Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-02
CROSSING The PLAINS IN 'O4
Story Of Adventure in Connection
with Opening of West.
OMAHA PIONEER GIVES ACCOUNT
John 3. Collins ENLARGED Work COn-
tains simple Recital of Actual
Occurrences Along Trail
of the ArEonaut.

: of the ArROnaut.
The men who had a reliable first hand
knowledge OF the rough life of the Ne
braska plains before the omnipresent rail-
road made II a civilized country are rap
idly disappearance. There are stll many
unsettled portions and miles Of unculti-
waited land in this state. and the other
plains states west OF It, but the stages and
Indians. prairie schooners and buffalo are
things of the past.
Books OF "reminiscences when faithfully
written. can do much to preserve for us
the regime that has passed away and as
contribution to this sort of literature the
collection OF anecdotes written by the late
John 8. Collins under the title of Across
the Plains in ga" is valuable.
The first small edition OF the work was
published by the author in Omaha about
seven years ago. Recently since his death
a new addition with added stories and
revised manuscript has been issued from
local publishing house.
The terse and familiar style OF the west
erner's conversation is preserved in this
record Of his life He had keen sense
Of humor and a real sense of the novel
and interesting. He has selected the tales
for his book that make Il always interest
ing. even when It is not thrilling with
high-sounding adventures.
Collins Tells Good story.
The title Across the Plains in 81 is
the subject of few pages at the begin
ming. The rest OF the book tells fascinating
stories Of adventures on the trail, in the
gold camp, floating down the river. and in
all the other situations which made UP
the daily life OF the pioneer.
John S. Collins was appointed at the per-
sonal request of President Grant to the
post leadership at Fort Laramie. profit
able position which he held for years. He
had the unique honor OF being one of two
men whom President Grant requested kept
in the government employ when the regime
changed at the White House, and he was
always entertained at the presidents table
while in the capital His father had been
associated with Grants father In business
and for that reason he was always counted
a friend in the Grant family.
Trip to virginia City.
His first visit to the west after his trip
across the plains was ended at Virginia
City, Mont. in the gold fields. The book
thus describes the beginning and END of
that perilous journey:
Council Bluffs was a better Quitting
point for emigrants in "a than Omaha.
March %, crossed the Missouri river on
the steam ferry with six two and four
mule teams. loaded with merchandise for
the gold mines of virginia. We ti'av-
eled the old military road from Omaha,
cutting across lots from Fourteenth and
Douglas streets Snow and rain had made
the roads heavy and travel slow. March
"a, we oamped at the Elkhorn river. Fer
riage was so cents per wagon. Loose stock
was led and driven. Raw Hide creek was
naxf pa mi
down on us by the dozen. 1t was their
custom to find emigrant camps all along
the Platte and beg. They had noses like
a pointer dog. They manifested no I'M
friendly disposition. but showed a fond
ness for our tin cups, pans, knives and
everything in this line they could pick up
and conceal under their blankets. From
the Raw Hide to Fremont, then a village
of 200 to 300 Inhabitants. white tail deer
were frequently seen in the tall grass.
Between Fremont and Columbus there was
very little settlement. There were only a
few ranches and shelter for the animals
could be had for soc to 81 per span over
night
sunday Morning scene.
ION the morning of Sunday, June u,
1854 we were in camp in sight OF Virginia
City. I walked over to look at the town.
All the stores were filled with miners.
buying their weeks provisions. Counting
freight from the Missouri river. flour was
considered low for S35 for a bag of ninety
six pounds, etc. The gambling rooms and
saloons were running full blast, bands
were playing, men and women were run
ming all the gambling devices known to
mining camp. to separate the miner, the
merchant and the pilgrim from his money
Great stacks of gold and silver coin lay
on every table, and the rooms were filled
with a motley set OF humanity. The streets
were crowded with people. Half dozen
horse auctions were going on Every
counter had its gold scales, and every
man his buckskin bag of gold dust. There
was the rough miner in his SLOUGH hat,
wooden shirt and trousers bulged out at
the pockets with bags OF dust" His hair
and whiskers were long and filled with
cloth. a broad trimmed black hat boiled
shirt" with diamond large as a hazel
nut. There were the women gamblers, be-
rouged and bedecked with paint, diamonds
galore. dressed in black satin or gay col
ored silk dresses. Hurdy-gurdy dances
held their sway in the dance halls. where
any man could engage a partner for half
q pennyweight in dust, and pay the bar
keeper the same for drinks for himself and
partner, one time.
b Money and Manners.
''oreenbacks passed current for only