Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-08

VII. DlSuDp WIS lar gone Will cOu
sumption. so week aud emaciated as
TO he hardly able to sit upon his
horse; yet, he so revived by noun
lain air and travel that he reached
Fort Vancouver, rom which he en-
harkld for the Stn.iwich islands,
and there died.
1t would be impossible for me to
convey Ia you any definite idea of
the dltliruilics aud dissensionS, we
eXpellehcad No party had ever
hefore Travelled over that wild In
dian country without the guidance
anl protection of some experienced
traders OF hunters, and every subso-
Iuent emigration has had the bene,
fit of guides and guide books de-
sclibing the route uri country to be
passed over, while we journeyed
blindly on, not knowing when we
started in the morning where we
! would find grass aud water for the
next camp or at what moment we
might encounter band of hostile
Indians.
The first excitement we had in
camp was about the ,iags. /, Mas
found that most of the men aud
some of the women were possessed
! of canine, and each Individual
considered their personal safety an 4
future welfare dependent on the sc
animals. Each owner was ready 10
qualify that it was not his or her
dog that commenced the quarrel or
raised the row during the night.
While it was apparent that dogs
III the plural were nuisance, still
each maintained that one good dog
i'll the camp would be useful, and
his was the one. After much
wranGling, it was conceded that
they were all good dogs, but like
other luXurles they must be dis
pensed with for the general welfare
Somewhere about thirty were shot,
after which quiet reigned.
Other grievances, however, soon
presented themselves. All sorts OF
impracticable bargains, promises aid
agreements had been made before
starting, which the parties were un-
able and often unwilling to perform.
Overloaded teams and inadequate
provision for the trip, aggravated by
the fearfrl storms incident to that
country in the ear y spring, making
everyone cold and miserable, seemed
to render all harmony and kindly
feeling impossible.
We were about three weeks reach
ing the South Platte river, where we
found the buffalo in great abund-
ance. Day after day we drove
along, in their very midst, and were
often in danger OF being run over
by them, as they went laundering
across our way, making the earth
trcmble. The excitement OF killing
these animals, the abundance OF
provisions thus procured, together
with the improvement in the weather,
qnieted dissensions and diverted oul
minds for the time from the fatigues
and hardships of the journey.
We forIed the South Platte where
it was about half mile wide with.
out series difficulty and crossed over
some eight or ten miles to the NORTH
Platte pursuing our way over the
route familiar to all emigrants, pass
ing Chimney rock and Ash hollow
and reached Fort Laramie about the
last of June.
Here we remained two days to re-
cruit our failing animals, which Were
becoming tired and footsore, and to
rest our own weary bodies in more
security than we had felt since leav
ing Independence.
Here we were joined by my friend
f. y. Matthew and three others and
l doubt if any individuals evel
started to Oregon on shorter notice
or with less baggage. 1t was q
marvellous thing to my inexperienced
mind to see men coolly mount d
pony and With no provisions or cut
fit other than buffalo robe, gun
and tin cup, start off on q journey
to an unknown country, hundreds
OF miles distant, requiring long
months of travel.
The folly and recklessness of try
ing to travel without an experienced
guide were so apparent that Dr.
White entered into negotiations witt
MIR. Fitzpatrick, who happened tc
be at Laramie, to accompany us as fal
as Fort Hall for $500. And will
more confidence than we had hither
to felt we started with renewed en-
ergy and hope.
About the middle of July, W,
reached the Sweetwater, where oul
first serious accident occurred. A
young man named Bailey, walking
into camp after long and weary
days travel, passed behind Wagon
just as the owner of the wagon drew
a blanket from the front and caused
rifle which was lying in the from
to discharge. The ball passing GU
through the hind gate, struck Bailey
in vital part, causing his death il
few minutes He was wrapped in
his buffalo robe and buried near In
dependence Rock, no indication O
his grave being left visible lest tn,
Indians should discover and disturb
his remains. Poor Bailey non,
knew his history, and so far as
know, neither kith nor kin wei.
ever informed of the circumstances
of his melancholy end.
While our company was campei
near the Devils Gate, on Sweet
water, we were surprised by som,
two hundred Sioux Indians bringin.
in as prise ners, each mounted be
hind apainted warrior, Messrs Hast
ings and Lovejoy, whom they had
captured on Independence Rock
where they had been inscribing thei
names. These gentlemen, with thei
horses and equipments, were at once