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

under claim Of Pre-emptionl Of course,
in the absence of any U. S. Survey, with
the Indian title still uuextnguisbed. this
claim is most impudent, but that will not
prevent their asserting it, aud | fear With
success. Their interest on one side will
be strong; they can threaten to exert a
political influence, favorably or adverse
ly as the case may be, to those whom
they 6nd in power; if they are only tena-
cious enough, impudeUt enough, they will
probably carry their point Yet they
might as fairly prc-eupt the White
House at Washington, should they ever
chance to find it vacant.
We drove across a badly quilted re-
gion, wherein are the heads of Horse
Creek-the first stream on our route that
runs to the North Plstte-and struck the
Chugwater just where it emerged from
the mountains, about II a. m. Thence
we followed down this creek more than
forty miles. crossing it four times, and
finally leaving it on our left to follow to
the Lamarie river, eight or ten miles a.
bove this place.
The Chugwater is a ripid, muddy mill
stream, running in deep, narrow, tor
tuous channel, and constantly gouging
into one bank or the other,- except where
the willows and some other small shrubs
oppose the resistance of their matted
roots to the force Of the current. The
rocky hills sometimes crowd the stream
closely, compelling the road to make
circuit over the high prairie adjacent. to
avoid the impracticable canons through
which the stream frets and foams on Its
devious way. The "Red Buttes," are
numerous and conspicuous on the upper
course of this creek-the ochry earth or
rock which gives them their peculiar COL
or being accounted rich Iron Ore. On
the lower bottoms of this stream We found
far better grass than elsewhere on this
journey. But the day was hot, and our
mules suffered so much from musketoe-
snd flies, that they ate 6tfully and spars
ingly where We halted for dinner, and "a
gain where we stopped for the ght.--
We were unable to stop where the grass
was best, because We could not get our
animals down to water.
We made our last camp at point tbir-
ty miles from this post, having made l6O
miles in three days travel, hampered by
the necessity of finding grass aud water
for our beasts. With grain, think they
would easily have made sixty five miles
per day. We stopped beside stone and
mud shanty of very rude construction,
where Frencbman had this Spring made
a small dam across the Chugwater, so as
to irrigate and fence (by ditch) small
piece of intervale, on which be had at
tempted to grow some grains and vegeta-
bles, with fair promise of success. He
waa absent, and no person or domestic
animal was to be seen about bis place
The night was uncoumonly warm for
this region-the musketoes good deal
more attentive than obliging. We rose
early again, came on ten miles for break
fast, passing almost continually between
two rows of magnificent Buttes, often
looking 10 the distance like more or less
ruined castles; one of them reminded me
strongly of the Roman Coliseum. Two
miles after breakfast, we crossed the
Chugwater for the last time, and left it |
running north to the Laramie, while We
struck more easterly course for this
place. Two miles further on we came to
ID ost excellent spring-the first had
seen since | emerged from the Rocky
Mountains, By Clear Greek, two weeks
before. [ had been poisoned by brook !
water-often warm and muddy--so long |
that | could hardly get enough of this
We now passed over twelve or fifteen
miles of high, rolling, parched, barren
prairie, and halted for dinner by little
brook--the only one that crosses our
trail between the Cbugwater and Lara
mie-after which we drove down oppo-
site this place in an hour, but were o.
biged to 60 two miles below, and pay
So so bridge.tol to get across the Lara
mie, now very high, and looking decided
ly larger at their junction than the North
Platte itself.
Il have been tediously minute in my
record of this eross-march to reach the
bi.h road to California, because some
kind friends have demonstrated with me
against the fancied perils of my journey,
as if were running recklessly into dan.
ger. believe this portion of my route
is at least as perilous as any other, being
the only part not traversed by mail
stage or any public conveyance, and ly'
ing wholly through region in which
here are not a dozen white settlers, all
Iold, while it is a usual battle ground be-
tween hostile tribes Of Indians. But We
were never in any shadow of danger, and.
slough | was compelled to ecoDoGise
steps in order to complete the healing OF
my lame leg. have rarely bad more
pleasant journey. Let any one who wish
,s an independent and comfortable ride
ust run up to Denver and ask my friend
D. b. Wheelock to harness up his four
mule team to the Roekaway wagon aud
AXE him over to Laramie, and il he does
rot enjoy fine prospect, fine breeEes,
ively pace and excellent company, then
"a iii he less fortunate than was