Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-11-07

many as 20 deaO oxen strung along The
road in single day. This kind of coun-
try continued until we reached Sweet
Water river, and even. on that beautiful
stream, we saw several lakes. Most o.
these are dry at this season Of the wear
and the bottoms are thicklv incrusted with
a perfectly white deposite. This depos-
lie is tolerably fair article of potash.
We were all glad when emerging from
the hills we left this poisonous region
and entered upon the beautiful valley oil
the Sweet II ater. This stream is about
as large as the East Fork of Whitewater
IL heads in the immediate vicinity of the
South Pass, in the Wind River Noun
tains. and traverSes most beautiful val
lev OF varied width This valley is COW
cred with a fine growth of bottom grass.
and IS encased on either side by towering
mountains covered with snow.
The first object of special interest was
independence Rock Ii is huge pile
Of gray granite, towering up several hun
dred feet from the level plain. lis sum
nit IS easily accessible, and few persons
pass without ascending il. Thousands
Of names are imprinted upon the rock
Ascending This valley. the atmosphere be-
came more light and pnre; much 50
that breathing. and vision were sensibly
affected. We soon came into the region
Of snow. ascendcl the Sweet " alter
chain OF mountains 10 the south of US
climbed 10 the summit OF the taiiest peak
-traversel snow drifts piled to an i'm
manse depth-and }ookcd ont upon the
lct2fe r9rII' The Wind River Noun
tains. the highest Of the great Rocky
chain. was in full view. and white with
snow: and although they were some sew
emf, miles distant. vet such was the puri-
" and l!gAhess Of the atmosphere. that
trees. and other ohje were distinctly
visible with but ali ordinary spy glass
Ihe day was quite warm. yet when We
had ascended some 500 feet above the
snow, the air was sufficiently cool. | as
sure YOU. The next day was unusually
hot in the valley Our morning. however.
was rendered quite agreeable by an "a
bundant supply OF pure and beautiful re.
TINS we found II a valley Of wet land.
resembling muck. with a heavy turf Of
grass coverng the surface. BY digging
down abou. a foot we struck a layer OF
ice. some eight orten inches in thickness.
as pure and cold as any you have ever
seen. This, in mid summer, is a singu
lar Phenomena. w encountered some
others OF those singular bogs before leav-
inc the valley We hurried on. with
snow on every side OF us. to the South
Pass: and tins may be described as a
simple valley through the Rocky Noun
tains. The Sweet Water seems literally
TO cut this stupondous range ofmountains
in twain, and opens up great highway
through. So gradual is the approach TO
the eliminating point. SO broad the valley.
and so beautiful the roads, that many Of
our men had passed the turning point.
and were gently descending toward the
great Pacific, before they were aware Of
it. We FASTENED down the slope and
rested for the night at the Pacific Spring.
whose waters flow into the great Colorado
Of the Gulf of California. From thence
across u Inc forks of the road. near Big
Sandy. nothing Of note is 10 be seen. The
road forks near that stream. one branch
leading round by old Fort Bridger, the
other crossing the desert by Subit's Cut
off. to Green River From Sandy TO
Green River. a distance of more than SO
miles, there is not a drop of water. and
the greater portion of the road traverses a
sandy desert, perfectly destitute Of veg
citation except a singular and dreary look
ing weed, somewhat resembling pursley.
We rested at the last water til 3 O'Clock
.. N. when we set out again on this wea-
~ march. ~ travelled till eleven o.
clock at night when we stopped-unhar
messed our animals-l GIFTED up our
camp fires-and took supper. The night
was clear and cold. and the moon shone
brightly After rest of two hours. we
harncsscl up and set out again. Day
dawned, aud still our long. weary train
was vending lis way over this sterile and
arid derert We halted at sun-rise--un-
harnessed and again took breakfast; our
selves and the stock refreshed we were
again cn the march. and amidst dust and
heat. reached Green Ri er about o'clock
D. m The animals were completely ex
hau>ted Many of our most spirited and
active mules were scarcely able TO reach
the river The men were also well nigh
overcome: many of them reaching the
water with the greatest difficulty. We
found Green river quite a large stream.
very much swollen by the melting SHOWS,
with current such as ] have never seen
in s. large a body Of water We found
several hundred wagons waiting 10 get
Z
dav after our arrival. by unloading our
wagons. taking them to pieces-doing the
work ourSelves-and paying the owner of
the little iron craft So per wagon. By
night we were all safely over. rugged again
and ready for the march. Thence 10 the
beautiful and interesting valley of Bear
river we encountered nothing of interest.
except high and rugged mountains. Of
these. YOU have some specimens in the
States that supercedes the necessity Of
description
Suffice il TO say, that we reached Bear
river all in safety. and in good health,
and in the same condition. are now in
sight Of Fort Hall. Time and business
viii not permit me now to give you no.
tce Of the Bear river valley. by far the
most beautiful and interesting we have
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