Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-10
Neliie's Journal

Goose Creek. Saturday aud Sunday campcd
four miles this side Of Rock Springs. The
boys gathered some Wild curranis On the mar
gin Of the streams Mrs. G. made some pics,
Oi Which ate II picce-the only thing that
bad eaten that tasted gOOI for some time.
Monday, 18th. We camped in Thousand
Spring Valley.
Tuesday 18th. Very warm and dusty
Passed long train Of OK teams; five women
walking, one barcfnOtcd and the rest nearly 10
Willie all were strong aud robust looking, and
well fitted to endure the hardships Of such a
trip. We were very, very thirsty before wc
came to any water. aud disappointed We were
Z in finding it a muddy and alkaline stream. -
Soon came to the wells near the head Of Mary's
Or Humboldt river We took the left hand
road next to the mountains, where we have
good mountain grass for the horses and cold
pure water from the snOw.toppcd mountains
while the other twO roads pass through the
valley, where the grass aud water is alkaline
nlid -IoIghs hnd Inu,l-hOlc1 pre- numerous.
CAmpcd after sun-dOwn on beautiful stream
the water flowing over rocks in miniature cas-.
cadcS. DevOurcd our pancakes by the light
Of the moon.
Wednesday, Goth. Very dusty and warm
Such lovely mountain torrents! perfect beau.
ticS How wish owned one dashing and
sPa,hing through nice little farm. Lunchcd
in grove Oh the baI,kH of- -s,He ef the finest
streams ] ever saw, where the water rushed
AMI Gniglcd over rocks, trees, and logs re-
;Hinhing me Of 1.-THE way the water comes
down at I.odorc.' The banks were quite steep,
bat IN onc place good Dame Nature had form
cd steps Of the roots Of a gnarly tree, whereby
We descended 10 the brink Of the fJamin.
stream, where we held the butter can in the
water To it> oily cpnteLht: Aftcr show er-
iry one another Z, hea,Lsehn1 arranging Oui
toilets, "c ate oar Tiafff and humble iafc with
graf relish, meanwhile 9ua!ling the spark
ll:'g ilnI that far cxcclS the "sham-r,agnc'
that brings on "rcal.pain." \ large stone
OverlIun@ tic bank. on which clambcrcd tu
arrang" tine beautiful flowers | had gathered,
and t. watch the movements Of a spccklci sil-
very trout tlIa. gracefully glidcd in the quiet
waters Of II deep basin while ever and anon
] jot d"wn few words in this old Journal
/ CamPcd on hill near an icy-cold spring.
Wind blowing hard aud cold. Another of the
ShoNh0Ecs came to our tent. They spring up,
as if by magic, from behind some sage.bush
startling one BY their sudden appcarancc. -
They do not spend much time in making al
elaborate toilet; and truly might, with Miss
nothing u wear "--thcir wardrobe being so
scantily supplied. They seem to wander about
alone; no sq'Iaws or nohaas are visible, which
Is, am told, suspicious sign. They gain
their living by bcggiag from the cmigrait.,
and searching ainOrg the bushes for sage
squirrels or gOphcrS, which they punch out 0i
their hole with n long lick, then catch and
kill them, aad stick their head, under the
string or belt around their wait. Onc Indian
had iiitcen thus suspended from his girdlc,
and offered me one, saying il was "muchn
wan"." These Indians are short in stature.
big'hcaded, long-haiIeI, l,izzlc.pateI, inicIIDr
looking beings.
Thursday, 2l>t. Very cool morning. The
Indian came back before breakfast, having
been well pleased with his hearty supper Oh.
talcd from u, and having been 10th To leave
the camp last night, when sent away. lie
had AMUSED himself by examining articles nj
though We watched him closely tinn'Iv he
crossed the brook, nnd was intent on pning
an "'I lantern to pieces, but when he saw II.
r";nlng rapidly towards him, he courraicd
something III the dirt and grass at his feet
II. stopped d0wn, felt IL Shooh0nc's belt, then
III the dirt, and succeeded in finding his poicn-
ard which the Indian had taken from his coat
pocket SciZing the dirk, and the Indian :
tpnahawk at the same time, he brandishcd the
weapons in the air, talking very excitcdly the
while, 80 That the red lIln COW cred with fright
grovcing in the dust ike whipped CIR
while We i0okcrS-On expected to sec him spring
up, with vengeance IN his fist and club in
his eye, and attack the brave and heroic Joseph,
who was gnaslling his teeth and uttering big
words very rapidly; but the encounter result
! cd in Joe going back 10 the wagons. and the
Indian dcmurcly scratching his pate aud going
down the hill, undoubtedly wondering wheth-
er Joe was in earnest and il he intended to
keep the tomahawk. Joe left it, however,
near the camp fire, knowing that the Indian
would come back aS soon aS we were gone to
pick up crumbs, bones, &c., as they always
do. N0tre put up that packer was robbed
by an lndian Of every thing hut his pants
Stopped at n stream which seems to be the
last for some distance, as the country appears
very barren before us.
Friday 22d. Bought of the Indians some
fresh antelope meat for five basins Of flour: also
some cnirants for bread. Slight sprinkle
red, angry clouds in the west Heard of the
man who was shot in his back with an arrow
by lnGians-he ran q mile before he came in
sight Of his train, then extrcatcd the arrow
and tainted. We heard of the accidental dis.
charge If gun breaking the ankle of IL man
who suffers such cxcruciating pain, that his
grOans can-bc heard great distance, and he
bcgs to be left by the roadside. We went
down some OF the steepcSt mountains that we
have yet descended We went running down
ut break neck speed, while the men locked
the wheels, tied ropes to the hind end of the
wagons and held back, sliding along on the
ground. aud the poor horses sliding, and sit.
ting on their launches half of the time ina.
king sport for the wOmanitcs at the base Of
the hill. Not long since Government wagon
went end over end down this hill. Noon.--
Very steep jump IF in the creek we last pass
ed through. We were some distance from it.
whom we saw B. riding very fast on hOl setback.
Mr. q. goes back expecting to find one Of the
baggagc-wngons broken; and We patiently
await the coming of the provision trunk, that
we may eat and be comforted. Our worst
fears are realized. One of the forward wheels
was broken in going down the jump-of, for
Sam, Zone of the horScs) stumbled and fcll on
his knees, thus causing the spokcs of the
wheel to break. After putting in new Spokes
and setting tho tire, the wagon was drawn up
where we were; and We partook of some re.
frcshment. ! assist in Harvesting and unhar-
Messing the horses, and leading them to water
Hard afternoons travel up and down steep,
high hills All very tired. Wagon wheel
broke ngain on the top of n rocky hill
Sunday, 24th. My brother is twenty -onc
years old today. Was obliged to do INV wash.
ing and mending on the Holy Sabbath day.
as We start at sunrise and travel until sunset,
averaging twenty.six or more miles day.
Monday 05th Slw .;xtoon Ind;on. n II Al Lo;.