Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-24
Across the COntinent-The Plains,
and Whnt ~ Seen On them.

Leaving Y uPNCnut We are on tnC
proper. aud in the aud Of the Sioux and
CHEYENNE Indians, the tribe, that have for 80
hong gwen us so much trouble Here the buf
talo used to roam in his native freedom by the
tens %. thousands, and the numerous skulls
that arc met with show wECrr some bull has
fallen bv the arrow OF the Indian OF the uner-
ring rife ot the hunter, Nc had gone but
lew miles out when, ON cur lett, six antoIOpes
were seen about hall mile from the track. As
soon a the sound Oi the tram was heard, oil
they started, nearly parallel with 1t, The race
was tough for they are very fleet, faster than
n very fast horse, but the iron animal diStanced
ih.Ia, and the last We saw oil the beautiful crea-
turcs they were still fleeing from what they
doubtless supposed was some great danger
Another herd was seen IN the allerG0On, but
they are getting scarce, or rather they keep
away from the line ot the road like the butfa-
lo. scarcely one Of the latter being ever seen
now near to the track Formerly the antelopes
used to swarm in this vicinity, aud they still
do north and south but they keep away from
whrrc the white mau has made such inroadS
upon their domain.
Here, where | expected to sec Indians, not
one was to be seen except the Iawnecs who
are acting as Uncle Sam scouts These being
dressed In his livery, lost all their charm
they became nothing but dark looking, dirty
soldiers Ii is the friendly aud low grade OF
indians only that hover about the camps aud
stations; the waTllke trheS-thosc OF the
Sioux order, who although at peace mean war
whenever the opportunity ofters-keep away
and il they make their appearance 1t Is only
on an unirlendly visit, where the chance is ot
tered to take one or more scalpS, or run Oft
more or less stock.
To describe one mile Of 'thc Plains is to
h. oil 4 90 20 al.
most as level a. board covered by growth
of coarse grass, without tree to be seen any
where, will give pretty correct idea 0l them.
i,ccasionolly hill or extent OF high table land
may be seen tn the suuthWard, and glance
may be caught of the Platte river but beyond
tins it is as much Ike the uccan possible.
Still, with all ITS mOnot0ny It was barely pre-
ierable to the desert We had passed through
the day before. OF course, no sign OF hablta-
ton ~ visible beyond the company station
and section houses, and You ride hundreds OF
,nlca through this singular country
almost al0ar where, Il an accldcnt We're
10 happen, there would none to come
to your ad until word could he sent to the next
station. On this road, ike on the Central, the
telegraph has followed the track, and on either
side the poles arc erected, and as you look
behind the train and on the track extending as
lar as the eye can reach IN 4 straight line, they
appear like post and rail lcnce constructed to
Keep of cattle, only that the posts arc rather
higher than they would be made for such
DurpoSe, and the rails are not yet put in their
pia0cS.
The Stations are remarkably goOd, and at
some Of the principal ones, where the passen-
gers take their meals, the road is through
thickly populated country The water stations
md section houses are the same. At the
majority OF the latter noticed that every pre-
caution had been taken 10 guard against an
Indian raid The houses were covered almost
by earth works of sods piled one upon another
and thick enough to resist the passage OF a
rife ball or arrows. l.oophoes were made, so
that the inmates, In case ot attack, could use
their rifles with murderous effect, without
much danger Of being picked off by the red
skins outside. All these precautions are very
necessary, for a stranger can hardly imagine
the utter loneliness of these stations, and how,
unpuarded they invite attack from the mur-
lerous sons of the Plains. ! have no doubt that
he precautions taken have prevented and Will
prevent attack from marauding parties, who
are constantly on the lookout tor any chances
that may turn up Cor y. !. Hef"H.
\ WEDDING OVER CoRPSE- wedding
under extraordinary circumstances was cee-
brated in poughkeep,ie on Wednesday. The
couple move in fashionable circles, ami the
event is the topic OF conversation. Ga Tues
day the father of the bridegroom, 4 wealthy
and respected citizen oi Poughkccp,ie, died,
duly Sllrouled IN the garments of death,
the body was lnciOScd IN rich aud costly cot
In, the whole beng placed in the parlor Ga
Wednesday, at noon, the old mans son led
his affanced bride into the room where lay the
body of the deceased parent, the bridal party
walking s0lemnly up to the coffin, and the COW
rr over the face OF thc corpse was removed.
The Rev. Mr. llageman, OF the Second Re
iormed Church, then, amid breathhcss silence
aud by the open coffin, joined the young cou.
pie in the holy bonds OF maIrimony The bride.
groom, when asked why he was married in
such manner, replied that the spirit OF his
father lowered about him, telling him to get