The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-31
TIE OVERLAND ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC,
Speci al Correspondence or the Herald.

TUCSON, Arizona, oct. z, lSbS
The Rrs o. lard Nail from 81 Louis Arrived at
n.csor-Mtrdtr Of Acknowledgment Of the
Route from Re- River 10 the Great Staked Plai~-
Tuning Wld 1sles-Neo Roads" Roughin9 NJ
Phantom HIl-&ilitary Posts-Aecidena and Incl
deas-No Trouble from the hsd,ans-Lorritle Murders
By Mericons, DC, dc.
The lrst overland mail from ST. Louis and Memphis
rived here this evening half past eight but hirtyone
hours behind time, having made up twelve of the forty
three hours behind Franklin, opposite I'll Paso We
have had excellent weather far and accidents or
troubles from the Indians. We confident Of reaching
San Francisco within the twenty 1--WE days. send you
the details OF the trip far as have been able TO
plete Thorn from the roughncss Of the roads have yet
% give you tho details Of journey Western
Texas the fertile valley OF the Rio Grande and the noun
tans Of New Mexico.
Aside from the matters OF interest along the route,
the only is of the murder of three Amcri-
at Dragon Springs about seveny-hve miles
from here, by the Mexcans The Americans were named
James Burr, James Cunningham and - Lang Dir.
sias d. St John, of New York, narrowly escaped
with his life by bravsly defending himself 1t
appears that the Mexicans waited until the Anne
ricans were asleep, and then attacked them with
axes, killing the three almost instantly. They then
attacked ST. John who defended himself with hrs pistol
though severely wounded, and drove them off After
they left he lay there three days and four nights until
the first mail from fr6ncco came along being then
almost dead from his wounds hunger and thirst He is
lying in the hospital at Fort Buchanan and is likely
to All the parties employed at the station
by the Mail Company. 1t supposed that the Mexcans
designed to plumber the station, when they escaped
they took some property with them. large reward
has been offered for their apprehension.
My previous letters have traced course from St.
Louis through Western Missouri Arkansas and the Indian
territories to the Red border of Texas Colbcrts
ferry where arrived thirty five hours in advance of
time table time. Though the country through which
had passed was but sparsely peopled, it seemed like
leaving home to bid farewell these settlements to
proceed through the wds Of Texas along its lonely plains
and barren hills and dangerous froRier to the Rio rande
The very log huts Of the friendly Chocaws like home
in comparison TO the almost unnhabied wlds which
10 traverse whore all the evidence OF the presence
of the faint trail OF the teanisters Up TO this
progress had been quite rapid the distances be-
tween the stations were comparatively short, and our
changes OF teams generally readiness; but in the
unsettled country through which pass the
tons were more irregular less prepared and stocked with
yet to experience the beauties Of waiting TO tame wild
mules and "roughng it, on the road, SO that all the time
told you in my last We crossed the Red river at Cobers
ferry, eight miles below Preston, and found many |
improvements on the road in progress on the Texa. |
Grayson county in which the rourshng town Of Sherman
is situated and where We arrived on Monday afternoon
September 20. AS now day ahead o. time,
should not have found teams in readiness had not
been sent in advance TO notify Mr. Bates the Super
part OF the road poorly stocked with animals and
those he had out in forwarding stuff for the
other parts OF the line that he had TO hire extra team
OF mules short notice forward the mail the
station and these pretty well tired from working all
day Most Of his stock consisted of wild mules, which
had just been broken and the process had Cited them
very well for carrying the mail with rapidty Our extra
team hoseysr took Us along so pretty last We ie sher
Inc rolling prairie, covered with fine grass, but with
trees and scarcely shrub for eighteen miles, crossing
number Of beds Of little brooks which dry but
whose banks in winter AFFORD plentiful grazing for cattle,
where rolling prairles thus tntcrsccted extend for
