The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-08-10
Letter from Prof. Tomlinson.
FORT LARAMIE, July 4th, 1859.

Letter from Prof. Tomlinson.
Fort LARAMIE, July 4th, 1859.
think the long desired opportunity has ar
rived to convey few lines, and to verify the
promise made you in my last. to write you at
Omaha. I regret that circumstances rendered
it impossible to do SO. Having few leisure
moments allotted me in my brief stay, cheer
fully devote the time to sketching down few
| sentences.
Since the writing of my last epistle to you,
| the time has wheeled ION fooD this weary Pc
dcstrian over lofty hills and through deep al
leys, passed few large ,cestern cities, and many
small ones; leaving civilization far behind, and
law save that which influences q man to feel
justified in suiting his fancy.
You have undoubtedly learned that myself
and many others are en- route to land where
Pixies Peaks humbug is unknown, and where
Nature has rendered man g position peculiarly
favorable for imagining with what facility good
old MosEs obtained the Holy Commandments,
by occupying an eminence transcending far the
sighto mortal view. As our McGregor friends
have returned, it will be needless to particular.
ize our journey-particularly on the Skunk Bot
toms, between Adells and Des Moines. Suffice
it to say, that never did see the animal in its
proper element till passing over Tor rather un.
der) seven of those distinguished sloughs.
would much prefer journey "to Chicago"
while enjoying an agreeable pass time around
Mrs. RS euchre tables. Yet our noble Captain,
H. B. GEORGE IAN A. No. man) did much to
facilitate our efforts, which smmered large OBJ
stacles down to quite moderate size While
at Council Bluffs, we had the pleasure of con-
graduating some Of the McGregor sons on their
returning gold expedition their general extc-
rior indicated little disappointment, but moth
ing resembling shave-on the upper lip
Crossed the muddy-appearing waters of the
Missouri to Omaha, and there remained a cou-
pie of days to make all due preparations for
trip to the Pacific State. Our first nights camp
after leaving this town, was at Elkhorn. The
long dark night was favored with a most re-
freshing thunder shower, and, at early dawn, a
young Niagara was rolling his way beneath the
bodies of four weary pedestrians, with all that
terrific grandeur common on such occasions
However, we made out to survive the catastro.
phe, and, with due ceremony, made haste to
leave the spot, and were highly pleased to find
that our next camping was on the beautiful val.
ley of the Platte, where the roads were most
superb. Soon passed a couple of graves. said
| to contain Curtis and CouRrwR1GHr, but on ex.
| animation found that each man was made of
cottonwood.
| After few days. travel we arrived at the
Loups Fork ferry, where very many teams were
patiently waiting their turns to cross that shall.
by ten hours delay.
Forty.fve miles from the latter place we dis.
covered the first Antelope. Their numbers
kept increasing till arriving opposite Fl. Kear-
ney, then on to Fort Laramie numberless docks
of them could be seen in any direction. Also
buffaloes, prairie 6ogs und wolves,-the latter
never failing to notify the intruders of their pre-
emption, by their nocturnal bowls. The buffalo
seems to be the most desirable game among the
emigrants, at least those were my feelings one
bright morning, as spied most prodigious fel
low at a little distance, feeding by the river
-Four Of us-ferocious men-made ready to ex
change an ounce Of lead for a few pounds OF
beef; but our first attempts, strange to say, re-
suited in little disappointment, for as we near
a easf Raiss es sercss
such manner that Egyptian rods would be Of
little account, evidently giving his pursuers the
privilege Of following suit; nevertheless, GU,
mornings empty meat dish was most gloriousy
filed with that choice beef by night.
AS we followed the Platte on the north side
it prevented us from seeing Fl. Kearnsy, but i
we are correctly informed we need not regre
it, as I understand it possesses nothing of inter
est. The next fort is pleasantly located abou
one and a half miles south of the river, and con
ssts Of one suffers store, few respectable
looking buildings, and two log trading posts
The post Office is made up of ten by twelve
logs at that; also clever P. NJ, made of tn
pure Irish blood. One hundred soldiers ar,
here at present; several are removed to Sal
Lake. 49,
Much excitement has recently broke out i,
this vicinity, relative to the still more newl,
discovered gold mines, lying about ITS mile
from Laramie, called the Gregory Mines.
was informed by HORACE GREELEY (of the Ne,
, York 7ribune) and others, that gold can be ha
there in paying quantities. GREELEY told m
that he saw five men take out $500 in one day
and also twelve men one thousand pennyweight
in the same time. Yet he thinks az provision
are very high, and the season far spent, that
, would not be advisable to emigrate this yea,
Many of the California emigrants are crossin.
the river at Laramie, with the intention of es
ploring those mines. Some have prospectcd il
the Black Hills, and found very little on th
south side of the Platte.
We have thus far seen but comparatively fe,
, Indians. Some little excitement arose on Jun
I S3d, from their attacking and killing twent
emigrants forty or fifty miles east of Lara ME
on the south side. In conclusion, it may not b
improper to add, that after leaving your inter
esting town, no natural scenery came under GU
notice, worthy of note, till our eye caught
glimpse Of Chimney Rock, at a distance Of sixt
miles, lying fifty miles east of this fort. ]
bears close resemblance to an ancient castle
with dilapidated spire rising to an immens
/ height. Also, the Court House Rock, including
many others Of similar shape; the whole pre-
senting picturesque panorama, resembling oil
Babylon. AZ you are well informed touching
all matters laid down in the Book Of books,
it will be needless to extend the description.
II date my letter at LARAMIE, but we hay,
celebrated the glorious 4th by driving through
! deep sand all day, aud onight we are 1875 mile