Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-03-19

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on Saturday evening last, to highly respectable
audience. The Doctor looks quite we'll and has
not changed much in appearance since he left
our city about eleven years ago His subject
was "lncidents Of travel on the Overland Route
from California"
Shortly after o'clock, VIM. Candy, the Presi-
dent Of the Institute came forward and announc-
ed that the Library Room would be opened the
present week for the inspection Of our citizens, |
after which he introduced the Doctor to the au- |
dience, who greeted him with applause. The |
Doct or remarked that he had often stood before
a Wilmington audience, but never with mors |
embarrassment or emotion than on that occasion |
lie felt that he was among old friends once more
lie expressed the great pleasure il afforded him
to see the vast improvements that have been
made IN our city during his absence, but nothing
was more gratifying to him, or more itrikingly
indicated progress in the right direction, than
the erection Of the Institute Hall The speaker
congratulated the public on the contamination of
so pralseworthy an object, and assured his hear
ers that 1t was building which would n fleet
credit on cities much larger than ours. This
lecture, he observed, originated in a Jest, but
since il had assumed more serious form, he
should be glad II 1t would prove beneficial to the
| Institute The speaker then advertei to the
Overland Mail Route from California. tits very
popular with Californans. because they are
willing to encourage anything which will relieve
them from the exactions Of the Steamship line
They think that there is no danger to be appre-
hended from travelling the Overland route, and
would be ashamed to admit that they were afraid
to undertake any overland journey. Dir. Scott
a very popular man, had recently travelled over
that route and had spoken in high terms If the
excellent treatment he received. This served to
increase its popularity. He presumed that the
Doctor had been more fortunate than most Of
the passengers that travel by that line, or met
with more fayors, and felt under obligations to
speak we'll of the company. A puuy friend of
his, from the East, had travelled it, and the
Doctor though that If he could stand il, it would
not hurt him. Being DESTROYS too, OF seeing the
country, was another great inducemeut The
8 Doctor left San Francisco on the 9Th Of February
The stage or rs it vas more properly called
/ mud-wagon was soon packed with passengers SO
n much 80 as to render 1t unpleasant to the travel.
= lers, and before they had gone far many Of them
wished themselves back at the point from
whence they took their departure This condi-
ton Of affairs lasted oil alony the route, some.
times the inmates being compelled to thrust their
feet and legs outside Of the Stage for relief The
g stage have two Mustangs in the lead aud two
Atlantic horses ut the tongue, when all is in
lie readiness, the horn blows, when the bystauders
ie throw missiles at the brutes, which causes them
e, TO start should this fail, however, the passep-
ut gers have to get out of the stage, and wait until
L, scramble in as hest they can. The Doctor was
s. very severe on the packing system" and told
several amusing anecdotes in connection with it,
During the journey one Of the passengers was
c. taken with the small Fox, and got out at one Of
Q. the way stations, when those remaining, deter
ru mined TO use it as reason for urging those q
the next station not to take passage. Accord
r. ngly when they renched il, Texan and German
es who were in waiting were duly Informed of til,
fact. Whereunnn the forfna cnoll ~
ne an oath that If such was the case he must bay,
az bottle of brandy along with him. The latte
IN expressed his appreciation Of this determination
/. by circulating " that sh goot" So their elfor
on to rid themselves Of any more travelling com
ls panlons failed. TTice-in the night-ihe stag
NJ was stalled, once in slush and mud and anothe
e. time in sand. On both of these occasions tn
passengers were compelled to get out and assis
nm ia getting the stage out OF the mre The swim
~ gle also broke, and while the driver went
~ distance OF ten miles to procure new one III
y, passengers secured the country for poles TO lii
ou the vehicle out of the sand in which the wheel
\, were embedded Several times they were com
VI PEELED to get out Of the stage in the night an,
nu walk for miles. They were unable to sleep nm,
i, ength of time, and only after they were entire
'.s " exhausted. One man was thrown over willis
i sleeping and striking his nose against some PAL
~. Of the vehicle, it was considerably diehguret
s' SO great was their sufferings in this particular
~ that Que Of the passengers actually became de
~ ranged and began to rail ut bis fellows for trea
w ing him so badly. They had to pay about te
i, dollars a day for the privilege of thus laborn
=" No care is had at all to the comfort OF passel
IA gers, all the company appears to pay any atte
~ ton to is the mails The passengers were near
~ all armed and used their arms in the mo.
w. reckless manner One man whilst triaiug wit
"a gun, came very near shooting the child OF
'eu lady passenger.
aaa The Doctor passed through the scenes Of ii
H., late indian troubles and states that they wei
,Sc unmolested. One Of the stations they found d
'es serted, and the horses and cattle stolen, but l
Ma Indians near. The people appear to hate Ii
~ lied Skins, and never permit an opportunity
nas pass unmproved. to heap upon them all kinds
= 70 lmprecatous aud even destroy them Even
VI lady passenger expressed the great joy it wou
give her to kill an Indian, and deeply regrette
ged that she had not brought her husbands pist
I'M with her for that purpose. When an Indian
s detected committing any depreciation they ki
ing him and afterwards hang him up on a gibbet q
oh, a kind OF scare.scrow to deter others fr,
was committing similar acts The Doctor saw
his number who had been thus dealt with The lac
rly spoken Of above seemed to relish the spectac
US with unnatural joy, and even awakened her Ii
and tle enid from its slumbers, to gaze upon Il
on horrifying sight. The Doctor appears to thit
aud that better condition of things might be brougl
,ect about, if little more humanity was displaye
towards the Indians He passed through Ii
territory occupied by the Cherokee Indians, III
VI der John Ross, aud spoke Of the gratifying prt
up gress which they have made towards ciylizatit
ur- under proper training.
Gu Along the whole route Of the Overland Ma
~ Line there are but few evidences OF any thir
s, that would indicate civilization until YOU reat
ihe Arkansas A part of the soil is fertile hut ii
sct- most of it is barren waste, totally unprodu
oh' tive. The Doctor witnessed one of the sat
'"' storms proyerhial ia that latitude, during Ii
journey. The stage was stopped, the curtain
and raised ana the passengers perfectly submorRe
ght in sand during its prevalence.
red, When the Doctor arrived at st. Louis,
The called upon his old friend and Delawarian.
,on- H. Larkin, Esq, with whom he spent a sho
I In time quite pleasantly But he remarked in Gu
clusion, that he never experienced more peasu
, able emotions in his life than when he behe
oru the home of his childhood.
" The Doctors remarks were highly intcrestit
Jul, throughout, and were attentiyely listened to.
ui,i the conclusion Of the lecture, many old frieu
'ne took occasion to pay their respects to the Doc
tor. We took full notes of his remarks and r.
airy greet that our limits will not permit US to give
be more extended report
'ur TEMPERANCE FEsTIvAL--A temperance fest
81, GU val, for the benefit of Morning Star Division
: ., Sons of Temperance was held in tIe wi
u mington Institute Hall, on Friday evening las
one one Interesting and instructive addresses were d
n's vered by the editor of the Herald published
ope Frankfofd, Pa, w. W. Axe, j. Shallcross al
L. G. Lee, also Of the same place. The cho
at. connected with the Union NJ E. Church. VIC
I of present, aud sang number of appropriate nj
ing IN manner which reflected the highest cred
- on them. Altogether, 1t was very pleasa
nds affair, ana the audience appeared to be mut
s. gratifed.