Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-26
Western Correspondence.
BRowNvTLLE, NEBRASKA TERRiroRY
April 3, 1859,

sing all Daytonians travelling westward TO
avoid the Terre Haute and Alton Rail Road
But il they will take the risks on that road
(Rnd they are by no means the ordinary risks
incident to rail road travelng,) by all means
let them call on Esquire Young. aud get theii
lives insured before starting, I can give you
but faint idea Of the actual condition of this
road. There is not 100 feet Of level rail
throughout the enti, route, and the iron resem'
bles the coil of serpent more than the sub.
stantial and straight lines Of rail on the various
roads leading from the city Of Dayton. It's
management is as execrable as its condition. end
to insist on the conductors making time on such
a road, is little short of command to commit
murder. II the orders from head quarters were
strictly followed, goodly per centage of the
passengers would require decent funeral at
some point on the route. Aud if the managers
of this road should ever find men who would
follow their instructions, would by all means
advise John Hattie to remove to Nation and
l will guarantee him any quantity of business
in his line.
Persons travelling to the upper Missouri can
save two days time and 1856 miles river steam.
boating, by taking the cars to Jefferson City.
took this route and on the arrival of the car
at that place we found the beautiful steamboat
j. d, Perry, commanded by our old friend
Dutch Davis, waiting for The passengers. It. is
always pleasant to see familiar face among a
host Of strangers, aud the bulky form, and
blooming countenance of old Dutch, as he stood
on the wheel house giving his orders, appeared
to me like green spot IN great desert The
Perry had on board 400 passengers and $50
tons of freight, bound for st. Joseph The
great majority of the passengers were en- route
for Pixies Peak and if one were to Judge by
the actions and conversation Of these men, il is
not slanderiog them to say, that they were leav-
ing their country, for their country good for
a worse class of people, both in conduct and
appearance, ! hope never to meet again. This
is the rule to which there are many respectable
exceptions.
| will give you an idea of the estimation in
which the emigrants are held. stepped on
board the steamboat Hannibal at lnsas City,
and found by comparison that the passengers
trasted with those on the Hannibal. WhileI
stood close to the office, a man stepped up to
the clerk and asked him if there was genlle-
man called Stewart, passenger on that boat
The clerk looked at him for moment aud then
gravely enquired il Mr.. Stewart was gentle
man2 "Heis," replied the stranger. "Then,"
said the clerk, "he is not on this boat, for |
have not seen a gentleman since we left St.
Louis !" The scene on the Hannibal beggars
all description. One party were singing an
obscene song with a lond chorus others were
firing off their revolvorsj the conversation was
of the most profane character And in fact
there seemed to exist among those men a devil.
ish rivalry and he who could most successful.
ly violate all the decencies of life, was evident.
ly held in the greatest estimation by his de~
PRAYED companions.
II is difficult for person who has not tray.
eled over this route 10 estimate the vast extent
of this emigration. ] was informed by gen.
tleman in St. Louis, whose business it is to for.
ward emigrants that the departures from that
city alone, railroad and steamboat, would aver
age, since the 10th of March, 1000 per day in
addition to which at almost every landing on
the river you can see the unmistakable eyiden
ces Of preparation for the mines. AT st Louis
ii was estimated that by the middle of May 100,
600 persons would be at the mines. And from
my own observation since leaving that city,
am fully convinced that the figures given rath.
er under, than over estimstcs the number
Kansas City, Leavenworth, and ST. Joseph,
seem to be fayorlte starting points but those
who are posted on the various rontes prefer &C.
ing by way Of Brownville, Nebraska City, or
Omaha, A glance at the position Of these last
named towns on the map. will satisfy the emf.
grant that nearly one hundred miles OF land
travel may be saved, by starting inlaud from
either Of the three last mentioned places.
The ground around Leagenworth is white
with the tents Of the emigrants, aud l was in-
formed that company Of Daytoniaus were
encamped one mile distant from the city, but
the very short stay made by the steamboat at
that place prevented my going out to sec
them.
As stood on the hill to the right Of Leayon
worth, observed fine martial figure sp
preaching at full gallop from the direction Of
the Fort, mounted on such a sleed as Mnrst
must have bestFode when he made his desper
ate charge on the Mamelukes at Mount Tabor
He was dressed in a military oyercoat. and the
ordinary undress foNge cap Of an officer Of the
army. was mveh impressed with the mill
tary bearing Of tae horseman, and in my own
mind, concluded he could be no less a person,
thau'the ooslmhndant Of the Fort lie passed
me so rapidly as to preclude the possibility OF
a reecs ~aiou. He dashed up to the Planters
House aud throwing the bride reins to ser
want, stepped into the Hotel, with an air tour
en- @iIaais. Prompted by a mingling Of curi-
osity aud admiration. | speedily followed him
determined on closely inspecting a person Of
50 much importance, You will easily guess
my astonishment when discovered under the
Military Cap, profuse mustache, aud whiskers
Of strictly regulation cut the laughtsr-loying,
phiz Of our ancient friend, George W. Nc.
Laughlin, formerly Of Lafayette. Indiana =
Mutual recoRnitions immediately follow ed; for
notwithstanding the high position he hol de in
ihe army, he is quite as good naiured and as
accessible N Of yOre,