46 ELDORADO 



CHAPTER IV. 



PACK SADDLES AND PERILS. 



Before bidding a final adieu to the localitx- around 

 which cluster some of the most eventful incidents in 

 overland immigration to the Pacific Coast, I will refer 

 briefly to one or two incidents that make this particular 

 portion of the route especially memorable. 



The fact that during the decade from 1840 to 1850 

 not less than 75,000 emigrants, at a conservative esti- 

 mate, passed this point is worthy of note. 



Previous to reaching this point dififerent routes were 

 followed, thereby providing better facilities for graz- 

 ing, but at the upper crossing of the Platte, notably in 

 the great emigration of '49-'50, the feed became ex- 

 hausted long before the later travelers reached this 

 part of the journey. 



We witnessed many sorrowful evidences of the sick- 

 nesses and misfortunes of those of the previous 

 year, in the numerous graves, the bones of dead ani- 

 mals, and remnants of discarded property. History 

 does not furnish a parallel to the excitement and ter- 

 rible experiences of many of those of the 50,000 who 

 rushed to the mines of California in 1849-50. Know- 

 ing the hardships of the emigrants of the preceding 

 vear we regarded ourselves as having comparatively 



