Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-17

into camp at p. m. After some diff
Guilty we sawed small tree and hewed
out an axle, and before morning had it
all ready for an early start.
Camp No. 33 was pitched ON June 9Th.
After leaving camp about two miles we
came to some hot springs, and soon after
struck the main road, and then going up
a steep, rocky hill to level plateau.
Pixies Peak was in full view. Here it
was as cold as Norway. We descended
to a creek heavily timbered, but the
trees were dead. We called it Dead
wood creek. Being a good chance to
make big fire, we camped early, only
travelling fourteen miles.
Wednesday, June Chit rained hard
last night, but we had got pretty we'll
used to that, and having plenty of wood
to cook a square meal we were all right.
fearfully muddy roads we left
Desdwood creek, and ascended hill
about three-qusrters of mile high,
where it rained, hailed and was exceed
ingly cold. Reaching a small stream
where there was some wood, we camped,
travelling twenty-six miles.
Thursday, June 7--The road was very
hilly. One of the Tennessee boys
wagon upset, scattering camp equipsge
and grub pell-mell, and making mess
resembling that made by the Indian
tumbling out of the tree. We passed
some more bodies buried in the trees
and on scaffolds, but the boys had no
desire to see what the Indian carries to
the happy hunting grounds. We had
been very we'll satisfied to be let alone
by them, as we had several times re-
Gently seen Signatures at night; that
shows there are plenty of Indians just
off the road keeping watch of the pass
ing emigrants.
We went into camp on a fiat with but
little feed and no water. The heavy
rain produced loblolly substance. We
thought this might settle until we could
get enough water for coffee, but it was
no go. We travelled twenty miles and
had nothing to eat except dry crackers.
There was no fire to cook a piece oi
bacon.
Friday. June Shit rained hard
again. We started early, without any.
thing to eat, and travelled eight miles,
and came to good camping place, with
"oou, Wa1Ci oho Siooo. Atoio "o pio
pared good meal, and all enjoyed il
hugely. The mules got good feed also
We travelled twenty.six miles, and
stopped on creek we called Deer creek.
five miles from where the road again
comes to the North Platte. 1t was good
camping place. There was large mum.
ber of others camped at the same place.
We pitched Camp No. 81 June 9th.
We had a pleasant night. There was
good grass, and perfect jam of wagons,
mostly OK teams. AS there was some
deep, muddy gulches to cross, there was
some exciting scenes. The OK drivers
were Jealous of those who had mules, and
our few wagons being driven stage
fashion, some of the OK teamsters with
their long whips took particular pains
to slash about with them, sometimes
to our great annoyance, and this day
they came very near precipitating a col.
lision that might have proved very seri-
sus to some one. As our lead team, driven
by Major Lane, was entering a deep,
muddy gorge, long, gsunt, ed-headed
sucker, backed by gang of his follow.
ers, made dash to cut our teams from
the beaten road, and about the time the
bright barrels of number of Colts per.
susders glistened in the sunlight, it was
passed along their line that our crowd
were Texas rangers, and it would have
done you good to see them fall back and
let us pass. While the whole of our
company of fifteen men would no doubt
average with the same numbe of men
from other places with the ability and
disposition to take care of themselves,
there never was man trod shoeleather
braver and cooler in danger than Walter
P. Lane. His years Of warfare with the
Comanches and Apache Indians in
Texas, his experience as commander of
General Taylor's scouts at the battles of
Beuna Vista and Monterey attest that
He was as modest as he was brave, but
there were enough men on the road
who had heard of him, so whenever
our little party. if it was passed
along the line that Major Lane was one
of US that ended the matter.
| Camping time brought US to the cross
ing of the North Platte, after travelling
twenty miles.
Sunday, June 10th.-There were 10e
wagons ahead OF ours. The ferry was
owned by Mormons. The charge was
SO 90 per wagon and fifty cents each fol-
men. The mules had to swim. 1t was
a deep, rapid stream. There were lol
of Clay county boys here-the Youngs
Will Estis, John Minter and others
John Minter crossed the plains with
Gen Fremont, and Was of the party who
saw the gold brought from Suffers mill
by Hawks. He first put me in the no.
ton of going to California, and some
times wished that particular vial of GOLD
had never been dug.