Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-12
Nellie's Journal.

run INTO tnelr nOleS on our approach. 10
day a -. wonder if we all laid in "au
ample stock Of good humor, and . genuine
disposition to be pleased, determining to trave
in true cOntrabandista style, taking things as
we found them, rough or smooth; and ming
ling with all classes in kind of vagabond com
panionShip. With such disposition and de-
termination, what county this is for trav.
eler, where the most miserable inn is as full Ol
adventure as an enchanted castle, and every
meal is in itself an ACHE eVement" Passed sew.
eral graves Have not seen q house for six
teen days; "yet so extensive and uninhabited
are many portions Of these regions, that ma
turc is still unsubdued, and wild men, as well
as wild beasts, roam about at pleasure, in their
original condition. have heard that recent
this region Of wildness particularly those Of
Kansas. But while that new territory has
been settled but little more than one hundred
the traveller has nearly thousand miles moro
to pass, before he can find civilized or peo:
pied country. Through that broad belt, the
seasons come and go with the same changes
as formerly, from summer to winter. For q
time the ground is swept by freezing winds,
and covered with snow, though the winter is
/
summer the prairies are clothed in grass of the
richest shades of green, thickly intersperced
with beautiful flowers, which extend in an un.
broken surface like rich carpet, over the
swclls and dcpressions Of the rolling prairics,
sometimes twenty or thirty miles under the
eye of the spectator, standing on an emincnce.
The grass is nutriciouS, and the bene6cence of
the Creator is displayed in an almost unequal
led manner, in the aspect of those remarkable
regions, IN the season Of fertility. But the
difficulties and dangers to which travellers are
sometimes subject, even these cast shade Of
melancholy and gloom over every rcflecting
mind. Bones of animals almost line the road
in some parts, where mules and oxen have
been turned out of the harness, when broken
! down by disease, lame, or tamishing for want
Of water; or where, as on desert parts of the
route. grass or water is never to be found
But the signs Of the death of men, women and
children arc more likely to produce sorrowful
reflections, and to dcpreSS the minds of those
pursuing the same long and sometimes haz-
ardOnS route"
Saturday, 4th. Opposite Of rock which our
guide tells US is the "Court House Rock, q
huge, isolated mass of rocks, OF soft, marly
formation, which the elements are fast wear
ing away. From some points Of view it re
scmblcS an ancient Storm.b beaten castle. CHM
ney ROrk is single slender shaft or column,
rising from the summit Of q low cOnical bill, to
d great height This is fast yielding to the
hand Of tine. Capital Hill, or ScOtt's Bluffs,
is most singular group Of hills, also on the
opposite side Of the river. Seen from dis
tancc, by slight stretch Of the fancy, they
resemble an ancient city Of vast and massive
buildings, with lofty domcs and stately spires 4"
Came in sight OF Laramic's Peak, enshrouded
in mist, and tapped with snow.
Tuesday, 7th. Opposite Fort Laramie-thc
current too swift, SO the boys could not swim
the river and get our letters.
Friday, 10th. Passed through vallies, over
hills and mountains, some stony, rough and
steep; while around us were reared, like
\ massive wal, lofty eedaF-crowned mountains
with rocky terraced Sides, and enamellcd hills
be.gclnmcd with flowers of various hues.-
Deep ravincs with overhanging trees, through
which the mountain torrent has leaped and
gurgIcd in the early spring time, add beauty
aud interest to the scene, while our road winds
in q crcuitous route.
Saturday, llth. Lost sight of Laramic's
Peak. All started off in good spirits. There
arc eleven wagons, thirty.n persons, many
horses and cattle, and three dogs, making quite
a cavacadc. Passed up bluff where we saw
boulders Of singular appearance, round and
smooth. and some no larger than cannon balls,
and others Of q great size. at is from such
as these that the river Cannon Ball, tributa-
! ry Of the Missouri, takes its name." Campcd
in beautiful grove on an island, where we
had plenty Of good wood.
Tuesday, l4th. Passed log house, the first
house that we have seen for twenty three days.
Babe adieu to the Platte, after journcying on
its banks over 600 miles. Passed the mineral
springs, the waters of which are injurious to
man or beast. Came to Avenue Rock, which
is long ridge of jagged rocks, projecting
from grasS-cOvcrcd mountain, at the foot Of
which the road winds. Camped within mile
Of 800 .\rappahOes.
Thursday, 10th. Went into blacksmith
shop To srea Rocky Mountain bear, one month
old. From thence we went to Independence
Rock, and at its base the horses were turned
out to feed, while we ascended its smooth,
steep sides. Up We went, full Of glee, and in
high spirits, OWING, undoubtedly, to our being
elevated. Up we went among the breczeS
who were having a wild frolic; up, up, with
here n slip and there jump-now mascu-
line hand extended to help a sliding feminine,
"a leap-a spring-a loud hurrah and we
arc where Fremont and his men celebrated q
Fourth Of July. How We ran about, playing
a game Of romps with zephyr, gentle breeze,
and the rude whirl-wind. This rock is 800
feet long. GOO feet wide, and 1876 feet high,
and is an isolated granite. Hundreds Of names
Of emigrants hunters, and explores are en-
graved and painted on its surface. Along the
south foot Of the rock flows the beautiful
Sweet Water, and here we first cross it Hav.
ing spent two hours here, we 60 on Eve miles
further, turned out the horses to feed, bolted
our dinners with unspeakablO avidity, and
commenced the ascent of the Devils Gate
Up we clambcred over huge rocks piled one
on another, with here Cedar springing, as it
were, out of the hard mass, or growing from .
cleft whose rough edges seem to press the very
lite-Sap from its tTunk, and there is narrow
winding path of earth blown hther, with tufts
Of flowers whose faces turn purple and scarlet
with rage, at thus having their solitude broken.
Now We see Cedar, and beneath its shade
We fain would rest our weary limbs, but can
not spare the time. Here we stand near the
edge Of perpendicular rock, and look down.
ward, where We see rocks in wild confusion,
and trees projecting from their sides, far be,
meath US; and we turn away, faint and dizzy,
but up we 60. We breathe hard--we pant
We puf-;we don't walk as fast, we OCCASION
ally lean, stand still, or sit dOwn-our faces
have assumed the hue Of the peOny, perspira-
ton niOistens our phizzes, yet still we 60 up.
After going hither and thither, leaping up and
leaping down, we at last come to the highest
point, and by kneeliDg down, while others
bold on to US, We leaned over and gazed into
the f0aming depths below. where the Sweet