Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-27
THE PLAINS ACROSS.
Seeking Gold in the Days of
Forty-Nine.
A DAILY DIARY ON THE PLAINS
Racing Across the Continent in Ok
Wagons, Fighting Indians and
Fording Streams.

The third installment of J. M. Hix.
sons diary kept while crossing the
plains in 1S49 reads as follows:
We we're at Camp No. 6 on May, Z,
1S49. 1t was Monday. We had good
camping place, about one-half a mile
above the ford on a lovely stream. did
not risk giving a name to the small
streams. l had no doubt this country
would all be surveyed and mapped in
time and the streams named. The land
is too fertile and it possesses too many
inducements for settlement to remain in
the possession Of the Indians forever.
Now that 90 many from the older States
begin travelling over this fine land, and
comparing it with the soil they have to
scratch 80 hard to get living from they
must write to their friends to "Gc
West"
1t rained most of the day, but the ma
ture OF the soil was such that the road
was not so bad as we had for the past
two days.
In the early part of the day several
miles to our right, we saw the line Of
wagons on the main road which we had
just left west of Rice's.
1t was a grand sight-grand beyond
description, continuous line of covered
wagons for miles and miles to the west
ward; one team was pressing onto the
rear wagon of the train next ahead.
Many of the trains had from forty to
sixty wagons, and three to five yoke OF
cattle to the wagon, with an average OF
about three men to the wagon. These
large trains were mostly hauled by oxen.
As rule the mule trains had less than
TWENTY-FIVE wagons. We had seen no
trains 60 far but what had their captain
and lieutenant, travelling in military
order, the captain telling them
when to start and when to stop.
We we're joined this day by seven men
with two wagons and twelve animals,
from Tennessee. Rugged, stout young
men they were. We felt a little more
confidence, as we had enough men now
to put out two guards at time, and
only had to stand three hours at time.
The first guard went on duty at s, stand.
ing until IL, the next guard standing
until 2, and the last one until 5.
We struck Camp No. I on Tuesday
May S.h. The night before We had the
pleasure of seeing the stars at times.
We were out of camp at a. M, and
after travelling some seven miles over a
high prairie we came 10 the forks of the
road leading to the two crossings on the
Kansas river. We took to the right hand
road and crossed at the lower ferry,
having to swim our mules, and paying 81
each for ferryIng the wagons. The ferry
is owned and run by Frenchman. 1t
was dark by the time we got our wagons
over and our teams hitched up, and
found a suitable place to camp.
We reached Camp No. 8 on Wednes.
day, Msy 9th. This being tbs first
chance to send letters back to those left
behind, several of our party were seen
scribbling as best they could by the
camp FIRE; some writing to relatives,
others to "their best girl"
We got off early and travelled some two
miles and stopped for breakfast. There
were a great many Pottowattomie In
dians all along the road. On this river
we travelled twenty miles day over the
finest country ever saw. The road was
good excepting the crossing of one creek,
which was very bad. We camped on
Mill creek. Peter Bullbony, a hslf-breed,
Indian and French, resided here. He
was fine specimen of manhood physi-
cally, and l should say, from his sur
youndings, must have been equally so
mentally. He owned, or at least claimed
and exercised authority over, thirty miles
square OF as fine land as crow ever flew
over. He had a number of comfortable
hewn-log cabins, circular sawmill, etc.
From general appearances and the num-
Der of little Bullbonys l should judge
Peter was believer in Brigham Young's
doctrine. We reached Camp No. 9 on
Thursday, May 10th, and got an early
start, crossing Mill creek on a bridge
owned by Bullbony, contributing fifty
cents each to his already we'll filled
purse. We travelled all day until late in
the afternoon through bottom land oi
grest fertility. The road was very bad
from the late rains. We crossed several
small streams, the largest being Vermil-
ion. Here we got wood and filled our
kegs with water for cooking, and drove
ont on the high prairie some two miles
and camped. As there had been some
stock stolen from this vicinity the night
before we doubled our guard.
Our travel had only been seventeen
miles. We passed through number o1
Indian villages and Catholic mission
The mission had number of hewn log
houses, and had quite cosy appear
ance. We also passed the new-made
grave of two emigrants.
Camp No. 10 was pitched on Friday
May 11th. This is delightful camp
with wood, water and grass. The weather
cleared up, and was just cool enough tc
be bracing aud make ''slap-jacks," bacon
and coffee taste good. A company with
mules, from Lexington, Mo-, were
camped here. They had thirteen wagons
and thirty nine men. Their captain was
Gsbe Brown, very gentlemanly fellow
of determined spirit, with some OK.
perience in camp life on the plains
There being rumor, of depfedations,
stampeding of stock and outright pillag
ing Of trains by the Indians, we arranged
to have our companies camp as conven
iently together as we could. We all sus
pected it was bad white men who were
causing the trouble. Near our camp
we're two graves. At the head of one
was q head-stone, on which was in.
scribed, "Henry Roush, OF Illinois
died May s, 1S49." There was nothing
about the other grave to tell whose il
was, but it showed there had been but a
few days since the burial had taken place.
This was serious subject for thought.
Here lay two fellow creatures who
but short time ago left their homes
with high hopes of returning at no very
distant day with gold enough to make
happy an aged mother who looked to
themEfor support; or it may be each
Was the husband and father OF