The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-08-04

beds of creeks running down from th
high prsiries-creeks which in White
and early Spring are sweeping torrents
but now are wastes of thirsty sand. Thu
has it been for ninety miles-tbus is
for many miles abo7e and | presum
many also below. The road from Leav
enworth to Denver had to be taken SON,
so miles north of its due course to obtail
even such passage through the Ameri
can Desert; Oh direct line from the heac
of Solomon's Fork, it must have passed
over some 200 miles of entire absence o.
wood and water.
Il have seen, during the last three OF
four days, several bands of wild Indians
I-Arapahoes. Cheyennes, Kioways, ST.
oux, &C., mainly the two former. Oh
these the Arapaboes have been the most nu-
merous and repul,ive. Their children swar-
med around US at Station l6--the men be.
ing mainly absent on marauding expe-
dition against the Pawnees-lhe women
staying in their lodges. The young ones
are thorough savages-their allowance OF
clothing averaging six inches square Of
buffalo skin to each, but so uneqally dis
tiibuted Gas is the case with worldly goods
in generaD that the u majority have far
scantier allowance. A large Cheyenne
village is eneamped around Station 10,
where we stopped last night; and We have
been meeting squads of these and other
tribes several times day. The Kioways
are cncamped some eight miles from this
spot. They all profess to be friendly,
though the Cheyennes have twice stopped
and delayed the express wagons on pre-
tense of claiming payment for the injury
done them in cutting wood, eating grass,
soaring away game. &c. They would
ell like to beg. and many of them are
deemed not disinclined to steal. We are
to pass through several more encamp.
meDts, but expect not rouble from them.
The Cheyeunes are better clad, and seem
to have more selfrespect than the Ara
pahoes, but they are all low in the scale
Of intellectual and moral being, and must
fade away unless they can be induced to
work. More Of them hereafter.
The unusual dullness of this letter is
partly accounted for BY al accident Two
evenings since, just as we were nearing
Station II, where We were to stop for the
night, my fellow passenger and | had
jocular discussion on the guiies into
which we were so frequently plunged, to
our personal discomfort. he promised
that it was consolation that the sides of
these gulies could not be worse than per.
pendicular; to which l required with the
assertion that they could be and were
for instance where gully, in addition to
its perpendicular descent had an inclination
Of 45 degrees or SO to one side the track.
Just then violent lurch of the wagon to
one side, then to the other, in descending
one of these jolts, enforced my position.
Two minutes later, as we were about to
10 descend the steep bank of the creek in.
eryale, the mules acting perversely, my
friend stepped out to take them by the
lead, leaving me alone in the wagon. Just
hen, we began to descend the steep pitch,
he driver pulling up with all his might,
when the left rain of the leaders broke,
md the team was in moment sheared
'ut of the road and ran diagonally down
be pitch. Iu second, the wagon went
'ver, hitting the ground most spiteful
blow. | of course went over with it, apd
when rose to my feet as soon as posi-
lie, considerably bewildered and dishev-
led, the mules had been disenged by the
upset and were making good time across
he prairie, while the driver, considera-
,ly hurt, was getting out from under the
Iarriage to limp after them. | had a
light cut on my left cheek and worse
me. below the left knee, with pretty
mart concussion generally, but not bone
tarted nor tendon strained, and walk.
d away to the Station as firmly as ever,
eaving the superintendent and my fellow
passenger to pick up the pieces and guard
he baggage from the Indians who in
tanty swarmed about the wreck. | am
ore yet, and little lame, but three or
our days rest-if can ever getit--will
make all right. This is the first and on.
y accident that has happened to the Ex.
ress line, though it has run out some
hirty passage gewagons from Leavenwortb,
nd perhaps half so many back from
Denver. And this was the result of
asualty for which neither driver nor Com
any was to blame.
Three days hence, | hope to be at
)enver le5 miles distsnt, whence our
,test ad'ices are very cheering to the
carts of the legions of faint and weary
old-seekers we have passed on the way.
trust, for their sakes, that this news
ill prove fully true. But you will have
card by telegraph before this can reach
ou.
X---Good Bye to the Desert.
DENVER Tnue r 1870