New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-01-16
A "trip from caran Floyd 10 Los Angeles
FROM cAMp FLOYD TO Los VEGAS.
H7I --------- ~''ss - 49,
Correspondence Of the Missouri Democrat. i

three, our arns cosisteu OF good rifle, brace oil
Colts navy size revoivers to the man; one of my
companions had pair of Derringer pistols extra,
/ while my Individual equipments consisted of d
bowie-knife, barrel shot gun two Of Colts
navy pistols, md sharp's pistol giving the com.
/ travel brought us to Nephia, Mormon settlement
| III several hundred souls. On the second day We
reached Fillmore city, the capital of the Territory
l This city is, IKE al other Mormon towns nothing
| more than settlement Of three Of four hundred
/ souls. The houses are all built of adobe and have
the appearance Of thrift and energy. We made
/ our camp upon the banks of very beautiful
stream, where succeeded in catching couple Of
| very fine mountain trout, which we cooked for
breakfast the next morning. The third day brought
| US TO Beaver city, another settlement Of several
| hundred souls. Here we encamped upon the
banks of clear brook, and made fine meal from,
some rabbits and ducks that had killed during
| the day.
Our next day travel brought US to the village Of
Paronan. This place contains population of near
1000 souls, and i BY fur the neutrality-suspicious. Nor.
with every kindness by the people of the village
| and left the next morning with the sincere regret
t that there were so few like them in the Ged-fer-
| saken Territory of Utah. Our fifth days travel
| brought us to the famous Mountain Meadows.
| During the day we passed through Cedar City,
which, from thriving settlement Of about 20O0
souls, has dwindled away till scarce 800 remain.
The entire male portion OF the Inhabitants Of this
| place participated in the massacre of the Arkansas
emigrant train on the 10th Of September 1857, and
| since that dark and bloody day. the curse of God
| seems to have settled upon the place, and many
| have fled it, fearing the ghosts Of the murdered
1 victims. We walked over the ground and visited
the different spots where the different acts of the
| tragedy were perpetrated. and our eyes, though
unused to the melting mood, filled with tears
i gazed upon the scattered remnants Of the victims
/ that lay strewn over the plain. Our first visit was
j was to the ravine where one hundred and fourteen
/ women and children were shot down by their ruth
/ less enemies Here we picked up several punches
! Of hair that had belonged to the murdered ones.
1 We then crossed the plain about half mile dis
| tant to the spot where the unarmed and defence
/ less men were offered up as victims to Mormon
i treachery and rapacity. After walking over this
ground, we continued cur till we arrived at
| The springs where the party were encamped, and
where they were first attacked.
! Company X, of the lst U. s. Dragons, have built
| monument upon the ground occupied BY the emf
grants as corral. short distance of its bears
| strong resemblance to huge hay stack, but upon
| nearer approach its contour assumes more
architectural aspect. Upon its summit is erected
/ huge cross, bearing the following inscription :-
! I. Vengeance is mine and I will repay, saith the
/ Lord
/ Since the terrible slaughter, no inducement is
strong enough 70 persuade the Mormons to make
/ this spot camping ground. There has been much
difference Of opinion as to the real number of+vic-
/ Tins. The general opinion is tina. not over one
hundred and thirty-four were slain, that number
4 comprised the skulls found and buried by the sol
1
j spring, which Is some sixty feet deep, and many
4 were killed far from the scene OF tragedy, in an
| endeavor to effect an escape. have been told by
| a gentleman who encamped with them on the
/ Sweetwater, that the train contained one hundred
4 and ninety three souls. Should this be the TRUTH
| and have every reason to believe it is, then
hundred and seventy-sesen were murdered.
| With heavy hearts we turned from the scene and
4 pursued our way the next day, and reached
| Beaver Dam on the Rio Virgin, having passed
| down the Santa Clara river distance of thirty
| miles, and crossed and recrossed the stream one
hundred and four times. This days travel brought
| us into very fine country, when viewed with an
| artists eye, for more beautiful or picturesque
scenery never saw. After resting an hour or so,
we rode ten miles further, to the first crossing
Of the Rio Virgin, where we found good grass, and
camped for the night.
| The next day we were early in the saddle, and
| proceeded down the Rio Virgin for twenty or
thirty miles, there crossed desert to the Muddy,
and made camp about O'Clock p. III. Soon after
making camp we were attacked by party of
Piutes. We drove them off and caught up our ami
mails, hastily saddled them and mounted.
