The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08

cradle" 1t cost 81. and when ready to
move weeks later the two owners sold IL
readily FOR two ounces of gold. or 80. An
ounce OF gold, SIG. was a good days work
at hat time. and SO per day was the
average mans luck. Gold. otherwise than
hid In the ground. was obtainable I'm San
Francisco, and William Robinson soon
left the gold-helds at Weaversviile for
hauling freight at so per day in San Fran
cisco. Food. dry goods of all kinds. tools.
furniture, all classes OF freight needed by
miners was pouring into San Francisco
by ship loads from New York; mules and
drivers were at a premium, and 81 or s.
per load from the wharves was easily
earned After two years Of California life
the New Albany men. one by one. returned
10 their homes; by ship 10 Panama, thence
TO New Orleans and TO Indiana.
A SECOND EXPEDITION.
In April. 1850. New Albany speeded on its
way the expedition put into print by James
Abbey. The gold fever was now at it's
height. and 300 men from this town and
Floyd county. with ox-teams and wagons,
set of by boat TO the Missouri starting
points. Many residents still remember the
equipment OF these California emigrants,
the bright blue wagon-beds with large
white canvas tops, the assembly on the
river banks. the embarkations and fare
wells. Two steamboats-the Cortlandt and
the Dove-were then running up Missouri
river from this point. Among those who
went were several elderly men. and lads
OF eighteen; but the majority were men
nearing thirty. Among them John Naius.
Hicks King, Daniel Cline, John O.. Greene,
7. j. Greene. James G. Shields, Alfred II.
Nunemacker. John Gavin, Jerome Beers,
Charles Winstadley, Ben ShindIer, An
tony Genung. James Newbanks, Ben F..
Lemon, Ben Reissinger and many others.
OF the older men were Squire Wilson. 'in
nus sixties;' Squire Leslie. almost seventy;
Dr. Maginness and DIR. Hoover. ST. On ar
rival at St Joseph, Mo-, after an eleven
days trip on the Dove, 5000 emigrants
from all parts OF the country were found
already on the ground. waiting to have
their wagons ferried across the river.
Steamers arrived daily, bringing loads of
soio-seekers, and three weeks feed had to
be purchased, to last the oxen until spring
grass should appear. Corn was then Sc
cents a Dushel. oats 90 cents. hay s2.2 per
cwt' potatoes 81 a bushel, white beans $1.25
a ousnei. and flour S. a barrel. Each wagon
mad hve yoke OF oxen and a several days
wait Tor passage across the river in a
scow ferry. worked by ropes. was the open
ing ordeal that befell the impatient emf
grants.
Aooey's letters in a diary kept with
phenomenal and cheerful -fdelity-record in
detail the progress of the Journey the
weather. including wind, rain and snow.
the episodes and disasters, the health of
the men, the condition of the oxen and the
miles covered each day. One hundred
wagons were of this train, and a wait of
w weeks was experienced. in camp lust
across the Missouri river. before all had
TO go forward. New ALBANY
was musical in those days, BILLY Refs
singers band" was found to be in camp
and is thus described, despite a rainy
night:
After supper all hands volunteered and
hauled up a big pile OF logs for our camp
IRE. around which all seated themselves to
hear some music. Billy Reissinger was
elected leader of the band. Our music con-
sisted OF cornet. ophyclide. trumpet fiddle,
guitar and a flute. They played Home.
Sweet Home and a Life on the Ocean
Wave The Missouri river rose eight feet
last night. and is now full of floating ice
and drift"
April q James Abbey walked four miles
I'm the rain 10 visit a sick man from Ohio
in another camp; gave him medicine, in
his capacity as amateur doctor, STAYED
three hours with him and left him much
better. Early May found the party in
camp eight miles from Fort Kearney. after
hard dragging over the sandy plains for
20 miles," resting for the start TO Fort
Laramie. five hundred miles away. April
weather had been cool and windy, streams
were full and difficult TO cross. mud album
dant and no grass as yet for the oxen. Big
rattlesnakes were numerous: often killed
by the dozen by the boys before the 4
o'clock breakfast of coffee. ham and bread,
cooked on 'the little sheet-iron stove" AT
little Blue river a young man from Ohio
died OF the measles" good grass was
there first found for the cattle, and willows
were noted as turning green along the
banks. Two days later. at Wood creek, a
Kentucky Methodist preacher, Mr.. Jami-
son. dropped his pistol from his belt on
his wagon tongue, with the result that its
full charge passed through his under jaw,
carrying away several teeth and breaking
the jaw in two places. One May day, while
the STOCK was resting anu grazing at noon,
the historian counted, passing on the Utah
trail, two hundred horse teams, eighty
mule teams and sixty OK teams. I this
q time cattle feed was about out and grass
norcobe found in plenty.
A DAY TO BE REMEMBERED.
On a pleasant Monday, May 6, grass was
reached. and the desert schooners' cast
anchor and ate a hearty dinner-oxen and
men. "Our dessert was something to be
remembered" related James Abbey. "It
was Mr.. and Mrs. Nagheld's plum pud-
ding. which was presented by them to our
mess before leaving home. We drank TO
the health of Mrs. Naghel from our tin
cups. wishing her a long life and a happy
enc. We smacked our lips wit. joy that
we were blessed with good health and a
plum pudding for dinner on the desert
wiIds." The next day the New Albany
caravan passed ten dead horses and mules
on the trail, no dead oxen as yet. Thirty
bufaloes were seen, twelve wolves, ante
iopes, and any quantity of snakes. While
the cattle were halted TO Craze sixty four
horse teams. forty mule teams, thirty OK
- ~xvo ladies' ON horSphaCE OaSSad