Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-17
VOL. XXXl.-WHOLE NO 1851

olhcers were appointed juries sa, in the
brush, free of fcharge, where damages were
claimed lawfully by the plaintih-the los,
crs team, or wagon if he had either, was
put up and Knocked off to the highest
bidder, ard the claim satisfied. MANY a
poor fellow was left there without n dollar
in his pocket
After considerable consultation rs 10
our future exploits, our little party very
agreeably settled up all standing bills and
divided into three parts ono for home
one for Cherry Ridge (rike's Peak )--the
other for California, TO which ! united
we took down our canvass, while Others
were stlIl pouring in. pitching their tents
ana Keeping up continual hum up and
down the river, The gold question was
being eXpounded by male and female
TIE latter bouncing about in their hoops
as II promenad!ng Broadway. The thous-
anjs OF CATTLE horses, mules, wagons, &C.,
IN that vicinity and adjoining valley, and
the large trains continually arriving and
departing, gave the place the appearance
OF an old settlement. But must be more
brief 1t would take me month to write
all saw, heard, and experienced
Our load being heavy, we sat part of our
provisions aside, though we needed them
before we got through. We soon struck
what is called the Black Hills-cver them.
and we are climbing the eastern slope OF
the Rocky Mountains. Day after day,
trudging along beneath burning sun,
shaded by nothing except clouds of mos
quitoes, all claiming kindred Having no
IAN, was compelled to carry brush
made of twigs to fight my way, or he
smothered with 4 coat or blanket wrapped
around my head. These suilerings can he
better imagined than described. We
worked on day after day, and week after
week, until we reached tn, junction oil
the California and Oregon roads. Here
was another mass meeting. Parties here
went through the dividing operation more
practically, After resting our stock a few
days wc drove up TO the turning post, ex,
changed compliments, good wishes, &C.,
and separated, perhaps forever
and my partner, Mr.. Hoffman, took
| the Oregon road. The indians on this
road are troublesome, though the only
harm they done Us was to steal five horses
! and few cattle We made ND train of
twenty wagons, or l04 persons, men, wo-
nen and children. We run short Of pro
visions before we got through, and were
put on Snort allowance for long spell.
We then overlook q government train OF
soldiers, (the only train ahead OF us on
this road, going from Salt Lake to Ore
gon. They helped us some, but were
short themselves. 1t was then we thought
.ofwhat we had thrown away on the Plains.
We lived on fish and water, and n short
allowance of bread, until we rot near
enough TO scnd ar express through,
when the govern ment sent provisions to
cur relief.
There were some emigrants attacked on
this rold towards the last of the travel
Some were wounded, but none killed. 1t
is reported that ten wagons were attack
ed, and all the emig-ants killed. There
were more killed on other roads Soldiers
were stationed on this road this summer
until they thought the emigration over,
but after they left the Indians attacked a
train and killed between 80 and 40 pers
SONS. The soldiers went out and recover.
Ell II persons-two women, four men and
six children. The Indians stole all their
horses. cattle and provisions. The survi-
NOlo ii''' " Ntt tllC ltlll ilONLHh. Ol Wlbt.lE
late COMPANIONS, or perish. They even
had to make clothes OF mats, by weaving
long grass. 1t is supposed there are sev>
eral children still in the hands of the In
dams. 1t is the Snake and Banact Indi-
ans that are doing this. They will be apt
10 be chased out next sumner.
But to close this long narrative, I will
just say that after landing in Walla Wal.
la Valley, Washington Territory, we made
a final separation. Some went to Oregon
and some stopped here. We were Just
four months on the way--others were six
months Two weeks later hired to run
o ferry boat on the Snake river at $50 per
month, and am still at the same. had a
pretty hard time of it in the summer, hut
as said at the beginning, travel is slack
now, times dull, and being lonesome
thought WOULD devote an hour or so to
giving you sketch of my adventures.
This is great place for raising stock, bu.
no agricultural or farming country. 1t is
too dry to produce grain except close
along the small streams. Low, wet land
produces large crops, and beats the world
for vegetables There are many gold ex-
elements in this country, but they donot
amount TO much--ex cept TO break up
poor folks. No more at present, but re &.
main yours truly,
Mo&EGOMERY FULLERTON.