Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-10-30
For the Freeman.
Eof tHS tfeeman-
Extracts from the Journal or
RT& ZActa M Shoemaker. ssio venf to Cal
iforaia Ey tie OrerEaRd Route.

LbTIE6 We
June 10Th. 1859.
DRAR PARRNrs:-Stopped till S'oclock, p.
soa.-lo let our stock rest Our horses are get
Gng very tired, and We shall from here drive
aspan Of large mules We are now at the
South Pass-the dividing ridge. between the
waters Of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Drank good water at Pacific SPrings-ground
abOut them very miry. Campsd four miles
beyond. on. little creek bearing the same
name
Tonight half Of our journey 10 completed.
and We begin to look forward to the day
which shall end our travel, over hills and val
leya. deserts and plains-and although our
journey has thus far been pleasant one
svea We cannot conceal the fact, that il is gra-
dualEy becoming tiresome.
The country here, at least the higher por-
sians Of il. Is almost entirely barren. producing
nothiag hnt wild sage. the smsll of which is
becoming quite offensive.
Sage hens, much resembling turkies, are
plenty here. and the meat is excellent. Mus
,quisoea are plenty in camp tonight. We are
all more or less afflicted with sore mouth and
lips-With this exception. all in good health.
June goth. Sabbath dsy-Stopped for
noon on the little Sandy. having travelled l6
nilss-passed the road leading to Salt Lake
this forenoon. and find many have gone that
way-eamped on Big Sandy, where We shall
semain till tomorrow night. preparatory to
crossing desert Of ~ miles. without grass
or water. We met large pack train Of Ms
sourians to-day, returning from California
They have made the trip thus far in "a days
They had the finest horses and mules eV-
or saw. Indians came TO our camp tonight,
and rode such beautiful ponies that could
not help wishing for one Of them. Our boys
are trading with them extensively, for buffalo
robes. mocasins. lariets (braided ropes of buck
skin for halters) buckskin pants. coats, &c.
&c They give in exchange blankets, gay
handkerchiefs and pieces of money.
June 2Ist Nothing Of Importance to-day.
AZ we are stopping on the river. washing. ba-
king and regulating the wagons. intending to
start near evening.
June 2sd. Travelled all night, and came
% miles-stopped this morning in most
desolate region. where grass does not even
grow among the eraggy sage. and thorny
punches of grouse wood. We brought wood
and water with US to prepare our breakfast
Crossed Green river about noon for $50
we had no delay or trouble in swimming the
stock this time We were out in a severe
hail storm to-day. and it rained very hard,
for the 6rss time at this season, for thirty
years. Indian tents are scattered up and
down the river, also sevaral white trading
posts, 0here we bought cheese at so and soap
a. IS cts per 10.
June 23d. Stopped about 10 miles from
The Ferry, on beautiful little StreAm-name
unknown, abounding in 6sh.
June 24th. Have come over some very
trying places for wagons to-day,-littie
streams with very steep banks, aad difficult
cYosG Stopped for dinner in grove of large
pine Irees-near good spring passed over
. very steep. rocky hill Immediately after din
ner, on the summit of which, we saw the grave
of Kentuckian, who was shot by compan-
ion on the 9Th inst. Near by good spring. |
Camped at Poplar Grove, with ine grass for
our cattle on the hills.
June 25th. Have been travelling up and
down very steep rocky bills-crossed Hams
Fork Of Gresn TiVer-not bad to cross-high
hills on either side of it-Water rather shall
low, but containing 6ne trout Passed through /
Pleasant Grove this afternoon, consisting of
. large evergreen trees, situated upon high
mountain, encircling beautiful spring. This
is delightful change from the stony and bar
rem mountains over which We have been
travelling, with nothing to shelter us from
suns rays. Saw number of graves to day,
among which was the murderer's of the
Kentuckian before mentioned He was tried
By the company and shot by one of them.
The mountain fever is the principal disease
known here and always prevails among emf
grants to q greater or less extent-Have
seen a number of poor fellows very sick with |
IT, There is no end to the stony, and almost
perpendicular hills. as we approach Bear Riv-
er; near which We are camPed to night, after
having made long days drive.
We have come the |
90 nlilea from Green, to Bear river. very soon
and are thankful that we are getting along |
90 finely. The mountain scenery this after
noon has deem particularly beautiful! The |
altitude in some places must have been eight
or ten thousand feet, and ret We could see
lofty ranges in the distance, hundreds of feet
higher; their submits covered with perpetual
snow, and reaching above the clouds. New
er in my life saw mosquitoes in such numbers
Ia perpetual annoyance since we camPed
June 26th. Reached Smiths Forks Of
Bear river shout noon---Eour bad streams to
cross, with very swift currents. Stopped for
dinner Just before crossing, and found straw
berries in abundance. Frank Parks present
ed me most lovely bOquet Of cactus tulips,
mountain clover tulips, and great variety of
other flowers, but the cactus by far the
most beautiful Of all hoWersI have yet seen
on the plains. should be delighted 10 sho"
them to my friends in Bellevue. Camped TO
night on Bear river. beneath some high noun