Smyrna times., 1860-01-12
UkkES NCE.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
To Texas and Back.


Mr. EDITOR: Having promised to give you
u short account of the journey from which
and my friend, Robt. Denney have just re-
turned, herewith proceed TO fulfill my pro-
mise.
We left the town of Smyrus on the 25th Of
October last, and proceeded to Philadelphia,
where VIC purchased through. tickets to Chica-
60. Leaving Philadelphia at seven o'clock at
night, we proceeded over the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad to Pittsburgh, aud then taking |
the Pittsburgh, Fl. Wayne and Chicago road,
which took us 10 Chicago, where We stayed a
day and aight to look at the " fast city of the
West" Becoming satisfied with Chicago and
Its dirty streets, we started for ST. Louis. We
had not gone far before we began to see large
docks of Prairie chickens, "a rare sight to us,)
living up, along the road in great numbers
proposed that we should stop and take days
shooting, SO we asked the conductor Of the train
where we should be most likely to have some
sport He advised US to stop at Blooming ton,
which we did, and took quarters at the Pike
House, under the charge of Mr.. Smith, where
VIC WCiO fCiJ hlhuiJ CulcltdIuSus 1Hc ue8t
day our friends Smith, dance aud Tanat started
with US to have days shooting at partridges,
which where lille mere plentiful than we
were accustomed to seeng-kling nearly one
hundred in something over half day. The
prairie chickens were too smart for u.s. as we
were on foot and could not get up to them
Leaving Bloomington, we went for st. Louis
and stopped at the Planter House where we
found our friend, Robt. Cook, Esq, who showed
US through the city, which is destined to be the
city of the West-having high, and thought,
a healthy location. While my friend and
were strolling tn rough the city we saw one of
those mammoth catfish that had heard some
of my friends talk about who had travelled
West, and which, always thought, they con-
sideTably magnted. But here had the proof.
Al a stall in the market lay catfish five feet
long and weighing l47 pounds, and If any ot
your readers are inclined TO doubt this fact
will refer them 10 my friend, who saw it as
well as myself.
Leaving st. Louis we took the Pacific Railroad
10 Jefferson City, the capital OF Missouri, which
is rather a small place. Here we spent day
and went az ross the river To look at the country
landing on what is known as the Missouri Bot.
tom. | was here shown the largest corn that
ever saw grow-having been planded in June
and growing 50 bushels per acre.
Leaving here we proceeded on our journey
until we came TO the end of the Pacific Rail
road (or rather as far as it Is completely TO Sy
racuse. AT this place we bought pair O
mules and light wagon and started to see a
old acquaintance, john CJvington, Esq VIII
left Delaware about 20 years since. We stay
ed with him three duys-itting out our Wagon
riding around his neighborhood, looking at Ih
land and shooting ducks, prairie chickens, gees
and sand-hill cranes. Here | began to be pleaI
ed with the Countrywide land being a ric
prairie, with limestone and red clay bottom
and plenty Of timber for all farm purposes =
Our friend Covingtou has, in his home farn
near eleven hundred acres of land, and lives
the best farmhouse that we met with in ives
ern Missouri. He raised, the present yea
about 1000 bushels of corn--not then havin
more than would serve to feed his stock, as th
is the way they use the corn IN this cOunIr
Here land was selling at from SO 10 SIS p
acre. and as good any in Missouri.
Having our wagon covered, aud all necessa
equipments for camping, We started on o.
journey. travelling. now, in Western style
After going about 20 miles, we camped, {
the first time, in a hollow, where there W
some timber and MT much water. StartiI
our fire, we proceeded TO get supper, haviI
prairie chickens, partridges and plate cake
Supper over, we went to feed our mules, al
as was gowing around Holmes" Chat W
what we named one. and the other Charlie
af er two Of or particular friends at home,)
tappedlme with his foot, lghtly.-not hurtin
but putting me on my guard. At nine o'clo
we " turned in " TO sleep IN our wagon, but
not sleep long before we had to get up to loo
mule about to choke in his halter. Morni
came, and breakfast over, we started on o
journey; the country becoming more rocky
we proceeded.
On the second day of our travel we interse
ed the Overland Mail route to California pa
ing through Osceola, Bolivar, Springfield a
CassvlIIe. We ;hen entered Arkansas, a
passed through Fayetteville. Here, in t
early settlement Of Arkansas, were enact
',.-.e Aorrld deeds of bloodshed aud murde
but, at the present time, law and order reig
supreme.
From here we travelled to Van Buren, on I
Arkansas river, passing the Boston Mou
iains The country ID thinly settled, but b
excellent streams of water, and some of I
finest springs that we saw in our travels.
Crossing the Arkansas river, we travell
through IT. Smith, on to the river Potesw.
We then entered the Indian Territory, pa
ing through the possessions Of two tribes-t
Ehoctaws and Chicasa wa-who we fOund 10