The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-09-22


ss4~1aSE go sss.gss s--s
J.. H. wArsos.
-
(Conclwfed.)
We crossed the river near the place of
our encampment, and steered our course
north of east, aiming to strike Cow Creek
at the mouth of Jarvey. After traversing
the vally We kept our way for a time
along the rocky bluff which bounds it on
the north. At length this bluff seemed
to disappear, and merge into broad prai-
rieto.the eastward of us; here we diyerged
more from the valley, and assembled by i'm
perceptible gradations, pteateu one after an
other, till we reached an elevated plain that
commanded an unobstructed view of the
country before US as far as our vision could
extend. On before US. and away off to the1eft
like green ribbon lying loose and waving
row strip of woodland marking the course
of Cow Greek; we follow this with the eye
till it is lost midst cluster of sand hills off
southeast, and we have full view of the
great valley of the Arkansas, beyond which
raises np the eyer-chanoing sand hills with
their yellow walls and turfed tops, presen-
ting with but little assistance of the immagi-
nation gropes of pyramids in an intermina-
BILE sandy desert; there dilapidated castle
with its crumbling towers and ruined bat
Elements and some oriental city, with its
antique mosques and classic tenples-With
its imperial gardens and their sylvan groves
and sparkling fountains. There once stood
proud Tyre and here lies Babylon in pro-
phetic ruins and yonder stands Imperial
Rome on her seven hills /; again the scene
changes, and you imagine you see Pales-
tire there, Just at the foot of that hill to the
left, on the top of which those blue clouds
seem to rest, you catch glimpse of Kedron,
Jas its glides on its way from the Holy City;
from thence on, and to the right, you see
sthe Mount of Olives presenting a dark back
ground TO view of Jerusalem there you
see the kings palace, and there the Temple,
where the sun seems to shine with unusual
brightness you fancy you see the brass
gate which guards the entrance to it. But
l had better stop here or the reader may
apply to me the words OF Shakespeare
sTe1 ''The lunatie, the lover, and the poet,
= Are of Imagination all compact"
I have no ambition Just now to be classed
in this interesting group, though believe
in my soul that the first exerts a consider
able influence IN controlling the affairs of
this world that the power of the second is
less potent in peopling. it, and that the third
is the legitimate offspring of the other two
IA poor unlucky wight, who creeps timid-
ly through the world with paint brush in
his hand, vainly endeavoring to daub over
and conceal the deformities which his pa
rents have occasioned in it.
~ To-day we passed through prairie dog
town. One may form pretty correct idea
OF the appearance of these villages by inn
agining innumerable heaps of dirt and
!, gravel deposited, a wagon load in place,
:rregularly over several acres of ground.
: The entrance to their caves are generally
ON the top of their little mounds 1t is
said that these little creatures generously
share their domicils with the owl and rat
tlesnake. Speaking of the rattlesnake re-
minds me of what regarded as rather re-
markable, that we saw but three of them
on our whole trip; one on the morning Of
going into camp before crossing the river,
another on our camp ground just as we got
there, and the other this morning. AS l
was Looping my pony along the base of the
rocky bluff in advance of the wagons, OBJ
served rattlesEake coiled up in the path l
was following, almost under my horses feet;
= it was too late to avoid it, so gave Billy
the spur and whip with view of leaping
ing one of his usually graceful leaps, exerted
every muscle to-effecta motion that defes
description he came down with kind of
awkward shake. as supposed, directly on
the snake. Another stroke of the spur
brought US clear Of the spot /; but on look
ing back was surprised TO find his rattle
snake gone, how or where could not tell,
and it IS mystery to me yet how Billy es-
capped being bitten.
We observed small stream flowing into
Cor Greek from the northeast. To this
~point-we directed our course. On arriving
at this place we found the ''locale' very
different from the description of the point
we had aimed at. Here was an Indian trail,
as there should be; and off to the left was
a rancho, as there should not be. After a
ssblief. consultation we unanimously agreed
that we were lost. We concluded to cross
the streams above their junction. and pro-
ceelsd down on. the opposite side of Cow
Creek till we discovered the Indian trail al
ready mentioned On arriving near the
east branch we observed some hunters en-
camped in the edge of the timber. We
were not little surprised to find these to
be DO other than our friend simmons and
> his'party, who, like ourselves, had missed
their way. They had, however, been more
successful in hunting; they had killed sew
eral buffalo, and were now engaged in dry
ing meat. From this party we learned that
we were near the Santa Fe road; that the
!. rancho above us was eBeach's." that the
branch we were on was Little Cow Greek,
and that We were about ten miles above the
place we aimed TO cross at.
About sunset we all resumed our jour
ney homeward. We soon struck the Santa
Fe road, on which we continued to travel
until about O'Clock in the morning. when
we found ourselves on the bank of the Lit
= lie Arkansas. We were now threatened
with another prairie storm, and made such
preparations to meet it as were in our power.
We turned the hind part of our wagons to
the approaching storm, made fast the Gov
ers, locked the wheels, and secured our cat
tie, &c. - z3 O. S -@
The sky grew darker. Soon came booming on
The deep-voiced thunder whilst at distance rolld
The wild wind : dirge-li ritd Yettempest tone
And hghtnings evaneseent sheets of gold
Burnt, in their anger, from the clouds huge fold