The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-01-14
rorresp9Edence Of the NoDpareii.
DssSER CIrY, Jan. l, Il


ly settled down in my cabin, doing my own
cooking, washing and mending, am not
very proficient at either OF the above, but
when it comes to hiding pork, bread and
beans, few can hold better hand. The
reason for this i., the fresh air and hard
ships of the trip have just made from the
city Of Council Bluffs to Denver City, a
journey, not one Of the most pleasant in the
month of December, when the cold winds
Of the prairie come laden with frost Of
the most cutting and piercing GOODNESS.
Our journey was as pleasant as We could
expec. in mid winter, and as quick with the
exception of GEORGE MARsHALL's, rs any
yet made, our travelling time was nineteen
days, 1--WE laid up four days. to give you
some idea of the cold we encountered, it is
only necessary to say, that two men had
their toes and feet SO badly frozen, that
one had both feet taken off just above the
ANGLE and the other, his toes on one foot and
the other at the instep; The first is an
critical situation and it is thought he will
never recover, the latter is doing we'll and
will soon be able to walk with the aid of
cru,ches.
The general superstition is, that Denver
and Auraria, are one-horse towns, but they
are not, although hut little over Il year
has elapsed since the first C bin was built.
These towns jointly, are as large as Council
Bluffs, if not larger, their population being
about 5000. Although they are known by
separate names they seem as one town.
Times are said to be dull at present, and
great many are idle, especially mechanics.
Carpenters are making from one to three
dollars day, got job Of work the first
day arrived in town, at three dollars day,
with the promise of employment as Ing as
| choose to work. WASH GRIFFEr is here
doing well, he is a good fellow to cross the
plains with, every evening, when it was not
too cold, he would get out his flute and
play " Sweet home,' Jordon is hard road
to travel" and "root hog or die" the first,
reminding US Of friends left behind; the
second, the road We had passed over and
ahead; the latter, the principle that we
went on, and the only true motto for emf
grants to inscribe on their banner.
We stopped ut BARNEY MARTENS on Boar
creek, where We were treated in the kindest
manner, and at Mr.. A. J. WILLIAMS, where
we were supplied with every comfort that
could be supplied "this high up" We
were we'll supplied with fire arms, consist
ing of one rife, two Colts revolvers, two of
Aliens "pepper boxes" and one five gallon
key Of whiskey, of the tanglc-leg species,
but few shots were discharged from any of
the former, and none Of them to any effect,
but the latter furnished shots which did not
kill, but discouraged and tangled the legs of
the wounded victims. We had no mishaps
on the way, excepting the breaking of an
axletres and the running off Of one wheel,
the former happened within two miles of
Fremont, the latter, on the North side Of
the river at Fort Kearney, this was caused
by the nut coming of, after looking for the
nut in vain for some time, we gave up the
search and set our wits to work to remedy
the difficulty, which We did by manufactur-
ing wooden one, which lasted through TO
Denver.
All kinds of materials are very scarce,
and provisions are rising in price every day.
Flour is selling at sic per hundred, Bacon
for 35 cts. per b., Coffee 81 cts, Butter IS
cts. a 81, Potatoes Is cts. ner b.. Corn 10
cts. per h., Nails % a - cts. per h., Lum.
Der $40 $50 per m. Miners are doing
well, Judge so from appearances, very few
come from the mountains with less than
from FIVE hundred to as many thousands.-
Many are here waiting till spring opens when
they will again 90 to the mines, there to
seek their fortunes, perhaps will be among
the number. will conclude By wishirg
you and your readers, happy new year.
Yours, truly,
l.. NJ. DOUGLASS.