The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-10-21

the north OF the Platte, but We could oc.
casioually catch a glimpse Of its waters
gistcning in the sun, and it my memory
is correct, toward night Of the irst Of the
two days, the bluffs began to rise away
on the southern boundary of the valley
Away to the north were rolling prairies,
that gradually became more undulating,
until the appearance is OF bils,not cover.
ed with trees,but seemingly barren. Some
seemed to be composed Of decomposing
rocks that looked like crumblng to pieces
and fast becoming dust 4
We crossed the north fork Of the
Platte River. near where it upites with
the south FORK or the place called North
Platte. The river here presents a curl
Gus appearance it is very broad for the
volume Of water that passes at this point,
and the bed is composed of great fields of
rolling gravel, and instead Of any main
channel of water it is cddying and turning
and winding in all direction, and although
there were some few deep channels, these
were constantly shifting. This condition
Of things renders the river here hopeless
" unnavigablc, for even small boats. The
second morning out from Omaha, found
US passing up broad canton walled in
on either side by the crumbling hills Of
rocks, in many places appearing like vast
walls crumbling into ruins, with occasion.
al gaps through which we could catch
glimpses Of more crumbing hills, and
through which We could now and then
see few antelopes feeding or running
and early in the morning, [ noticed one
old solitary gray wolf, sneakiug and can
tering off, apparently disguised by having
his quiet disturbed, by the steam horse.
We occasionally saw a fox, and those
conf ,al little jokers, prairie dogs, in great
numbers. We also met the first spec-
men of the noble Red man, all shaved
and armed for the war path, his occupa-
ton at that time was proof, that although
at work he might have been too proud or
lazy, but to beg he was not ashamed.
saw some of the emigrants on the train
giving the dirty, lazy, savage, money. l
hope he will not reward the gvGr by
scalpiDg his wife and children, when they
arrive at their future home. We were
surprized at the small number of Indians
we saw on our way to California We
saw no buffalo, except now and then
skeleton Of one that had been likely killed
and left to waste on the plains We were
told that month later we should see
them in large numbers, crossing the val
ley Of the Platte, from their summer feed.
ing grounds in the north to their winter
pastures to the south, in the valley of the
Republican river. Soon after leaving
Cheyenne towards night Of the second day,
IRON Omaha, we began to ascend rapidly,
and soon came in sight Of the Black Hills
These mountains are very high, and
sparsely covered with timber, and the
scenery from the railroad was very grand.
The view down through one canon, a
broad one walled in on either side by
high rugged walls Of crumbling rocks, land
stretching away down until the eyes ache,
was sight we shall not soon forget We
arrived this evening at Sherman, the high
est point the cars reach, between the At.
lantic and Pacific or s242 ieei above
tide water, and distant 1865 miles from
San Francisco. Our course the third day
from Omaha, was through very desc
late country; the railroad winding
through desolate wales with scarcely any.
thing but sage brush, and much Of that of
a dwarfed and diminutve growth, while
these wales, as they are called here can
ons, are hemmcd in by lofty hills or
mountains Of desolate barrenncss and
sometimes for miles and miles. with con.
tinuous lofty palisades, that for extent
and grandeur the Hudson River palisades
would compare with; as the mole hill
compares with the mountain. We saw
many hocks of the great American grouse
or sage hen. They are abundant in the
section which we passed this day but it
is said that in consequence Of their feed.
ing so much on sage seed, their flesh is
hardly fit to eat OF this season of the year.
We again crossed the north fork of the
Platte River, at Port Steel, where there
is large detachment Of IT, S. Troops.
stationed to preserve as much as possible
the scalps Of the white settlers. as well as
the trains of emgrants. The noble Red
is said to be particularly given to STAN.
peding, stealing, and scalping in this
vicinity. At Rawlings, station just
west OF Fort Steel there are large manu-
factories Of paint that is mined here in
large quantities. 1t is red in color, and
contains red lead, and also small per
cent Of oil. 1t had every appearance of
being very valuable, and desirable paint,
and the mining and manufacturing is said
to prove profitable. Our course this af.
ternoon, took us through lofty ranges of
barren mountains, the Sweet Water and
Wind River Mountains TO the north, and
the Medicine Bow Mountains on the
south Sometime during this day, we
passed in sight of Frcmonts Peak, that
was white with snow. | had proposed
this letter should find us at Ogden, but
a days journey is still left, before We ar
rive there, and perhaps the most inter,
csting day to rs of all our journey out,
and as this is already spun out too long
| will close. A. G.
The Crowhpoint Ore Co. Road is
so far built that the cars are running to
Hammonds Corners. The grading up
on the remainder is nealry completed and
they are laying the track.
An occasional dose of DR.. Pierces
Pleasant Purgative Pellets stimulates the
stomach and bowels, restores the appetite
aud invigorates the system. Hence it is
often advantages where no serious de-
rangem ent exists. One who feels toer-
ably well often finds that dose of these
Pellets, from their cleansing and rerova-
ting effect upon the digestive apparatus,
makes him feel decidedly better Tween.