The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-09-08

peT0eps Que pettJ iifiuS etiedn, VIC otooo
at 5, D. M, on the south bank Of Cache
lie. Poudre, 20 miles from Denver, and B.
far the most formidable stream betwee
the South Platte and the Laramie. Gu
conductor was as brave as mountainee
need be. but be was wary as well, ant
had seen so many people drowned in for
ding such streams, especially the Greer
River branch of the Colorado; that h'
chose to feel his way carefully. So bt
waited and observed for an hour or more
meantime sending word to an old French
mountaineer friend from Utah. who ha.
pitched his tent here, that his little belE
was wanted. There bad been ferry
boat at this little crossing till two nigbt
before, when it went down the stream
and had not since been heard Of A
horseman we met some miles below as
sured US that there was no crossing, but
this we found was a mistake-two men
mounted on strong horses crossing before
our eyes, and two heavy-laden ox-wag-
ons succeeded in doing the same, save
TIA. one Of them stuck in the stream, and
the oxen bad to be taken off and driven
out, being unable to pull it while them
selves half buried in the swift current. -
But these crossings were made from the
other side, where the entrance was better,
and the current rather favored the pas
sage; the ox-wagons we're held to the
bottom by the weight of their loads, while
ours was light and likely to be swept
down stream. At length our French
friend appeared, mounted on powerful
horse, with an attendant on another such.
He advised US to stay where we were, for
the night, promising to come in the NOR
ming, With a heavy OK team. and help US
over. As this, however, involved loss
of at least ten miles on our next days
drive, our conductor resolved to make an
atteuptthen. So the Frenchman on his
strong horse took one of our lead mules
by the halter, and the Indian took the
other. and we went in, barely escaping
an upset from gong down the steep bank
obhqucly, and thus throwing one side of
our wagon much above the other; but We
righted in a moment. and went through
the water being at least three feet deep
for about hundred yards, the bottom
broken by large boulders, and the current
very strong. We canped as soon as fair
ly over, lit fire, and having obtained
quarter of an Antelope from our French
friend, proceeded to prepare and discuss
a II ost satisfactory supper. Table, of
course, there was none, and We had un-
luckily lost our fork; but We had still two
knives, sufficiency of tiu cups and plates,
with an abundance of pork and pilot
bread, and an old bag for table-cloth,
which had evidently seen hard service,
aud had gathered more dirt and blood
10 the course of it than table cloth
actually needs. But the Antelope ham
was fresh, fat and tender; and it must
have weighed less by three pounds when
that supper was ended than when its plep
aration was commenced.
By the way, there was a discussion at
supper between my three companions
all mountaineers of ripe experience-as
TO the relative merits OF certain meats, of
" wbich give the substance for the benefit
Of future travellers in this wild region
Buffalo found to be general favorite,
though my experience of it makes it a
tough, cry wooden fibre only to be eaten
lpder great p-ovocatioD. infer that it
S poorer in spring than at other seasons,
md tha have not been fortunatei in cooks
Bear, | was surprised to learn, is not gen.
,rally liked by mountaineers-my CON-
osnions had eaten every species, and
we're not pleased with any. The black
JAILED Deer of the mountains is a general
favorite; sois the Mountain Hen or Grouse;
20 is the Antelope, of course; the Elk and
Mountain Sheep less decidedly SO. None
If our party liked Horse, or knew any
way OF cooking it that would n nske it re-
lily paatable, though, of course, it has to
,e eaten occasionally, for necessity hath
10 law-or, is its own law. Our conduc-
or bad eaten broiled Wolf, under com.
,ulsioD, but could not recommend it; but
Ie certified that slice Of cold boiled Dog
-sceU boiled, so as to free it from rank
Iess, and then suffered to cool Thoroughly
lis tender, sweet, and delicate as lamb.
ought to have ascertained the species
nd age of the dog in whose behalf this
estimony was borne-for young New
ouDdlaDd or King Charles mig BIT justify
be praise, while it would te utterly un-
in the case of an old cur or
nastif-but the opportunity was lost, and
can only give the testimony as ! receiv.
d it.
-Cach-le- Poudre seems to be the cen.
-e of the Antelope country. There are
o settlements but small beginning just
t this ford, as yet hardly three months
Id, between Denver, 10 miles, on one
de, and Laramie, 80 miles, on the 9th
r. The North Platte aud the Laramie
9th head in the mountains, 40 to 60
lies due west of this point, then pursu-
g a generally north course, for more
Ian hundred miles among the hills,
hieh are here lower and less. steep than
lrther south. The bold, high, regular I
ont displayed by the Rocky Mountains.
II at least hundred land, believe, for