New-York tribune., 1873-07-30
torture which we must endure before We reached the

~. ,roo a, shrub "a break the smooth brown curve
NJ the hills or afford the least protection from tno not
test OF suns Nearly day ofour outward arch
the Thermometer indicated from 9S' 10 lo IN Tue saue
where that could be procured from blanket or pony
The swamps and streams afforded along ther o""ks
verdure which was most refreshing in comparison with
the hills But great musietoes lurked In myraus among
the long grass and at the slightest movehen' came
forth 20 their work OF torture. No WORD less Srohg
than agony will describe feelings when clouus OF
these wretches whose hum was like that OF oees' set
tied upon our horses and men, Against them an ordi-
nary forms OF netting were OF no avail The season WAS
exceptionably wet so that did not suffer much for
lack OF water. Though the alkaline lakes were aouh-
dant by tue good management Of our guides hey were
usually avoided when the camping time came Inc
whole country has been recently burned over ana the
forage ia poor so game not nearly as abundant
as usual and was very shy We saw antelope ana DEER
however nearly every day. but even our best hunters
failed to make many captures 30 each day our ired
bacon borrowing the name Of any deicacy whlch the
fancy might suggest suced for every variety OF hesh
'''N THE LOCALITY OF FOSSIL DEPOSITS
IL was with extreme Joy that we rode down to tho
hanks of tho Nobrara, which reached near the
mouth Of Antelope Creek not only because we were TO
go no further the Wilderness but because hcre Tor
the first time nature left her dull platudes OF sand,
and gave us some really fine river scenery; ana mere
were trees the blessing Of whose shade we had never
which has channeed deeply through the white rocks,
and I'm some parts the bed has widened so as 10 form
beautiful parks at the bottom OF the canon,
often from three TO five hundred feet deep in which the
deer Craze and bears and wolves lurk We also, in
some OF the cafons considerable groves OF OAKS and
elms, feature most remarkable in country Ike tins
Here our real work began. The "bone sharps, as we
were calIedlby the scouts weredvidcd into two parties
and accompanied by sufficient guards, who were posted
at prominent points near working-grounds. We
seoured the bluffs on both sides Of the river for more
than a hundred miles to point below the mouth OF
Rapid River The escort with the wagons moved daily
far enough to accommodate our search
or the scientific results Of our abors 1t would be pre-
mature to write at length until Prof Marshs next years
investigation shall enable us TO speak with precision OF
whatw found 1t Is sufficient TO say that fishes turtles,
crocodes snakes BIRDS lizards, mastodons, elephants
and diminutive horses some not moro than Two feet
high and three oed. the camel and rhin0ceros ana n
merous largo carniyOres and rodents, Indeed almost all
of the vertebrate groups represented IN inc beds
which explored The soldiers OF our escort were at
6rst inclined 90 make merry at our expense ana TO
despse tho illdirected zeal which we eXhotod, Out
they, too drawn into The vortex ana became
the most collectors although at the cost OF Two
or three masoions and eamels which were broken up
and thrown aside rs rubbish.
TERRIFIC HAIL-sToRM.
We spent p days hard work the river and on the
7th of July turned back for the homeward march The
weather up this time had been very hot and we had
but little rain. On return march, however, we were
blessed with cloudy weather, and few OF those little
prairie episodes known hal-sorms. L know OF
nothing in nature absolutely iendish than great
Jagged haistOnos, when they come pounding down out
of the clouds, mems heads and shoulders unpro-
tected by roofs trees. Saddles, TN basins, blankets
pals. anything which can anord the least prOteetlOn
are madly snatched and held over the heaus' Which
cringe under the informal bDin0idnent INC Whole
matter 10 be Joke when Jumps ~ lee from one
to three inches in diameter, strike mans back or
shoulders from the elevation OF cloud Ia one oI thee
storms whole herd OF stock, Win tho exception Oi
three mules who were too much worn 10 oTeak
their fastenings became frantic and stamped be,
fore the gale. When the nan was over, and
bruised wet and dsgused. we crawled IRON under the
heaps Of dragged canvas when had once Deen tents,
and realized tha our animals were gone we hhe" hOI
whittier. and that We were on loot III he uesert, our
dsmaay wiS eyond S , d55 s beE Tb
a near canon afforded animals were finally brought
back and secured severely bruised, however ana some
OF them disabled. AT another place when we passeu
the next day. every particle of vegetation was beaten
down and destroyed and the ground ndded and bored
size Of the stones which fell in tins storm may DO n-
feTed from the TACT tna 6 hours aiterWarq Jumps on ice
were found among the grass nearly Two lhches IN dtlne-
ter. We came upon several magnificent nerds o elk on
our return march, ana enjoyed some most exciting ana
Traces Of the Indians were everywhere seen on our
march, but the savages we're TOO pohtc 10 snow the
selves make demonstration before 80 large
party. No straggng was allowed, ana every precan-
tOn taken at night against surprise or stampede
We found at one point III cluDp OF bushes an lnihn
sign lett by war party Tor the information Oh lneiI
friends: white rag TO attract attention. two beaver
SKINS which painted the forms OF horses hoOfs,
and beneath small package of tobacco ~ was inter
preted by our guides as meaning That small parry hau
made upon The whites. and captured seven horses
and mule The tobacco vas an Offering TO the Great
on the evening OF July IS, having ridden nearly COO
miles in the saddle and carried wagons over country
never crossed by teams before, We emerged from tne
sands Drowned and hearty, but red ol sun ana neat
The next day was spent at North Platte IN packing aud
shipping fossils and bidding goodby 10 the officers.
whose kindness and courtesy much of the plensure
aud success Of tho trip MAS due We eit at Tor
starting for Fort Brdger, from which post our next
expedition is to set out.