The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-06
[For the Democrat
GOING TO THE BLACK HILLS.
OMAHA vs. CASTLE GARDEN, /
A nril % 1879

OMAHA vs. CASTLE GARDEN,
April %, 1875, !
Dsw Sir: l have arrived at the first
mage of western life which this place
DISPLAYS in all its splendor. My trip was
A pleasant one, nothing unusual transpi-
ring through the journey, The weather
has been very hot for the last tW days,
which seems as though Ohio was behind
in spring weather, as / was surprised to
And that a beautiful snow had visited
your locality on the Monday night that
left. Ny journey was not very lengthy
a. your obliging agent had the honor OF
starting me off on the wrong train, and l
put up at the Farmers" and started anew
on Tuesday. My first notice that we had
crossed the line of civilization and gone
beyond, happened about ten miles east OF
Council Bluffs, in falling in the way of a
party of monte men. They tried their
very best to have fight with some of
the passengers, but they did not succeed
They said they were from Texas; / wish
cd they were back again. The conductor
no doubt, had crawled in trunk or some
thing else, as he was no where to be
found. We finally arrived at Council
Bluffs, when Change cars" was shrek
cd from all sides, and change it was.
Railroading is fixed system here; 1t
Only took one hour, and we again started
across the big muddy Missouri on a
splendid iron bridge, when they yelled
cut "Omahai" l had fallen asleep and
the first thing that came into my head
was that the train had been captured by
n party of Sioux, but l finally came too
again when | found we had reached the
"Gardens," as it is called, and entitled to
the name, as there are about three thou
annd passengers here awaiting transpor
tation for the Pacific coast. They claim
there are two thousand more out the
road, which l don't doubt. This must
certainly surprise California.
l have been speaking to some men just
from there, and they say that State is
OVercrowded already. | think they will
have to start soup houses. They are all
right SO long as they remain in Omaha,
as the U. 2. road furnishes them with
two checks day worth 25 cents each.)
This would be very good place for Bar
uuUl W b6IcGJ
as think all colors and countries are
represented. They started a lot out to-
day in box cars; it was very inviting by
the way some tried to go, but California
can never induce me to pay for nineteen
hundred miles and take that kind of a
seat They are sending provisions out
the road by the car loads as they are try
ing to starve out along the line. Every
train brings lots more just to do as others
do, sit down, if you can find room, and
wait, l can imagine now how they carry
30 many steerage passengers across the
ocean; they laid four deep last night, but
lucky for me, | paid for room on the
floor, one foot by three, the rest kept
In the air as much as possible so as not
10 disturb them in their sport of snoring.
| kept my eyes open all night to convince
myself was not sleeping in q round.
house with all the engines blowing off
under full head of steam! My prospects
for getting away are somewhat encourag-
ing by tomorrow, when | shall run QUITO
Cheyenne. 1 supplied myself with arms
in this city. The news of the Black
Hills amt very plenty, so | cannot give
you any. Nobody appears to want to
lalk about the subject. You no doubt
will hear from me in Cheyenne if all
goes right, as l want out of here right
away. Every other man you meet wants
10 play cards-but l can't play. One man
told me that has been the case since he
can remember. As soon as you cross the
river cards are produced.
From your friend JOHNNIE.