The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-25
TIES OF ADVERTISING
LETTER FROM THE PLAINS.

bounds of civilization, shall proceed
TO give you short account of my ex-
perience west of Fort Harker, on the
line of the Union Pacific Railway Conn
pany, up to the close of the third day OF
our Journey. 3
OUR RECEPTION AT FORT HARKER.
On Monday, the. 9TH, the excursion
lists, In a body, were conveyed from the
present terminus of the road to Fort
Harker, distance of Az miles, in am
balances provided for that purpose by
General Hancock. The road is graded
for over twenty miles beyond Fort Har-
ker, and only needs the erection of sew
eral bridges and the construction Of a
few cuIverts to make it ready for the
travelling public.
a large tent had been pitched within
the tort enclosure, where the guests
were invited, and partook of a most
excellent dinner. The dinner was any
thing but a frontier dinner, since we
had all the meats and vegetables this
region could produce, as well as many
1t does not produce, whilst Missouri
wines were in abundance.
MEETING AT FORT HARKER.
l alLtE kAS ~
paired to grove, at the foot of the fort,
and organized meeting, OF which SEN
ator Henderson, OF Missouri, wes
Chairman, and fine speeches were made
by gentlemen OF the excursion, repre-
senting their several States. President
Perry. of the Road, was called upon,
and made most happy effort, referring
a.. Il ha
road, the bright prospects OF the future,
and the vast saving to the Government
In transportation OF troops and Quar-
termaster's stores. a-H,
RETURN OF THE EXcuRsIoNIsTs.
The excursionists were then taken
back to the terminus of the road, where
farewells were interchanged, those re-
turning asking for a lock of our hair
before the Cheyennes took our scalps,
those remaining giving some parting
word to a friend to convey to loved
wife or sweetheart. And thus we
separated, perhaps never to see one
another again, we'll pleased with the
friendship SO newly made, and regret
ting that SO soon we must take leave OF
one another. -rs
Such of US as designed to go further
west were taken in ambulances to the
fort, there to remain till next morning,
to start on our expedition.
OUR OUTFIT FOR THE PLAINS.
We spent several hours in procuring
our necessary outfit in going through
the Indian country. Army blankets
and gum overcoats were procured at
the Quartermaster's Department, rough
boots, tin pans, towels, &c, at the sut-
ler's, whilst each man was supplied
with Spencer rifle and Colts re-
volver and fifty rounds OF ammunition
by Gen. Hancock. .rrE, 500
We were then shown our quarters for
the night, and were told that we must
break up in messes of three or four,
each mess 10 occupy one tent, in which
we were to live during our trip to Fort
Wallace.
We had all slept in railroad cars, but
none OF us had had any experience in
suppose there was spirit of insubordi-
nation on the part of some, and vague
ideas of discomfort in case 1t should
rain and storm on the part of others.
TORNADO ON THE PRAIRIE.
We were not lett long in suspense,
however, in deciding this problem,
since, as II TO enlighten US on this sub.
ject, rto give US taste of what we
might expect further West, we had
hardly selected our quarters and placed
our baggage in them than the most
terrific tornudo or whirlwind that has
visited these parts for years burst upon
us.
Dense clouds of dust were first seen
towards the southwest, gradually grow
Ing darker and coming nearer. Distant
thunder was heard in the same direc.
tion, accompanied with quick flashes oi
lightning, when all at once the storm
burst upon US as though the very
Storm God himself was in its midst, and
was bent on immediate and sudden des-
olation.
ITo your tents, OF Israeli" was the
cry throughout the camp, and such oi
| us as never before had witnessed a hur.
ricane were suddenly gratitied to the
| fullest extent. The stampede was gen
eral and made in ''double quick" Such
| OF us as happened to be far distant from
our tents had great difficulty and ran
terrible risks In reaching them. The
dense columns OF dust and brush thai
/ swept with terrible speed over the yasi
| prairie blinded many, and forced us to
| lie with our faces to the earth, TO escape
its wrath. Tent poles and tents were
| lifted off of the earth and carried fal
| away, whilst the wind tore the canvas
\ Of others like shredS of ribbon. My
tent happened to be the middle one of q
| square and for some time withstOOd the
blast. But, as one by one; tents around
me would give away, and the inmates
of them left 70 the mercy of the storm
1 began to ask myself what came oul
| for 70 see, /" and to seek for some place
of safety. In short time the tent oc'
cupied by myself and three others was
carried away, and our only refuge, till
the storm passed of, was long line o.
Quartermaster's wagons which had
been chained together, and which were
barely able to resist the force of the
wind.
After the winds ceased, the soldiers
repaired the damage as well as they
could, but it was late at night before
the most of us had our quarters in
readiness, and when we repaired tC
them, we found the rain Chat had
poured in floods in the meautime) had
made US a soft bed Of mud, over which
j we laid our gum cloths, and with oui
blankets and snawls wrapped around
ms, and our carr ct sacks for pillows
we laid us down to rest, and to spend
our first night on the plains. What
with the moaning of the wind, and the
continual nelting of the rain, and the
fappipgs of the canvas tent, you can
Imagine that none But tired bodies
4 could get any sleep-and yet we all
slept, and slept sonndly, and, until
awakened the next morning by the
rolling of the drum, knew not whether
| we lay In the mud or on feather BED
at home; and, stranger yet, none of us
| took cold from the exposure.
ANOTHER STORM.
Saturday. the sth, promised to be q
bright day, but before noon the ola
/ storm of Friday returned agatn=this
/ time an rain aud no wind. u = y J -
At 7 O'Clock we partook of a good
4 breakfast, and at o'clock camp had
4 been struck, the wagons loaded, and
we were of across the plains to Wal
lace. 1901 = lilttl 90 : = q