The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-21

ries, rasnberrles and blackberries.
Shortly after rtartiug this morn
/ ing We assembled blum which was
very steep and at the foot of which
there is a running spring OF cold
water, the first We have seen
sinceswe came to the Plat River.
There was gentleman In a
train, which was camped near US
this morning, who was taken III
very suddenly. Shortly after the
! train started he was much worse
so that they were Obliged to camp.
When We passed soon atter he was
dying.
! The day was pleasant. there be.
Ing fine breeze from the south.
Tuesday, June /, 1852.
/ Today we Travelled eighteen
miles. starting at a. III. aud en-
camping at n. IN. Two miles
brought us 10 two beautiful
springs OF cold water which gush
out OF the ground at the foot OF
high hill.
Three miles brought us to
where the road ascends the bluHs
which is mile to the summit
and very steep Of ascent. as
Gended high hill to the right OF
the road from whore could see
the country around for thirty
four or forty miles in every dlrec
ton. The scenery from this point
is grand.
We descended the bluffs and
found ourselves In the far famed
Ash Hollow, which Is romantic
looking place. The hollow is about
400 yards in width and the bluffs
on either side are about Two or
ace hundred feet high and have
thick Strata OF limestone run
ming through them near the sum
nit. Ash timber is In abundance
In the hollow.
We descended the hollow aboHt
one mile to cool spring OF water.
the best VIC have had sincO we
left the states. The trail which
follows up the South Plato In.
tersectS the one we have travelled.
a short distance above the spring.
We met company which had
| travelled up the cast side OF size
South Platte and come down Ash
Hollow. They informed us that
there is no water or grass after
leaving tho South Platte until Hr"
irving at the foregoing mentioned
spring. which is a distance OF
twenty miles,
Ash Hollow is nine miles from
where We were eneamped last
night. making it q distance OF
seyGaty-siX miles from the cross
ing Of the South Platte and about
$40 from Independence,
About 200 yards from tho
spring there arc Two tents owned
by company Of men from Phila-
delphia, Pa. who have all kinds
of liquors and medicines Tor sale.
Whisky sells for 81 Il gallon and
brandy 10. $40. They also have
All express running 10 tie states.
They charge 80 cents for single
letter.
We descended the hollow a
short distance to tho river valley
mp which VIC truYeled nine miles
and encamped on the river banks
IN good grass. The blWTTs on our
left wore three hundred feet
above the level OF tho plain ard
their peaks are Tery rocky and
almost perpendicular. The road
was very sandy which made hard
pulling for the oxen.
We passed u train today which
had one case Of smallpox IN ii.
We fell in company with Samuel
Young OF Pittsburgh, Pa. who
had travelled with us down the
Ohio River OH the Granite State
steamer and up the Missouri or
the Elyira. VIC informed me that
the geEtlcmnn vino mad started to
California with him mad got out
the notion and returned home.
This Is the first day OF summer
and the buds appear to he putting
forth. The roses have put forth
and appear TO be the first iIowcr
upon the plains. There ure three
long summer months which We ex-
pect will accompany us over the
lone but fertile plains OF the far
west. The plains appear to pre-
sent rather gloomy aspect on ac-
count Of the extreme cold wealth
er We have had and the drouth
which followed.
We have had good grass for
the last week and our cattle ap-
pear 10 be improving.
-