Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-02-14
Experiences of the California Gold
Seekers Half Century Ago.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST lst.

and travelled down the river, over
barren country. The grass is COM
pletely parched up by the burning
rays of the monday sun. We saw
signal fire this evening on the noun
tain from our camp,
Thursday, 2nd, continued our course
along the St. Mary's. Nature seems
to have destined this river for some
such purpose, forming fine places for
keeping stock in tn. great bends
which it makes. have no doubt the
grass was very good in the commence
ment Of the season. There were five
mules and two horses stolen from a
neighboring camp last night by the
Indians, who are very trou blesome
along this river. We travelled until
II o'clock tonight, and encamped.
Friday, 3rd, travelled all day with
out any grass. Our animals can scarce
ly get along for weakness. Fortunate
ly, late in the evening we found some
little.
Saturday, 4th, we crossed the river
in order to shun the sand which is at
least foot deep, finding it impossible
to get through it. We are also com
PEELED to do the most of our travelling
after night. The sun is so very hot
that one can not stand it in the heat
of the day.
Sunday, 9Th, laid in camp until
three o'clock today, for the purpose
of ascertaining the amount of -four on
hand, Find it to be only thirty pounds
to a man, which will not last more
than fifteen or twenty days, at the
furtherest. At that hour we put the
train in motion, recrossed the river
and travelled over sandy desert for
fifteen miles, reaching the river at 10
o'clock at night, and encamped.
Monday, August 9th, started early
this morning and pursued nearly a
northern direction over perfect des-
ert, without any vegetation whatever.
This evening the road turns due south.
We encamp tonight without any grass.
Tuesday, 7th. The country contin-
ues barren and sandy. We have now
been forty-eight hours with little or
no grass and with no prospects of find
ing any shortly. 1t certainly is a
gloomy time with all Of us, as our an
imals can scarcely get along and our
provisions are getting very scarce.
Wednesday, ,the 8th. This evening
we drove seven miles from the road
and found plenty Of grass This place
has Just been discovered. We had a
shocking accident in camp this even
ing. Comrade James Davidson shot
himself accidentally. He lived only
a few hours afterward. Mr.. Davidson
was a resident of Frederick county,
Va, and just in the prime OF life. His
loss is very much regretted by all.
We buried Mr.. Davidson in the most
respectable manner possible in this
solitary country. We thought as we
raised his mound that earth never
seemed so drear. We leave him to
sleep in peace, until awakened by Je-
hovah's call.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
9th, 10th and 11th, until one o'clock,
we laid by at this place to recruit our
selves and animals and also to make
some hay to feed US over desert said
to be sixty-fve miles in length. At
one o'clock this evening we took the
line of march again and passed the
sink of st. Mary's river. This l have
mentioned before. 1t scatters far and
wide among the rushes and sinks to be
seen no more. We travelled % miles
this evening and encamped at the
Sulphur Spring. This is decidedly
the strongest sulphur that l have ever
tasted.
Sunday, the 18th, we left camp at
an early hour and travelled ten miles
to breakfast. We suffer very much
for water at this time. After we had
eaten breakfast we pursued our jour
ney and encamped at the not springs
This water is boiling hot, and we use
it for tea and coffee, and by dipping
it up and cooling it we make out to
drink it. We have to cool it for the
stock. We can cook here very con-
veniently without FIRE or fuel.
Monday, the 18th. We started at
l o'clock this morning and made an
effort to get through the desert to-
day. We travelled about ten miles,
when our teams all gave up and left
US in the burning sand without any
water and nearly famished. This is
indeed trying time. We remained
here until late in the evening, when