Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1875 — Over the Union Pacific Railroad. [ARTICLE]

Over the Union Pacific Railroad.

Under the date of 10 o’clock a. m., November 29th, Mr. Ludd itopknis, who witlr his family was then pursuing his journey to California, writes on board of the cars at Antelope station, 451 miles west of Omaha,, that the road thus far from Omaha has passed over a monotonous plain. Frequently the Platte river is in sight, bordered by low hills. The hills are now becoming higher. At ten minutes past 5 o’clock we will be at Cheyenne, 150 miles ahead, where the train stops twenty minutes. Thirtythree miles from there is Sherman—the point of greatest altitude reached ly the railroad. Louis enjoys the ride hugely. Everybody on the train • will remember him. Patches of snow are everywhere visible, and we expect to see greater quantities of it this afternoon. From Cheyenne to Laramie we will have daylight, and during the night will pass over the country from Laramie to Green river. Will reach Ogden at 6:15 r. ji. to-mor-row. As I look trom my car window over these Western plains, it seems like a review of something known by heart; but it is such a rapid review one scarcely realizes what a task it was twenty-five years ago when I dragged along through here, over the wagon road, alter an ox-team. We have many times passed in close proximity to the old trail, but are now some sixty miles south ol it, in a less rugged, wild and dangerous section. Yesterday passed the Elk 'Horn, and twelve miles this side I JCould almost locate the spot where we battled twenty-five years ago with treacherous Pawnee Indian? for the right of way to the'then El Dorado of

the Pacific coast. At that point we were then on our third day out from the fluffs—(this train is in its third hour.) In that encounter two men of our company were severely wounded; one by a barbed arrow which pierced the victim’s left lung, and the other (Mr. H. Carpenter, a young man from South Bend) felt the strange sensation resulting from an ounce ball passing through both thighs, in front of the bone of one and behind the bone of thq other. A silk handkerchief was drawn through both wounds. Aftef that hour we were on our guard day and night for four long months. Our vigilance proved to be the price of safety. I was then a mere boy, but from that day have entertained no sympathy for the Indian. , Tuesday, 10 o’clock a. m. Just tvbnly-four hours later, and 900 miles west Our tram is strictly on time. All is sunshine, literally and figuratively. All of our family are enjoying the landscape views. This morning after sunrise we stopped at Green river twenty minutes. Since then have had some change in the scenery. The wild antelope seem tohave less fear of the train than of men, and frequently halt in full view. Made and Tootie have had only a passing glimpse at Shoshone Indians, but further on will geta better sight of the noble Diggers.