The New York herald., 1877-07-13
Interesting Description of
Camp Life.
d ALLY ROU TIN f .
Method Of Travelling and Social
Enjoyment. f
PERSONNEL OF THE CORPS.
CAMP No. 1. CHEROKEE SPRINGS,
RawrySs Wv n Juna a 1877

have made mention of camp lite on the survey but
DEPRESSION carried me far away that my space was
exhausted before had opportunity. We remain
here for double First. IN order 10 accurately
a base line from which to date the ,rangula
tons to be extended north westward and second be-
cause OF the continued bad weather. 1t rains aud
blows, blows and rains with intervals OF blazing
sunshine. Everyone will be glad when the iounda-
ton is laid and we get fairly into the field.
Cherokee Springs gush from the foot OF Cherokee
Peak, moderately high mountain, thrce miles west
Of Rawlins. The railroad company have walled In q
huge cIstern there conduct the pipes
to supply thoir needs at the station. Tho whole town
might be included IN the benefit apparently, far as
tho abundance OF water is concerned. On
the little stream flowing from this fountain
camp placed, under the shadow Of q
ragged bluff, ana tho edge Of sage brush plain.
Through here passes old trail, known 1hc Cher
TRAIL along which, it is related, the Cherokee
Indian nation passed about thirty years ago search
OF new country. They went as far West Green
River, but satisfied with the appearance Of
the aud and returned to settle in the Indian Territory
They camped for time at these copious springs,
and left their musical monument Of their
visit II Is good circumstantia! evidence
l have already explained that travel with train
OF puck mules the use OF wagons in tho wild noun
the question AS entirely impossible There are six OF
u.s. all told, the party, and eight pack mules only
required to carry tho whole outfit Of tho camp Be-
sides this there two pack mules four mules
for riding animals and saddle One of
latter is the bell horse. Mules love company cling
together and enjoy walking one behind the other in
a long file. But mulo has independence OF
judgment enough TO lead train. On the other hand,
all mules "stuck after horse" the muIeteers
express it, and advantage is taken OF this TO cause
them travel steadily and to keep them together at
night by having horse TO lead the march. This
stock bell around his neck and Is ridden by
the cook who Is thus debarrcd from ANYTHING except
steady plodding along, while the rest OF rambe
of from the train much please. AT night the
bell horse is hobblcd. aud all the mules turned
loose Craze about tho noghborhood, the tinkle OF
the bell giving Information of their whereabouts in
the morning. There s no fear they will wander away
from the horse unless they are stampeded. aud
that very rarely. When The camping
place 10 reached In the evening, the packs are
removed and the cargo placed in orderly pile,
where it can be easily covered with large piece OF
canvas known ''wagon shect." 10 shield 1t from
dew rain; the riding ANIMALS are unsaddlod and
turned loose, and q few moments after, whom they
cooled on iittie the leather aparejos (psok sad
dles off and the pack mules free for tho
night Their first move Is TO ROLL removing tho per-
spration and scratching their backs, which have
grown and rritated under tho heavy packs. Then
how they cat The sets twilight fades, the camp
fro Is replenshed. and still they MUNICH, MUNICH at
the CRISP grass; the COMB out and 60 In and
the last glimpse OF the mules In the darkness shows
them with their TO the ground pack train
intelgenty cared for will actually grow fat upon
four or nvc months trip of this kind and got
mouthiul OF grain the whole time.
KITCHEN
The first mule to Ue unloaded is the bearing the
kitchen kit and while the being unsadded tho
cook digs short trench and builds 1ro In the bot
TOM Across this he places two iron bars, and his
stove is complete. Tho kitchen kit consists o two
boxes, two and half feet long, one and half feet
high and foot wide They are invariably painted a
brick red. Don't ask me why. should reply by ask
ing you why all the boxes, from BosI
San Francisco. arc green, These boxes have double
covers hinged together. He places them little dis
tauce apart unfolds the covers backward rests one
against the other and he has szablt table, eighteen
inches high HIS table cloth Is red oiicoth Tne table
furniture consists OF tin and iron ware, except tho
SILVER plated tCrks-two-tined iron forks being
abuse OF economy not permitted Tho culinary appa-
ratus is comprised bake oven, two sNilets, nest
copper pals and some small articles All these
things and large pcrton OF the grub, such salt,
pepper mustard aud oiner small packages are carried
bacon beng pu; with the cargo.
SUPPER.
Half hour usually suices for the preparation OF
supper dccen, weather, and the shout OF scrub
! pi-i-ilc" is not long unanswered Some SIT on the
ground cross.cgged Some get boxes, others powders,
others war bags, and each one takes hs accustomed
seat the cook his cup Tor coffee IN less time
to tell It, This is the PRINCIPAL meal OF the
day. Breakfast by sunrise, aud the only lunch
we get is wnat We carry our pockets AT night,
therefore, we least And what do we feast on Wby,
bacon vuIgarly termed ''sow belly worry often on
antelope steak Of black deer perhaps
bee happen TO be able to buy little; but best
bacon Is tho standby TINS is lor meat Then every nca
mani brpat mad vQas no
baked 10 the Dutch oven, aud sometimes corn doiger
or rice aapacks Butter there is none, nor mix, ex
| cept condensed milk for occasional Chocolate; ;
but you become accustomed TO coico without
this. Coffee IS the right bower OF our bill OF fare 1t
IL water aud mix aud whiskey and medicine com
bined Ten Is ''no good " ana chocolate Is used only
TO distinguish Sunday IRON he rest OF the week, but
coec-tnc best In the berry-is pcrpet uai means
OF comfort and strength Potatoes and vegetables are
absent, except and homny, but there is plenty OF
rut sauce curraa'S aprsco,s peaenes' primes &C,
there is usually nothing but maple syrup made by
dissolving the sugar, and tins rs enough, in my
plum duff, show what he can do. and 10 test the
digestive powcrs-oi our hardy stomacss
NIGHT NEAR THE MOUNTAINS.
Supper ovcr-cail 1t dinner II you wish--thc hour or
two OF daylight remaining Is spent IN odd jobs, expor
lug the Surrounding country, fishing mcndpg saddles
or cothes, writing. letters puturg up Inc little dog
tents lthcre are four IN The party, useful IN wet
pleasant nehs gathering botanical natural history
specimens and making up the beds.
After sunset tho air IN these high mountains grows
rapidly cool and chill arr IRON OIL the snow Dan KS
above 10 settle down and take possession oi alt
the warm hooks where the have been play
! during the day. Now the Iongcaped blue cavalry
overcoas (bought in Cheyenne for s. apiece and just
the thing Tor tins c) unsrapped from behind the
saddles fresh wood piled upon the nre tho pipes
are newly nied and the clrcllng smoke exploring the
darp OF the tops head looks down
an exceedingly contehed crowd.
EXPLORING PARTY.
Ono OF that comfortable six has Tor whole decade
been nthcally exploring these mountain ranges
IRON New MezIco 10 Vancouver and Is full OF the most
accurate information He our reference n,
checking exaggcrations confirming truths which
ike cxaggcraons and telling strange tales OF the peril
investigation oil The Intricate geography oi tho Pa
clhc SLOPE
Another Is naturalist, with eyes open 10 all the an
imai life along the way, reporting the songs oil the
birds, hnding viug things out OF tho way places,
and making note OF every word dropped bearing
upon his lavorlto study. lie scientific authority
and expected TO the hardest oil conundrums
| impromptu.
| The ihird member lives IN New York and can