The weekly Butte record., 1858-10-23
The Overland Route

The following interesting description of
trip to Salt Lake, by the Overland Mail Route
is clipped from the Aha's correspondence
We crossed the Twenty-Six Mile Desert
the road passing over plain of deep sand
across and through which the horses have tt
walk slowly; the sun pouring down great hea
upon US, and the mountains on both sides hav
ing a black. burnt appearance, as if JUS
emerged from the depth of volcanic fire
Sage bushes grew around US. We crossed al
alkali fiat. three and half miles, over a road
hard and smooth-not a sign of vegetation
upon it, and looking like lake. Having
crossed the desert, We struck the river again
at dark got supper, and pushed on again, ovel
twenty miles more Of desert, to Ragtown, once
famous for its cotton houses and bad whiskey--
where spectators assembled to buy the weary
animals and broken wagons of emigrauts
1t is said one time to have contained thirty
whiskey shops. and was broken up by famine
and disease in 1854. There is Il large cluster
of graves hear by, which are said 10 have been
dug chiefly by bad whiskey. AT present. Rag
town consists OF one house and blacksmith
shop, watermelon patch ard haystack
The good wife who occupies the house is pa.
tient and atient We, and receives the respectful
thanks of all travellers. This was the last torn
the last spot dignifed with the name-and
almost the last roof there was to greet onr eyes
But we did not regret leaving tive ouly re-
GREETED that We were obliged to tarry until
daylight. This was the sum of our first day s
ride, eighiy-eight miles from Van Sycle's.
On tht morning of the Sth we started out
to cross the desert forty miles the to sink. The
FIRST fifteen miles are slightly elevated, and the
road is through CONTINUOUS lead OF deep,
heavy sand. At noon We were ha'f way across
and stopped to exchange animals, which had
been sent on for US from Ragiown the night
previous. The road then is hard and smooth
tor the greater portion of the way, but the
plain around For thousands of acres together is
leafess and lifeless white arid plains without
water, upon which the sun glares. And here,
too, over this whole forty miles, are the signs
of wreck and ruin which has fallen upon the
unfortunate emigraDts in past years. Heaps
OF bones lie everywhere, and everywhere are
the iron remnants Of wagons. 1t is estimated
that ten thousand tons of wagon irons are ly-
ing in the sands on that desert and there are
OK chains enough unbroken, TO form a contin-
uous line to Salt Lake. This forty miles is
the terror of the whole route, and no wonder.
These bleaching bones and rusty irons are evil
dences the sight of which makes one wish to
hurry on, and not feel safe until they no longer
greet the eye. | never saw q desert before,
and | do not wish to see another.
CHANGE OF SCENE.
Sept. l0.-The country to-day begins to
assume more living appearance. The alkali
has nearly disappeared, aud the river bottom
is well covered with grass. The mountains
also present some signs of vegetation. There
were men on horseback to-day. driving six
mules badly worried out
1lth-Last night was cold, and to keep
warm | arose and built huge fire. We were
harnessed and fl at A. NJ, and soon after
leaving camp at bend in the river, came upon
a band of 300 Pahnte Indians, nearly all
standing along the roadside, begging for to-
bacco or some other trash. They are mostly
naked, and claim TO be friendly, They are ihs
largest Indian nation on the continent, and oc-
cupy a very large extent of the country, name
ly, from the Oregon line TO the Mohave, and
from Carson Valley to 170 miles up the Hum
boldt. They are satd TO be governed by one
great chief, and are always at war with the
ShoshoDes, their neighbors, whom they uni
formly conquer in battle. We are now upon
the dispute territory between the two nations,
where most Of their conflicts take place.
This evening we camped at five. in one Of
the most delightful spots in the world A
meadow spreads out before US, clothed with
heavy growth of excellent grass, which is
being cut and stacked for the company stock,
at Sl3 30 per ton, on the ground. After our
long. dusty ride, it was delightful to bathe in
the Humboldt, and rest upon the sweei-scented,
new-mown hay. We had now passed the
point OF division into the enemies country, and
tonight commences our first guard. Five
ShoshoGes are in camp-dark, ugly-looking
fellows, at first claiming to be Pah-ntes. THY
are only hungry, and eat all that is given
them. The sunset afforded magnificent dis
play of prismatic colors. through the light
clouds which gathered in the afternoon, We
rode over a good deal of alkali to-day-forty
miles from Alex. Chevarnues.
THE MOST DANGEROUS POINT ON THE ROUTE.
12th-At 2 A. NJ, started and rode 29
miles to breakfast, over level plain, and an
excellent road keeping close together, to avoid
an attack. Our train now consisted of two
carriages, drawn by four mules each, seven
men on mules, driving FIVE loose animals. AT
ter breakfast we rode on a good road. 25 miles,
to Rocky Point, arriving at sunset. Indians
on foot and horseback came out to meet US on
the road. following us for long distance.
They said they wished to be friendly with the
whites. They lad not attacked an American
this season, although the mail rider had re-
Gently killed two of their warriors, in cold
blood. while they were quietly fishing. 1t was
the Bonaks who robbed the mail They were
thieves, and very strong. The whole band left
us, except one, before we came iato camp
He came along and wished to oremain with US
said we must be watchul, as there were bad
Indians close by, who would run off our ami
mails. He also wished to travel up the river
with US, as far as his fathers.
Rocky Point is high, rocky bluff upon tie
river bank. The road follows near the river
where there is good grass, A few miles be-
low is a large village Of Shoshones, and their
theivish dispositions renders this point one ol
the most dangerous on the road for a night
camp. These Indians have uniformly COM
mitted dcpredations upon travellers. Last fall
woman was seal ed by them. She escaped
and now lives near Sacramento. Her sclaT
was afterwards recovered from the Indians.
We had one wild mule in our train, thai
was considered of little account, except that
she could scent an Indian long way off, ant
on such occasions would blow her nose will
great shrillness. While talking with an In
dian visitor, the mule had strayed down upoI