Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-06-11
A Wait OF Distress.

icounts which are given oil The eXiIemt
suffering, even including starvation, Il
which the thousands of emigranls 10 Pike
Peak, and other fabulous gold diggings il
tina, iar-off, destitute region of country
have been wanlonly, cruelty and basell
subjected. The treacherons wave o
speculation. which carried 30 many o
these unfortunate creatures 10 tins mael
slrom Of destruction, is beginning To re-
turn, bu, in lieu of ils precious i'eighl Of
happy, prosperous humanity, 1t onngs
soul piercing wall OF distress and agony
as for example the subjoined
"St. Louis, May 29.-The regular cor
respondent of the Democrat, writing iron'
Denver city on the 18Th inst, recounIs
the mos, deplorable condition OF affairs on
the plains. Many of the em'granls are
diving from starvation, while the others are
subsisling ON prickiy pears and wild on
ions, found along the road. The stage
sgen, reports picking up a man named
Blue, was reduced TO skeleton hon
starvation. On recovering he gave most
lamentable account of his adventures. lie
started in company with two OF his broth
ers, for the mines. One Of them died on
the road, and the remaining two were so
far bordering on stale of starvation that
'.they ate his body" Another died, and
he in turn, was nearly devoured by the
survivor. man named Gibbs, had
reached the mines in starving condition,
and expressed the opinion that his party,
nine in number. had all persisted. Ma
nv graves were seen along the route.
Much property had been destroyed or
abandoned on The road. The writer OF
the letter before referred io,says the num-
Der of departures from the mines is about
equal to the arrivals. About five hundred
of the returning emigrants reach 81. Jo'
seph on Saturday, all Of whom confirm
the previous accounts of the sufferngs
and privalions Of the plains.
"A Fort Kearney, May 18th, cores
ponten, of the 81. Joseph Journal say
that no, less than 900 wagons belonging
to returning Pixies Peakers passed The
For, during The week previous. The
gold seekers are selling their outfits for
almost song. They sell their -four al
from So to SIS; bacon al 10 cents; horses
and cattle they are selling for almost moth
iny, and wagons and handcarls they give
away. There are some returning who
have not cent to take them back, while
those who have anything are hurryIng
back as fast as they can 10 keep from be-
ing robbed by the rest.
"'rhe steamers Iaian and William
Campbell arrived to-day from Omaha,wi'h
over hundred Disconnected Pixies Peak
emigrants. They bring dePlorabIe &C
counts of mining prospects, and report
terrible suffering and priva,lon on the
Plains. Iii estimated that twenty thou
sand men have their backs turned upon
the mines between here and Fort Rear
ney, who will reach The Missouri river
towns within fortnight. Most OF them
are destitute Of money and the necessa'
res OF life, and reckless and desperate by
reason of their desoIale condition. Threats
are made of burning Omaha, 81. Joseph,
Ieavenworlh AMI other river towns, on
their arrival, and al PIatlsmOuih fears OF
their carrying their threats. into execu-
ZION are current, and some Of the residents
have closed their business and fled from
the place"