Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-17
Nellie'a Journal.

StOW tuy utebtuf9 ava Ds 10
bound to go faster, SO "stnmpeded" this morn.
ing. At noon we stopped at the meadOws.-
The dust has been about eight inches deep
and clouds Of our kindred come rushing into
our faces, making us oil look "a gray as mil.
leFs; thus reminding us that dust we ore,
and unto .dWst shall We rcturn." Feed salty
and alkaline, and scarce withal. A great ma.
ny Other coaSpamiCR cumped Here, too: Con.
eIudsd 10 go twenty nilss that -Night 70 the
next camping place at n trading post. At
half past ten, p. y. we started-thc night was
cool, and mos uitoes Cew,. 30 one could get q
little sleep Made bed In the wagon, and
Mrs. G. and myself tried to compose ourselves
to slnmbcr. Alas! SOmnus seemed inclined
10 depart far from me, and Morpheus Stunned
my presence. The drowsy god deigned not
to ease my aching eyes, for the road was very
rough, and jOlts discOmposcd AZ fast az could
compose myself to rest. And then the roads
were so sandy that Mr.. c. rode on horseback,
and as Mrs. c. was dreaming Of home, | drove
the greater part Of the night, and we reached
the trading post at sunrise. Remained there
Tuesday and Wednesday. Drove the horses
up steep bluff to the mountains where they
got good grass, which was Of much benefit to
them. Wednesday night We started on again.
!
the next station before daylight.
-EhuFkdayv h.-Me could not sleep, ass some
men were about to start away, nftcr spending
the night in gambling and sprccing, and being
exceedingly noisy. A very barren place.
Had to purchase grass already cut, Of the sta
ton keeper, who Is called Tennessee" and
one Of the most prOGane men ever saw. 1t
was fearful to hear him. "Spccch is the golden
Ia. IL. A.
yet oftcntimcs rnnncth it to husk. and the
grains be withered and Scanty.' Gave cloth
ing to the Indians who waded about twenty
! rods through slough to the main river, to
get water fur tho hOrses. We tried to take an
afternoons sieSta, but impossible. At sun.
down, harncSscd up tho horses as expeditions
| " as we could, the mosquitoes and Sand-tiies
so very troublesome. Squaws with less dra.
perry than dcccncy required, lowering around,
with their papoO>es strapped to wicker frame,
with wicker screen over its head, from which
pcnduOus feather endangered the child's
cycsiSht, anu ticklcd It's nasal prOboscis.-
Started off by the light Of the new moon. As
MIR. B is Sick-has fcvcr-he had his bed
made in our wagon, and rode in the wagon
with T.. AS Mr.. Z. had bought so pounds Of
grass, it formed . good pillow, and having
comfortably arranged my bedding, Expected
to have good nights rest, but did not sue
cced in cOurting the favor Of the god Of sleep.
Struck Humboldt Lake which We followed for
ten miles.
| Friday, 9th. Reached the station twenty
five miles from the last, Nt sunrise. Brhe!d
the Sink, where the Lake seems to empty into
short crooked stream, that sinks into the
ground, having no visible outlet. A barren
placc--no feed or fuel. Stopped on the bank
U( the lesser stream, where many were encnmp-
c'l. Mr.. {. gave on Indian two white shirts,
and u pair Of ovcralls. for cutting grass. A
great number Of Indians camped on the bluffs,
where they are grinding seeds between stones
(or winter use. The Pi.Utahs do not beg as
do the other Indians, and are called very good.
We hear Of a great many depredatiOns conf
mitted by the Shoshoncs on the cmigrants
only little way behind us. We are all very
tired and sleepy yet have to be busy cooking
and preparing to cross the desert. The water
is very diSagrceable. Our table does not pre-
sent great variety Of food now. Used up
the last Of the -four for pancakes last night.
are now cooking the last Of the dried apples.
When we get across the desert, can purchase
food.
| AZ ~ CIuCh1 NJ ktuVtcu W CIOSS tuS
talkUl.Of, aud much. dreaded desert, after light.
ening the loads as much Ns possible. Favor
able time-a strong wind blowing, aud tho
road quite good. Crossed an alkaline stream
where a dog died in fifteen minutes after
drinking Of the water. Around 1t, | cOuntc,l
thirty nine dead oxen. Before night the wind
blew very high and cool. so that We had ia
put on our heavy shawls aud coats and the
| \ k.sc 1,..e0A, AL.n NnA
horses did not suffer as much as we thought
they would. About 8 o'clock we reached the
station, 23 miles from the sink, and which has
been recently built. Knowing that the wells
were not empty that day, We had previously
given the horses the water that We had in the
Kegs, which we used for ti'o wood. as there
was none around here. Paid two bits head
for the stock, and had all the water the horses
wanted, and for our cooking. Bought flour
and hay for the horses and bacon at 80 cents
per pound. While we were drinking our seu
and eating our bacon and bread, the station
keeper kindly gave a can Of oysters, and q
box Of Sardines to Mrs. w. to be divided
among the ladies'. Oh shade Of liberality OH
magnanimity forgotten She Sclishly took
them to her own wagon, and gave Mrs. c. and
myself "nnry one" Moving onward at II
o'clock, II miles 10 60.
Saturday, 9th. The last ten miles were the
wort. The men walked, and the women rod,
horseback. The sand was very coarse, heavy
and deep and the horses very, very tired
"eenamost tuckered out;" yet by stopping
every few feet and letting the horses puff, w'
were able TO reach the station on Carson river
before the sun had heated the sand. SomC
neglect starting from the Sink carly enough
consequently they arc out on the desert the
next morning in the heat Of the sun, and thur
tire out their stock. and lose many head
More stock die by being allowed to rush dOwr
to the river and drink to excess, and cat plen
tfully Of the new grass Poor creatures! Il
would be difficult thing to check or restrain
them from SO doing, after the faithful perfOr
nance Of such hard labor on short allowance
of miserable feed and water. Horses and oxen
IIonceIorth do | reverence thee! Noble ar
thou; patient in the endurance Of long-SUfFer
ing. Willing and faithful art thou, usefu
animals
We had Tho extreme felicity Of sitting Of
q chair in 4 house, and watching two w0meS
prepare breakfast. The price Of each me0
was Sl--biscuils, 8 bits pound. We bough
some potatoes at twenty cOnts pound, onions
at two bits, aud butter at one dollar pound
Bought hay for tho horSeR. Had excellen
water from q well. At dusk, We started to &
to an excellent camping ground two miles of
Camped by the light Of the moon, in bcautt
GOl place.
shade of some large trees, which were yer!
refreshing to our sight MIRA Q. and l washe'
our wagon, SO that it looked like > new one
Than vra vPent round the bend Of the river