sixty miles, 10 the Lower Cross Tmbers, range OF |
wide woodland extending from the Red river 10 the Bra
this portion OF Texas The lrst station after
leaving Sherman twenty miles distant and team
travelled in three hours, that before reached
there the beautiful moonlight lit up the vast prairie,
making its appear Ike the boundless its
hills like the rolling Here stopped and had the
first opportunity OF witnessing the operation Of harncsng
a wild mule First he had 10 be secured with a laretto
round his neck and drawn by force a post
then the harness bad 10 be put piece by piece
should estimate the time consumed the process
ie-s than half hour TO each Wild mule and that when
the mail has TO wait for might think much better bc
spent the road. Indeed should quito much deem
II IN accordance with the spirit Of the the mail
wat for the leather Of The mail bags or harness 10 be tan
ned. was much amused with the process but seemed
little behind the age for the mail TO wait for IT, and
doubt when all the companys wild mules are tanned the
Fortunately our express had FASTENED the preparations
not long detained here and made next |
thirteen miles TO GAINESVILLE another nourshing little
town good time. After hastily swallowing supper and
changing horses, we were on again and made our next
and ten minutes Mr. Bates who accompanied the mall
beng determined 10 make the best possible time Al this
station there nothing In res ness. the express rider
having lost his way aud some detention experienced
IN Harvesting mors wild mules.
Another disadvantage under which abored this trip
vas that our ROAD for the most Of the way was nearly
though Mr. Bates claims that from sherman 20 Bel
KNAPP At least forty miles are saved by ~ leais through
the counties Of Grayson Cooke Jacks Montague WISE and
Young, al Of which contribute towards It's expenses and
certainly must be favore with some, for though only
ready pretty well marked with wagon tracks There
we're very few heavy grades, and with the combined
efforts q the COUNTIES and the mail company bids far 70
become excellent road II must ~ course improve
every day o. ts use. Soon after leaving GAINESVILLE we
strike the Lower Cross Tmbcrs, through which the
road Tor twenty miles. The trees grow vide apart.
ani are manly q post oak ~ rode through them the
pras, gsvc the entire WOOD the appearance 81
rhard and could not get I'd u the impression that
there plenty Of fut al hand Just the edge o. the
Lower Cross Tfnbcrs 70 station the new l
road where bad the FIRST ~ series q rough meals
which LASTED for most OF The remaining Journey Tue
house built q rough logs ad together roughly and
the ohnks hlled IN with mud. The house about /
twenty feet square forming onc room, md was occupied
~ two men. keeping bachelors hall, miEhi well b. |
judged from the condition 81 things o. which tie reader
may imagine. Our arrival wa unexpected, and there
hustle getting both breakfast anu the team ready
The breakss, served the bottom ~ camille box
aud such sat down were perched inverted pals
CUPS for the coffee, which served without mix |
sugar A there were Ak Of n, including drivers and
wurkmen those not lucky Cnosgh q get ars cup hal
g. Cor the second table. The edblefOr there
bui sted u ind ~ short cake baked the
ttCh man hreak'u4 OF us CHUNK pastcf
butter with hs pocket knife. bat butter a
luxury between the he'd aud tho Pc Grande Al
least the route AZ present though duuhtess will be
plenty when tllc line gets running order "
Ney supplies o. the stations such, nevertheless was
OF meal herc, and we're advised by the h0si ~ 4
thurry up before the CbickeBs eat "a which did. to
t1o 10 title dsoomlturc % the ChCkuns u tasted good
a. me, aud can you that would doubtless taste
o. We q any oue coming over the same route AZ the
same 81 speed
We rode the twenty miles four hours and twenty
minutes over cur new rad. cuurse taking ~
through alternate plans and woods These little pans
skrted with timber and appearing extremely fertile
seemed mOst inviting or the hand - the farmer aud pro
msnr 10 yield abundant or the slightest labor The
frequency 81 these beautiful spots quite remarkable
during this ride the woods seemed D. alternate regg
ygffN these pi4fus / mute whrW