We now kept up running fight for several miles,
but as the Indians were armed only with bows and
| arrows, they effected no serious damage; we trav-
eled across what is known as the Muddy Desert a
distance Of fffy-fve miles, and reached here this
morning at halfpast 8 o'clock. Here, at some
previous day, existed Mormon settlement, and
their adobe fort is still in good preservation. We
find good grass close by the fort and good pure
jaded animals as well ourselves. | have deter
mined to embrace the time that stand guard over
our animals and my sleeping companions, to write
70 you. My table is q pair of macheers. We shall
start forward Tomorrow, and shall write you
from the different points along the road.
FROM LOS VEGAS TO Ell MONTE.
Ell MosrE CaI Nov s.
We arrived here two days ago, and have been
detained by the heavy rains that have prevailed
here several days.
On the morning Of the 10th we caught up our
animals and had early start, and by dint of hard
riding reached the Kingston springs by O'Clock
OF night. Our travel was over one of the worst
deserts have ever seen. Not drop of water nor
blade Of grass for sixty miles, and but poor
supply of water when the springs are reached; and
what there $50 it, strongly impregnated with al
kali as to render almost unfit for use The water in
these springs bear an exact resemblance to strong
ley, and has a taste not a whit more. pleasant On
our arrival here we found no grass, SO we rested
for couple Of hours and then set out towards the
Bitter Springs. u order to reach these springs
we had TO cross sixty mile desert, which we ac-
compished ina little over twelve hours. Here we
found the water still worse than at the Kingston
Springs, and no grass. So, after rest of two or
three hours, we attacked the last desert, and
reached the Mohave after weary march of
thrtyiFe miles, our animals nearly famshed for
water and nearly gone under Z for want Of food,
having Travelled one hundred and seventy miles
without mouthful to cat. When we struck the
Mohave we found good grass and pure water, and
our anillas enjoyed GOOD rest ana nearly meal.
The next day we proceeded up the Mohave to
Lanes Rancho, where we enjoyed good meal Of
yenson.
The Mohave river is like all California rivers,
only little more so. Where we first struck it, we
found pool Of water of some six feet in width |
and eight or ten in length. We then followed the
bed Of the river for fifteen miles, till VIC came to
what Is called the fish pond This pond will con
tam three thousand barrels of water. "A distance
OF four miles then brings US to the Alkali hole,
pond Of some fifteen or twenty feet in length.
After leaving the Alkali hole, we travel fifteen
miles before We reach water: and when we do so, |
md It In little pool of six feet in extent
Thirty miles more brings us to where the MohaYe |
assumes the appearance of n small brook of some |
i've or SIX feet in width, with water to the depth Of
two to five inches. Hew this series of ponds and
sink holes ever became christened with the name
OF river is more than can tell. The bottom of the
river Is covered with stunted growth of cotton
WOOD, and presents to the wearied traveller d |
pleasant appearance after long journey over the |
deserts Of America ! am informed that a very |
rich mine of silver has recently been discovered
near the head Of the Mohave but AZ yet no efforts
have been made towards working it.
After spending the night at Lanes Rancho we |
commenced our days journey by striking into the
Sierra Nevada mountains. We took mountain |
tran. passabe only by pack animals, and were re-
Warded by some of the most beautiful scenery in
the world. While threading my way through a
deep and dreary looking canon came upon a herd
OF deer numbering seventeen. With my double
balfeled shot gun / succeeded in making ycnison
OF line buck, and fine meal we made by hroiling
the STEAKS upon sticks before q huge cedar fire.
Giving our animals rest Of two three hours. we