The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-05-21
CORRESPONDENCE or THE NoNPAREIL
Fort KEARNEY, May 9th, 1859.

Correspondence oY THE NONPAREIL
FoRr KEARSEY, May 9th, 1859.
Dear Editor-I got here this morning,
Gall right" having stopped over Sunday on
IN island in transitu between the two outer
banks of the Platte. The cause of my
making so slow time between the "Lone
Tree" station and this point, was buffalo
hunt on Wood River, witch hunt resulted
in the premature death of an Antelope and
Badger, and the very severe wounding Of
large gray Wolf, that had:been SO impru-
dent as to be caught mapping on a hill side.
But buffalo meat, dead badgers or wounded
wolves, are Of little interest to your readers
now. The western gold stories, " are they
humbug or not" is now the all absorbing
topic of thought and conversation. am
satisfied that there is not enough gold at
Cherry Greek or any other creek in that
region to pay for digging, and that great
many fulsehoods have been circulated, con-
corning the richness Of the digsings there.
1t remains vet to be seen, whether there are
any deposits in the mountains that will pay.
Hundreds of teams and great number OF
footmen are going back--perfectly satisfied
that they have been hoaxed. Many Of them
swear vengeance against the men who have
been most active in spreading the glowing
accounts. Most of the footmen have suf-
fered dreadfully. talked with one poor
fellow yesterday, from Michigan, who went
to St. Joe by the river, and helped to draw
hand cart from there to Cherry Greek.
Hc staid twenty days, and did not get gold
enough to pay for loaf bread. He is on
his way home, and will stop in the Bluffs
as he goes through; but, why mention one,
when there are hundreds in just the same
condition. l will not enter into detailed
account of the suferinss of the poor fel-
lows, as, ere this reaches the Bluffs, you
will hear it from their own mouths. Here Is
the place to come to eft out" for the n,ines.
Tho returning emigrants are selling out
their -four and bacon, etc., at less than cost;
and, some of them are foolish enough to
throw away their picks and shovels-when
say foolish, don't refer to footmen; as,
of course, it wouldn't pay for them to bring
such things back to the States. DuyALL
and parted company on the other side of
the river, and, expect he will be in the
Bluffs before this reaches you. We found
the road through most of the way, good.
Wood River was not kuee-dcep at the ford,
and its bottom is frst-rate. There are
plenty of clubs in it, and we caught about
ten dozen. Some Of the men who came
through this route early, had n wet time Of
it. Mr.. STEVENS, whom | mentioned in my
last letter, told me that several footmen lost
their revolvers in Prairie Creek and Big
Slough. There were no bridges over them
then, and.they were out Of their banks
These men would start to wade across, and,
for fear of wettlng their pistols, would hold
them in their hands, when the first thing
they knew down they went into the channel
over their heads, and away went their pis-
tolls, while the ducked pedestrians swan out
to the opposite bank-hopng no doubt to
make up their loss from the banks Of another
famous creek, further westward. opine,
however, that the planted will grow pistols
to cannons before their hopes are realized.
On the bank of the Platte, opposite
here, | saw the body Of Squaw, laid
out in state, Tor laid up to dry) on the
dilapidatcd wall Of an old sod-housc. being
the first Indian had seen, for more than Il
hundred and thirty miles. She was wrapped
in buffalo robes and an old cloth with moca-
sins on her feet, staff five or SIX feet long,
was stuck at her head, with Il duck Sk in
fluttering at its top. Report says, that she
WAS the wife of chief, and that he became
jealous Of her, for undue fa;nili4ritieS with
the men at the fort, and tomahawked her.
Last Saturday, several of the returning god
hunters, went north few miles from here,
buffalo, and another had his horse killed ty
one, or gorcd SO badly, that he shot him with
his pistol to put him out Of his miserv.
think if had got shot &: buffalo. at q
short distance, when we were out, it wouC
have made big hole in him, as had a
United States MuSket, such as you see stack.
ed in Concert Hall. Iprcsume that mos
persons in the States, have a mistaken idss
It kcarney. There is simply n small square
with &c brass cannons planted on it, AM
! surrounded by the quarters of the officer:
and s,,ldiers. Some CT the former are yer,
respec.abiis looking 'uen, and the latter not
bad. went in and taxed to the soldier;
finding everything as net as pm. 4
few Outsiders live here, al ;A2rc are aoo"'
p buildings all told. Parts o. / comp*u'es
about 200 men, are stationed here, and 0.
course, lead a lazy life. had rather g. 70
Cherry Greek ten time a foot, than to live
here a year as soldier. Mr.. Editor, hope
you and your readers, will excuse the brevity
and the rambling style of this letter, as
"iA la tuc 1 OSt NiLCc iiuu StOlej
with dozen men talking around me.
Yours, for Cherry Creek, humbug or not
WV. III. kINsNAS.
P. S. start off afoot and alone, for
. Denver City, as soon as this is mailed.
Pixies Peak.
The following letter from the last mum.