The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-26
Our Nebs aka Correspendepoe.
FoNTESKLLB, Dodge County, N. L.
Aunuat A 1SEQ

August A. 1853.
Adrsnf,ves Of a Nebraska Correspondent Upon the
Great Platte Taiiey-A Family an Troubie-Tra.
yelling Under D;fcuities-7 The Election, Sc. SC.
Your readers have no doubt heard of the rich fer.
tile and beautiful valley of the Platte river away out
in Nebraska To read of il and experience the trou
bles Of four days journey thereon at this season of
the year is two different things In the first place
if you escape being eaten up by flies and musquitos
you have to run your chance of death by drowning.
This spring the waters have been higher than usual
and il was Immediately after the rainy season-on
last Thursday-I started on tour up the Platte in
company with friend. He was ON an eectioneer-
ng tour for himself as representative to the Terri
torial Legislature, whilst was a pleasure trip.
He, believe, Is elected, whilst found anything but
pleasure. We had horse htched before carriage.
The first day we passed over some twenty-five
miles Of high prairie road, just where the lands of
the Platte Valley Join with the bluff or second table
lands of the Platte This brought us TO little log
house comfortable and nice, near the mouth Of Shell
creek. Here upon the valley Of the Platte was the
town of Buchanan. stranger would want to be
told there was town site here to believe II. The
best crops Of corn and wheat on the Platte yaeywe
found here. About nine o'clock In the evening we
started on our journey. This night travel
sary 10 avoid the green headed fly that in swarms
settled upon our horse bleeding him quite cruelty.
From Buchanan we iourneyed on through the water
and through the grass passing well titled farms half
under water. Some six miles from the embryo town
of Buchanan we at twelve o'clock at night came TO
stand still upon the bank Of a nyine some forty feet
wide, and how deep could not imagine. Our horse
too far gn out TO try the ford and through the
wet and mud nearly hub deep to little log house
| surrounded by water we wendell our way Driving
| up 20 the door and giving salute awomans voice
| from within asked what wanted" We told her
| we were unfortunate traveers-must stay there
over night or take TO the wet prairie for nights
| lodging Her husband had gone and she could not
think OF letting us in but after assuring us OF our
| being married men, Of good moral character, she
concluded 10 let us in. After wsding around the
stables getting our weary horse attended TO, we
waded back 20 the house and found our frontier
landlady preparing bunk on the floor for our be
neft. There was, she said, four children besides
| herself and all sick with the fever and ague.
Husband bad gone TO Omaha some four days
| ago, and would not be home for four days more.
| What frewood she got she had 10 pick up aioat.
| and man from the neighborhood, on horseback,
| attended TO the stock. She was undergoing de-
eeidedy hard times; yet amongst the lighter trou-
bugs, deas and mosquitoes, the water, which nearly
came to the floor. drove up innumerable snakes, and
they had got into the habit Of getting into the beds
for protection against the wet. This Of course
anything but pleasant, particularly when she was
| IN the meantime preparing bunk on the
| floor for MS. IL was about midnight when
we coied upon the hard floor with visions OF snakes
| before did not sleep much, and daybreak found
| us wading around the stable, getting our horse
ready TO push on. Again, by daylight, we attempted
our ford OF last night and succeeded after gettng our
selves and things generally in the buggy, completely
| wet through Two miles further through the wet
| and mud we came to another ford tuli as deep ana
wide Once safely on the other side our horse gave
out and after pushing the carriage and pulling the
horse we succeeded in reaching IN one mile com
! Portable stopping place.
| Hero we obtained another horse, and after break
| fast FASTENED on journey. AT noon In
| tbe thriving town Of Columbus, upon the military
road crossing the Loupe Fork, where after resting
awhile we proceeded on TO the pleasantly located
| town of Cleveland in Monroe county. Ntcr brief
| s,av there we returned, Uia Columbus 20 our last
nights quarters, where stayed over night Taking
| our own hose we put on the next morning through
| the wet and mud toward home. Fifteen miles
/ travel and our horse gave out, and amid
| wild thunder storm we stopped AT a bachelor
| rancho. Early the next morning we iourneved on
/ and about noon reached the thriving town of Ere
| mont, where, az a widow ladys house having oh
taineda comfortable dinner we started on oar journey
| Aft~r hard siege along the muddy bad bottoms Of
the Platte river, we reached Elk Horn valley about
| midnight and this place just as day was breaking,
| travelling only little upwards Of two hundred
miles in four days, and suffering all the horrors OF
the Platte valley. The fever and aque il prevail
ing disease along this route at this season MANY OF
the settlers along the route assured me that owing
TO the high water this season thew proposed remoy-
| ing as early az circumstances would admit,
| The election returns have not en,urS, been made ,
| to determine the complexion Of the House or Conn
Gill; An extra session will, understand, he calico
! early 10 September,