The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-19
NEW DAYS rs
Win Jacob S lfaJ cieninlSstlH

DAY. we started at Z q. m and
encamped at 5sp. M, near a Blues
within two miles OF Plat River,
After leaving the latter yesterday
we travelled twenty-five miles with,
out wood or water, with the excep.
ton Of small quantities which had
been standing since the last raink
and was not 1T 70 use. we hauled
water from the creek. Z.
Our cattle are failing away as
we have been pushing them for sew.
eral days to reach Plat River. hav.
Ing been informed that the grass
was very good. We are sadly dis.
appointed as the grass Is not hall
so good a. represented, though Il
Is better than we have had for sey.
eral days.
The country over which we have
travelled today is a level sandy
plain. There was heavy frost
this morning and the afr was cool
today.
"a place of deep mud Or mire. ,
At IL m. We came to a small ra.
vine on the left hand side Of the
road In which lay three indians
who had been killed. One had, been
shot through the head and the 9th.
er two through the heart. 1t Is not
known whether they were killed by
the whites or by tie Indians, how.
ever their bodies were left there
to bleach upon the plains.
This evening Joseph Peach
bought q young calf which had
been lost out OF a drove. we have
II skinned and design feasting upon
It In the morning, We differ as to
its age, though none think It more
than ten days old. : II matters not
as to Its age as we can almost eat
anything.
Thursday, May, 20. 1852.
We Travelled fifteen miles today,
starting at a. m. and camping al
l p. m. We Travelled up the Plat
Bottom thirteen miles to Fort Car.
ney, and the Wagons went on two
miles and encamped near where
the river splits, forming an island
twenty or twenty-five miles in
length.
There Is no timber on the south
side Of the Plat and but little on
the north, although the island Is
well timhered.
We saw alkali for the first time,
in today's travel.
Fort Carney is $40 miles from
Independence, NO., and Is situated
two miles south Of Plat River on
a beautiful plain, The fort isFcom.
posed OF four large frame buildings
for the accommodation OF tho off.
GERS, and ten or twelve huts, built
Of mud and sod for the priyates.
Mud stables quarter the horses.
There are seventy.nine priyntes
and officers from captain down
stationed here, The CAPTAINS name
Is Wharton and he treated us very
kindly. AS we wished to write
some letters he very politely offer.
ed us the use OF his office which
we accepted with great pleasure.
He furnished ma with a list OF
the emigration which had passed
tho fort for California and Oregon
up to this time. (They register
every train that passes on this SIDE
OF the river.) Five thousand and
elghty-nine men, III women, $40
children, 1852 Wagons. 2.4e4
horses, 1859 mules, 1889 oxen and
one black sheep composed the emf.
grafton in advance OF US which had
passed on this side Of the river.
Captain Wharton told me that
he had sent Tile OF sixty meg 10
an Indian village, not far distnnt,
to call them to account for having
murdered IN 1rishman ana stolen
the horses from the remainder Of
the company. The Irishmen laid
IN q complaint at the fort and the
captain offered. them arms to 70
with the soldiers and avenge their
comrades death, but they all had
some excuse or other-some were
lame, some crippled, some this ana
other that and so 1t went, but the
next morning they were ali well
enough to start back to the states.
! left the fort at Q p. N. having
written a letter to father. Just as
! left It commenced raining very
hard. The day was pleasant I'm ,iii.
u that time. Grass is very short
this evening.
There Is large store at the fort