Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-04-03

sufIocated with dust. and roasted with the
heat of the sun. At night we frequently
had some frost, and sometimes ice. We
had no water to drink but the river water,
which, during the day was quite warm,
and constantly getting worse as we trav-
elled down the river. When we got with
I in about 90 miles Of the termination OF
the riyer-where it sinks, we mad TO take
enough Of water to serve us for % miles,
as below this the water is saline and very
unpleasant Here We have also to halt
long enough to cut and make hay 10 do
our teams for the next 10 miles, which is
perfect desert. The grass in this place
was only discovered about two weeks be-
fore we came along. There appears TO
be an inexhaustble supply here for all the
animals that may pass this way. There
are also extensive swamps here
Ii is about six miles from the main road.
The surface of the earth here III many
places is composed almost entirely of veg
etable matter, which was on fire in num-
ber Of places, and the surface burned off.
in others to the depth Of several inches
There were large crevices or cracks IN
some places extending TO the depth of
several feet, and il was of such fragile
nature as to let the men and animals break
through two or three feet in depth. On
this extensive grass field we found 200
wagons encamped, making preparations
to cross the desert. About 90 miles fur
ther down, the river spreads over con-
pears. About miles from here we came
to the Sulphur springs, which are located
in small valley or low place near the
road, and consist of some half dozen
holes dug in the ground to the depth of
or 5 feet and surrounded on all sides
BY horses, mules and oxen, both alive
and dead, SO you may readily conclude
that it was not very clean or enticng;
but we had to use it. And with all other
things twas pretty strong Of sulphur. If
the springs were enclosed and properly
taken care of. the water would be pretty
good. From here we had 25 miles to the
not springs. Here are a number Of springs
located on an inclined plain, which ex-
tends back to the mountains. There is
large reservoir Of hot water. The tenn
perature, if | remember right is about
100 Faint. We sent detachment Of
r IL II.
er for our animals The greater number
Of our teams arrived there about mid
night. The animals drank the water
with aviditv. It's not very unpleasant to
the taste when it is cold, but it produced
severe pains in the majority of our men.
1t answered very good purpose for ma
king coffee, which was the manner that
we generally used it. There were re-
mains Of much destroyed property and
dead animals here, that rendered the place
very unpleasant. From here we had
about % miles to Salmon Trout river
where we arrived the next night about l 9
o'clock The last or miles of the
road is very heavy. being very sandy.
1t was great relief to weared human
nature. to be again where we could look
upon pure. cool and running water, and
green trees and grass. This is beauti-
full stream of water. From here we trav.
elled up this river about SO miles, cross
ing it about q or % times, in that dis
tance. Some Of the crossings were very
difficult. This brought US to the pine
timber. which continues until we pass en-
tirely over the the Sierra Nevada noun
tans. These mountains are mountains
in good earnest. and very difficult to pass
over, being very steep in ascent and de-
scent and many places so nea, perpen-
dcular and SO rocky that we were COM
PEELED to take the teams from the wagons
and let them down by ropes. 1t was the
practice in some places to cut down trees
and fasten them behind the wagon. top
foremost. then take off al, the team bu,
those to the tongue and 60 down the
mountain in that manner. saw hundreds
Of acres Of the common garden parsley
on this side Of the summit of the Sierra
Nevada mountains. Also the angelica
and some others Of our garden vegeta-
bles. This brings US to the gold region.
The valley of Humbolt river. which is
SO highly spoken of by Col. Fremon, is
entirely destitute Of timber, except small
willows that grow in some places along
the immediate bank Of the river which
serve for fuel for the emigrants, but there
is not a solitary tree the whole length of
the river as far as we travelled. which was
from near its source to its termina alton
The glowing descriptions of this coun-