The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 139
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From Texas to California in 1849
pass of the mountain which Cook had so much difficulty in getting
his waggons through.30 I do not know the distance through this
mountain. We have already come seven miles and it is probably
as much more to the foot of it. One of the waggons broke down
yesterday, which will detain us until tomorrow- there is good grass
here and a stream of excelent water-Timber plenty. It is worthy
of remark that every variety of Timber here is different in some
respect from that of the same species in Texas-for instance the
leaf of the Sycamore is in color and shape very like the wild Peach,
and the Walnut Tree, I have frequently mistaken for Pecan-the
nuts are even smaller- We find many notes here from the Com-
panys ahead-among others one from Capt Murcherson-he states
that he was unsuccessful in finding gold on the Gila-and is now
pushing for California- We intersected the Lanas [Janos] road
at the entrance of this Pass,81 it seems to have been much traveled,
but principly by pack mules.
Aug. 24th. Ten days have come and gone, during which time
a good deal has transpired that I would like perpetuate, and which
by the way will severely tax my recollection now. Were it not for
the great interest now felt in everything connected with this distant
region, together with the desire I have to preserve some memo-
randums of this trip with which to refresh my recollection in after
years-I should unhesitatingly throw aside this book, for the great
trouble and inconvenience of writing on the road must necessarily
confine the Journalist to a meager account of the most prominent
events, and his production in the end will reflect but little credit
on himself. however, I can claim for my own one distinction,
that of being unlike any other-a journal original-in other words,
a literary curriosity. On the 15th inst. we left our Camp in the
Mountain and made that day about fifteen miles-encamped at
night on a small stream seven miles from the foot of the mountain.
The next day moved on four miles and camped at an old Mexican
"Guadalupe Pass. Cooke's guide who had detoured to this point to find
the old Spanish road (see note 19), believed a good road could be found
due west from Ojo de Vaca to Tucson (see THE QUARTERLY, XXVIII, 199,
for map, Leroux's route). Government explorers later marked out the
route shortening the Southern Emigrant Road several hundred miles. For
a description of the Pass and the difficulties encountered by Cooke, see
Cooke's Conquest, 135-138.
"See note 19 above. The emigrants who via from Presidio del Norte
and those who came from El Paso by the lower road, struck the Southern
Emigrant Road at Guadalupe Pass.139
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926, periodical, 1926; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117141/m1/153/: accessed May 14, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.