wagon there is a
team and relay Of mules; and when oxen are used
there Is a large surplus to replace any that NAV
give out. These caravans are sometimes stretched
along the roads, and at night the wagons are
eorrGIIedj that Is, drawn mp and arranged so as
to form an enclosure into which the animals are
penned- This enclosure serves as a fortifcatfon
In case OF an Indian attack, and the mules cannot
be stampeded There are numerous hordes Of
wild Indians always roaming over the plains
awaiting opportunities to steal mules They eat
them and sell them, and think they have a natu-
raj right to steal them wherever found We pass
some localities where there has been some hard
fighting and other places Of melanc holy interest
Chavis's creek, so called from his being murdered
by some Missouri flibusters, two of whom oot
their necks stretched for il at ST. Louis But we
are now in the buffalo range, and are on the look.
out for the huge animals. Still, / never omit to
give lobo sanitation when in sight One eve
ming, near night, the cry Of buffalo was raised
and all our guns underwent an immediate inspec.
ton. Capt. WalkeT and Dc. Beck got a shot or
two, but got no meat. The buffalo marched OF
In straight line to our right, the column appa-
Teniiy one mile In length. A Thunderstorm was
coming up, and we had to protect Ourselves ~
well as We could; and meeting with water we
struck camp for the night. Next mornjnp We
started early, and soon came in sight OF more bnf
falO All hands were now eager for the SNORT
Capt Walker fired shot or two, without effect;
but one or two bnfaioes coming within the "a noe
of Smiths rife, he let drive, and broke the for,
leg Of one OF them. Was about three bundled
yards on, aud fired my Shapes rife, hitting him
on the Tump, and, advancing and loading when
about two hundred and nifty Yards off gave him
another shot. In the region OF the heart which i'm
one minutes time, OF less, br Juybt him To tho
ground, and he was dead before we reached him
Our men took W hat meat they desired neelectinp
the tongue; and l went after lobO, but he kent
out OF the way OF the eILeYmtnatOr; for 50 nv
rlne rs called Under way again, We made about
TWO miles, when we again came upon the buffalo.
the plain was literally covered by them as far n,
the eve could reach Capt. Walker was deter
mined TO have some Of them, and We Lad to stop
the Stage to let portion Of them cross the road
lie dropped tw' before took the stage AGAIN
We then went on 10 where the road toncbrs the
Arkansas, and took breakfast, quite elated that
We had some fresh meat. We then went 10 Wal
nut creek, where man by the name OF Allison
has rancbe-a perfect fertilization; and stranoe
as you may think, here, without a single house
In one hundred and 1fty miles In one and fou,
hundred in the other direction, he had n ,tor.
and grocery, with very good stryehnins i'm II
Himself and three or four IaboIers were all the
population OF the place; and he was getting ready
to step 4OO miles over to Missouri, to Set his
moving machine mended
When we stopped at noon went out hunting
but as we are now in the heart Of the Indian
country, and two tribes at war, did not venture
Out OF sight OF camp. | saw fresh Indian signs
DR. Beck found Buffalo crossing the Arkansax
riveT, and killed him shortly after he reached
the bank bursted two caps at one AT abort
distance, and am now right well pleased that INV
gun did not go OF, for we have DESTROYED 10 dav.
-FOUR OF these noble creatures and have left them
AT
that antelopes abundant hut they are vs,v
shy-we can scarcely get within a Quarter of
mile OF them; distance here on the plains
with not even tree, or bush, or even hi "a weed.
to obstruct the view, and the clear dry atmos
Phere-which appears but $ an hund red ya,ds
Optical illusions are frequent; IL often seems
that we are approaching clear, smooth lake, OF
wide ext INT, but as we advance the illu lion lis
appears, and We are again on the intermionbIe
prairie, with its short grass burnt up herbage
instead OF shaking ones thirst with Inc yyatsrs
a we h1V fe,f hail a
mud -puddle lies In our way, or that we can get
warm draft from sand hole. ! have said moth
Ing Of the prairie dogs; we have been among
their towns since we crossed the Little AIkan.
sas, and they seem to Increase as we advance
westward. Some imag inative being has said
that the rattle burrowing owl and prairie
Is not the case. The owl is often found the ten
ant OF the abandoned dog hole, and sometimes
Is seen emerging from one which the dog occu-
pres: Both are entirely harmless, and they live
together without any apparent ANNOYANCE TO each
othef put II the rattie-snake ever enters the
abode Of the prairie dog, II Is to carry out some
SonnS ., 81 III. S He Preys upon the
tle-snake In the towns, and only one was killed
by any OF our party. The prairie doc Is abou,
the size OF common fox squirrel, and is yener-
ally seen skipping about in the towns or SITTING
at the mouth Of his burrow q uety contem nIatinS
things around. when he Is alarmed he dive
into his hole, and in an instant his head Is above
ground, barking At you, or rather chipping like
a bird, with which he thinks Won are hi yh1y ed
lied. Smith shot one with his revolver, and
bad an opportunity Of examining him closely 4
They are generally Of yellow color, with limbs
80 formed as TO be very agile, with neither claws
or teeth for offence. They must subsist entirely
on herbs, and are, In nature and habits a gigan-
tic ground squirrel The Indians eat them /; we
saw the skeleton Of one that had been roasted
whole IN one Of their camps, and all the flesh
eSen on IL was quite fresh ahd had been a part
y, isast that morning. Wolves are everywhere
a' oant. The large gray wolf, or lobo, Is Oft
rfras lac raj
.nough more shy, In frequently seen He is a |
nolsy isscai ana at night will venture near the
camp anu should you desiie sleep II Is necessary
10 let bim know you have a rifle or revolver
No person who mas not witnessed a storm NJ
sea can realize the grandeur and sublimity of |
thunder storm on the plains As YOU ascend the
country, the terror Of these increase imaoine
TO YOURSELF one and n half miles above the isnnI
of the sea, as you would he on the ton Of The
mountains near Santa Fe, and then zee Nh. i,,hs'
nng play around you, you will think ourrelf In