Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-05-08
THE OVERLAND PASSAGE
Experience Of Gea. s. Mcknight In
His Trip to California In 1S49.

w UNWs NtChhtHWh ~
His Trip TO California In fS49.
The following letter from Geo. s. Nc
Knight to his brother, John II. Mcknight
written from Masatlan, Mexico, while
he was on HIS way to California, aud pub
lished in the Pcrrysburg Rereiile at that
time, has historic rs well n local and
personal interest:
MAzATHAU, August 81, 1s49
Dear Broihcr:--As can do nothing else,
I take this opportunity for informing you
Of some Of my troubles and trials since
wrote you last. / could not give you
correct description Of them. as IL would
take at least quire Of paper, but will en-.
deaver, in my poor way, to give you u
faint idea, but hardly know where TO be-
gin.
Twill begin where Geo. Clarke left US,
az he can tell you everything that trans
pired up TO thar time. You can tell him
for me, that while lie was with us, il was
n pleasure trip TO what We have since nn-
dergone. We toiled on until we arrived
at town named ST. Aroseo where we, as
usual, took the most passible road, and
that was over the Sirra Nevada Noun
iains. We then hired Mexican guide
aud paid him $500 to take us to the City
Chihuahua, 900 miles distant. We were
about 80 men strong, with 16 wagons.
He was to take us through in l6 da,s but
we were 60 days, and suffered everything
but death. We went up the bed Of riv-
er about 100 miles, which was 80 very
rocky aud uneven that it rendered the
travelling for horses horrible. However,
we got along very well-bad water occas
ionally-but when rs we supposed we had
got through, the tug Of war had not COM
nienced.
We then had to cross the mountains
aud found water very scarce, and to be
had only in small quantities. Our ami
mals had to go several days without n
drop aud it WAS with great difficulty that
we could now aud then get drink. We
acted more like wild tigers than like
human beings, perfect confusion and ex-
citement reigning when we found water
We moved slowly. and at Last came to the
final jumping off place." We had TO let
the wagons down about 800 feet with
ropes. Some broke loose and went to
flinders.
After leaving this place we Travelled go
| miles before we found water, n spring in
The side of the mountain. difficult Of az
ceas. II t.,Ok us three days and night,
hard work, to water ourseIvcs and stock
as we had TO dip il with a pint cup. We
had 800 horses and mules. After filling
our gourds, we again started, Our guide
| informed us that il was about 20 leagues
or 60 miles TO the next watering place. II
was over plain aud the travelling horri-
lie. The brier busl,es reached the horses
backs, and those with the Spanish Dag
gers cut the horses legs all Ia pieces. Al.
ter arriving at this place, we found 1t M
dry as II powder-house. Our gourds were
empty, and the situation anything but
pleasant. God only knows our suffering.
I could not give description on paper.
Our guide thought we would ind wafer
about SO miles on. After resting an hour,
we again started IN hope .ot finding water
by digging in the sand; but il WAS only hy
the blessing Of God, that we lived to get
there. We scattered in small compan,cs
(from three to ten, searching for water;
and after most painful search of 81
hours, during which time twice fell
from my horse and was perfectly crazy
we succeeded in finding some. Fur 15 or
20 miles before arriving at the water the
rou,e WIS strewn with dead horses aud
mules, baggage, provisions, &c. We staid
here i've days before we all got together
aud then moved nine miles. when we found
fine stream Of running water and gooC
grass. We remained here several days te
recruit ourselves aud animals. We lef
for Chihnalius. and after much trouble ~ {
occasional suffering for water, arrived
) there.
At this point our party disbanded, som,
taking one direction and some another
Carpenter, Spaford and myself wer,
fort unate in getting chance 10 ride Il
Durango. My horse had given out and
had been unable 10 sell or trade him.
told them to go ahead, M was un,ieterni.
ined which way would go. 1 remaine'
here 10 days, and Joined part of the com
go 800 miles out of our way to reach here
/ AhC oCct toNt VI Wv
time since last wrnie you. | doub
whether those who left Chihuahua 10
; California will reacl, there III less tim
than from loo to $50 days. Our compan.
Travelled almost the whole distance fiOu
Durango TO this place, right through Il,
heart of the Indian country.
When We arrived here we made arrage
melts wi b the Captain OF the Snip Ro
land TO sail on the l5,h day Of Augus
without fail. We had our baggage take,
on board and paid our passage (S60) 70
the steerage. The weasel lay about tw
miles from port aud half mile from
mountain ut rock. There were 80 pnn
semger. in alI. 1t being very r'mgh
, came on shore on the 10Th. AT 3 p. n
there came up storm which caused he
10 drag her anchor, and in n few minnie
sle WAS tot,l wreck, twenty-ninc sail
orr and passengers finding wa,ery grave,
There were II saved, some of them nc
expected to live. lost everything l In
except what had on, "ni my watch an
$50 in money. There was AN old man Il
rs years and cousin Of President TayI"I
The last words he via heard to utter were
my G"d! have l con,e to thiS" Man
of Them were dashed To pieces on III
rocks. GEO. MCKNIGHT.