The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-10-16
Journal OF an overland trip to California.
c..

black hills near warm springs; Lat. 42d 15m Gs
water grass and timber in abundance-Found
large numbers to-day leaving their wagons and
preparing to pack over the mountains,
I'd. Heavy rain last night, which renders the
| atmosphere cool and pleasant After leaving |
camp continued our course over 4 broken Coun |
try, hills covered with pine and cedar-crosscd
Bitter creek miles out from camp, beautiful
stream Of water, well calculated for pleasant: !
camp grouud Met a small company Of NOR
| mons this afternoon returning from Salt Lake
City, numbering wagons and IA mules. They
report roads good, and grass abundant ahead; al
so met an Express rider with dispatches from
Fort Hall, ~ days out; he reports having met
the first trains in the mountains, many Of them
cncountering heavy snow in that region travel
ed IS miles and cncampcd.
Sd. Coo! breeze rendering it very pleasant
travelling. Passed fine spring Of water 7 miles
ont at the left Of road. Crossed Pearl river 3
miles from Spring, 80 it, wide, 2 deep. Tim
Der and grass quite plenty. Left Laramie Peak
25 miles to the left of road this morning; the
highest peak is : of a mile above the level Of
Platte river and can be seen at distance of 100
miles from the cast,-havmg left the Platte
most of the dny.'wc reached the banks Of it a
gain at P. NJ and encamped, having travelled
only Is miles. heavy rain coming up we
found it impossible to proceed, and turning our
horses heads from the storm, stood the pclt,
ing shower for two hours, until most OF us were
we'll drcnchcd.
4,h. Left camp at4 A. M.-weathcr render
ed cool and pleasant from the shower last even
ing. Continued our course at slow rate up the
Platte, roads very muddy-passea 70 teams in
the valley BY ascending of the high
> points of the Black Hills could see contin
: ucd line Of teams behind us as far as the eye
could rcach stretching over the hills Had a
, fine view Of Laramie peak to-day from the west
~ |,
the clouds fot several hours resting upon its sum-
nit. Crossed the Labonte rver ar a P. Ma
beautiful stream, running over pebley bottom;
a beautiful grove hangs on TIE west side, and ex-
tends miles down below the ford; one of the
: most delightful camping grounds that can be
- found, but being anxious to leave the rush OF
teams that were behind us, we pushed on 5 miles
fusther and cncamped on a branch Of Labontc
having travelled 2S miles Found good grass
water and timber-roads for t.lc last ten miles
, rough and difficult; in many places the dccents
:, dangerous for teama.
n 5th. Left encampment at sunrise this morn
# ing---roads good with the exception of q few
= steep and difficult hills; crossed small creek this
J., morning miles out, beautiful grove oftimDel
Il on its banks-found a clear cold spring of wa,
d ter near it. Crossed the Labonte at II, 30 feet
C wide - 1t deep-l6 miles from this branch we
= found beautiful stream running over rocky
bottom, its banks shaded on either side with box
. elder trees and flowers of every color, of the
I. most delightful camping grounds we have found
r Met 2 teams this morning from Salt Lake City
returning to the States. They left on the 10tl
of April, having been out AZ days; they repor
grass plenty ahead, and most of the trains get
rs ting along well. Crossed Fouche Bois river 81
il # wide, . deep, 3 p m, rapid curren-prnc
}, pal timber on its banks, box elder and quaken
" asp; reached the North fork of Platt III 3;
y miles from the upper ferry-travclled to-day 2;
q, miles and camped on Deer Creek, 30 # wide, :
10 deep; swift current, pebey bottom, a bcahtitu
- grove of timber half mile in length bordering
either bank of the stream principally box elder
'e quakenash and willow, many trees mcasurin;
G. from to 5 # in diameter, found fish here in a
" bundancc. Very little grass at the ford, bu
l., plenty to be found about mile west of the for
i' on the right. Passed 60 teams all bound to up
IN per ferry 30 miles distant. Found the bones Of
d. human being off the road, and his torn clothe
" lying near-Furher on Il new grave had been 0
:: pened by the wolves which are always on han
lis for such work. They had dug down feet an
r. after dragging the body out had left the rem
It nants above described From the head board
~ learned it was Dragon, 10 years of age, burr
-, ed by his comrades 3 months back.
~ Crossed to- day ihc last range of Black Hill
h, extending distance of [3O miles between For
We Laramie and Deer Creek, principally lime AM
7 sand stone mixed with red ocher, often GOVERN.
the whole surface of the ground for miles in ex
tent. The timber growing upon these hills i
- principally pine and CEDAR and has quite darl
m appearance from distance, which has gvel
i. them the name Of black hills. The cedars small
but the pines many of them # diameter. w
find plenty of grass these hills every thin!
lie looking green and fresh the hills and in ra
is vines. Late in the season grass upon the hill
10 becomes dry no doubt, but now there5is plenty
9th. After leaving, camp on Deer creek W
A.. ID L.
D. the upper ferry at m, lat. 42d 52m 50s,--al
n titude, 1864 f. Crossed Crooked and Mudd
&c creeks this afternoon, and found grass very poo
and timber scarce--heavy sandy roads for tn
last ten miles. Pissed 300 teams bound for tn
y ferry and so waiting to cross. Camped near tn
s ferry.
w 9TH. Waited but short time this morning be
= fore we were safely crossed over the Platte. +
ID large company have taken the ferry at this point
n. and are running 3 large boats; they cross dali,
Of about 800 teams at SIS each, and doing
:, sssmasiing business. The proprietor told nj
o last night, that he could make 900 as hi
e own interest and return to the States, in Octo
ir Der. After leaving the ferry we continued ou
10 course west over sandy, barren country desti
;s tute of vegetation. Horned toads and snakes il
abundance; after travelling 2S miles without wa
- ter or grass, we encamped at Willow spring
d late at night in sight Of about 300 teams.
st Sth. Weather hot and sultry day. Afte
]. leaving Willow springs we continued to trave
: over q barren, sandy region, most of the stream
&c and springs strongly impregnated with alxali
which made it very dangerous for our stock t.
g drink. Crossed Wood creek, 6 miles from tn,
e springs. No grass or timber to be found though
wild sage is abundant and often Of enormou.
: size-saw some to-day 5 # high, 4 to 6 in diam
n eter; burns well when dry, and is the only fue
It for SO miles after leaving the North fork. Pass
ed Akal lake and spring at left Of road, 16 miles
: from Willow springs water very poisonous fo
man and beast. Reached independence rock a
3 m, at the east wing or edge of the Rocky
q Mountains, on the banks Of Sweet Water river
The rock is pure granlte about 600 yards long
T 100 # wide, and 200 # high. The whole rock
y on the south side is covered over with names Of
d persons from all parts OF the world who have
d passed here from the year 1S47 up to the pres.
ent time Crossed Sweet Water river late this
afternoon, 8 rods wide, 2 # deep, and encamped
on the south side. Grass quite plenty, Uood fu
Z el to be had Il miles distant in the mountains
: Travelled to-day 81 miles, heavy sandy road
: found no good water since we left Willow spr's
= Continued merit Dcek.)