The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-03

years. the gentleman said: "After leaving
the Missouri river, opposite s.. joseph. the
first settlement we reached was Fort kear-
| ney. There was.not single house on the
west bank Of the river, AMI at the fort there
were only few little huts for the office 5
aud their families. The next settlement lnst
in our journey was that Of Fort Lara
mic, and that consisted Of the fort an
few huts within the Enclosure. From
this point o. to Indenende zee Rock there
were no white inhabitants at all. After
leaving Fort kearney and reaching the
north fork of the Feather river we encoun-
tered a band Of about 5000 Indians, VINO
were accompanied by French traders.
Tuese India were suffering gresty from
cholera. just before reaching For. Lara
raie, and from there on to Independence
Rock, We encountered vast heards OF Duf-
falo, some of them numbering thousands.
At Independence Rock the herds ceased.
Indians in small groups and in large bands
were met all along the route.
After leaving the ) eet water we reached
the Wells, south Of Salt Lake, AM then
came III near where Winnemucca now
stands. Following the trail up 10 the Ore
gon and California sta e line we next came
down ire valley of Northern California
As we came over the moulbai IS near the
Oregon line it was showing, and Mount
SHASTA, with its white crest, could be seen
in the distance. After encouatering the
hards.ips and perlls of crossing the Sierra
I'd Navadas our provisions gave out and
we were obliged to abandon our tea rs
Nhere were two companies of US travelling
together and we had forty head of st ok
All these with the exception Of two head
We're aband med and | started out TO com
ple-e my journey on foot.
At that time tle country was unsettled
there DAI0U hlf = Dph north NJ Mary
vile, and the district upon which the
thriving town is now located was the !
known as Nyes ranch. Gsl. Bidwell had
at that ii ne just built cabin o his place.
GA our trip down through the valley we
freGuentlE saw tracks lie by huge bears,
and at mig as we camped around enor-
nous fires we We're lllled TO sleep by the
no Wing Of wolves that were only kept at a
distance by the fare of the blazl g logs
There was q great deal Of suffering
among migrants, and BY order OF Gen.
Pefclval NTH, goyernme t parties were
Sc II out with provisions and mules t. rescue
them. Men, won a and children we're thus
brought into tle Sacramento Valley, some
on muleback, while OF .erS had to wade
through the noun ain SHOWS. If it had not
been for this aid thousands would have per-
lshed.
In those days there were no postofices
or mail routes as at present. 1t vas the
custom to fasCen letter to a board or ia
the slit of stick, which was set on the line
OF the trail. Travellers going and coming
of course saw the letter, and sooner or later
the person for whom it vas intended would
receive information Of the location of his
mail and would arrange to secure it.
"A party that mad gone on ahead had
posted a letter on a board alo gside the
trail for me, and when [ reached the prim-
tive poStOffice | received the letter. acting
as my own postmaster. The communlca-
ton told Of the hardships of the season and
the difficulties enc)u tered on the trail. On
arriving at Marysville l showed ths letter
to some of the leading people there. They
became alarmed, and in less than twenty
minutes from the time of my arrival pro
visions OF all kinds became very scarce and
dear in the market, and -four was hard to
get at 81 80 a pound"
The gentleman related many remi-
niscehces of forty years ago, including one
of rain storm at Bid wells Bar That vi hin
threa days inundated the surrounding
country All were of a most interesting
character, but volu 10 rather than brief
newspaper article would be required for
their presentation.