Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-29

trees, all three OF which luminaries make
our camp very cheerful, affording abun-
dance of light to read and write. One OF
our party is reading Shakspear, another
washing the dishes, another writing. and
still another barking at the moon. Thus
ends the first week of our camping life,
during which time we have been won
derfuIly favored with good weather. The
days warm and pleasant, the nights calm
and clear which is the greatest blessing
we could ask, as camp life Of all others
needs good weather for lis enjoyment.
Sunday, March 2S-As there was no
church within fifty miles of US we spent
the morning reading. read Bishop
Meade's pastoral letter which brought
along with me. After which we took a
walk over the town site and on The banks
of The Dry Wood where we discovered a
very fine grind stone quarry. In the al
lernoon we had great many calls from
persons living in the neighborhood. hate
in the evening we changed our camp and
went back to Richland creek, as we were
out Of meat and wished TO purchase some
of man living on that creek. He spent
the evening in our camp and gave us
description of his last Buffalo hunt with
the Usage Indians. He gave me an invi-
talion to accompany him next fall.
Monday, March 29-Took a prairie
claim this morning by laying four polls
on i, in the form of the foundation of a
house, and driving a stake in the centre
with my name ard the date on it.
Made preparations to start back. Be-
fole we lief, Col. Arne,t gave us another
call, he seemed very anxious for us to
settle in the neighborhood. Made me
very liberal proposition 10 open store in
Cato. However if | were TO come
should prefer Mount Merritt | think. 1t
would be more a trading post than store.
The Usage nation would trade here great
deal and the main things necessary would
be groceries and cheap dry goods. The
nearest point TO the liver is Kansas city
where they would have to be hauled on
wagons at the distance of 100 miles.
The Col. is good type Of western
man. For 25 years he has lived frontier
life constantly trading with the Indians.
Now he is very well off. He is acqualn-
ted with the whole country from the
Platte River in Nebraska to the Arkansas.
Travels about The country on an Indian
pony, without any regard to roads, and is
no more afraid Of losing his way than
prairie wolf. He is always equipped
with pair of blankets and a lariene and
sleeps wherever he may happen TO be al
night. His headquarters are at For
Scott. He advised us TO 60 through Mis-
souri, on our way back to avotd being mo-
Tested on the Usage. At 10 o'clock we
lef, our camp on Rtchland creek en- route
for Topeka. At o'clock we reached
Fort Scott, where we wished TO get a
supply of bread. On entering the plaza
we saw that there was some little excite.
ment among the inhabitants, and on en-
quiring The cause, learned that men had
been murdered on the Usage Saturday
night This was very unpleasant news as
we had to pass that point, and camp there
at night. The route through Missouri
was too much ou, of our way and the
driver was anxious to get home, and as
emigrauts were very seldom disturbed,
the settlers being generally the ones at
tackled we determined 10 try it. Before
leaving called on Gen. Clark to make
some inquiries about the land in Bourbon
county, though | disliked very much to
do so as have a great rePugnance 10
meet man. who has been guilty Of kill
ling three innocent men, and who never
leaves the Fort unless he is protected
with guard, as there is large party Of
men friends Of the parties he has killed,
sworn 10 kill him the first opportunity.
At two o'clock we left the Fort and start
ed for the Usage ID miles distant. Just be-
fore coming we met several men driving
wagons, and who lived in the neigbbor.
hood, whom we stopped TO make inqui-
ries about The murder on Saturday night.
They informed us that it occurred three
miles above Us.
A party of men went 10 the house OF
one of them at midnight armed and
mounted called the man out and shot him
at his door, and the same way with the
second one, the third one as the door was
open they went in and shot him in his
blu. ,akinghis hand for his head did not
kill him, and he is getting better, the other
two died in few moments.
Our informan,s seemed 10 be very much
cast down and under great apprehensions
as they were men of families living in the
neighborhood and unable 10 &c, away.
After crossing the Usage we encamped on
the opposite bank near the road.
Our camping place was rather gloomy
one brinc within three miles of the spot