The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-12-09

J preserve the equilibrium, the shoulders VIII re
: main above the surface. The water is neverthe
G less extremely difficult to swim in, accoun
of the constant tendency of the lower extremi
ties to rise above it. The brine, too, is strong
that the least particle of 1t getting into the eyes
7 produces the most acute pain; and if accident
/ ally swallowed, rapid strangulaton must ensue
: l doubt whether the most expert swimmer could
long preserve himself from drowning. if expo
S sed to the action of rough sea-"
t In many places in the vicinity of this singular
lake. the ground is thickly covered with salt,
presenting most curious and deceptive appear
ance -
1.-The first part of the plain consisted simply
of dried mud, with small crystals of salt scat
tered thickly over the surface. Crossing this,
we came upon another portion of it, three miles
in width, where the ground was entirely covered
with thin layer of salt in state af deique-
scence, and of so soft consstence that the
feet of our mules sank at every step into the
mud beneath. But came upon q por-
ton of the plain where the salt lay in o solid
state in one unbroken sheet, extending apparent
| lv to its western border. So firm and strong
was this unique and snowy floor, that it sustain
ed the weight of our entire train, without in the
| least giving way cracking beneath the pres
sure Our mules walked upon it as upon a
! sheet OF solid ice The whole field was crossed
| by a network of little ridges, projecting about
half inch, as if the suit had expanded in the
process of crystallization. L estimated this
| field to be at least seven miles wide and ten
J mill in lonU+b How extended
northward L could not tell bat if it covered
| the plain in that direction as it did where we
| crossed, its extent must have been very much
greater. The salt, which was very pure and
| white, averaged from sne-half to tbs
of an inch in thickness, and was equal in all re-
| spects to our finest specimens for table use
Assuming these data, the quantity that here lay
upon the ground in one body, exclusive of that
III g deliguescent state, amounted to over four
and half millions OF cubic yards, or about one
hundred millions of bushels"
Amongst the other peculiarities of this region |
We informed that the excessive dryness Of
the air caused the woodwork of the wagon !
wheels to shrink so much that there was great
danger of their falling asunder, and it was only
by sinking them in stream during the night |
that the Expedition was enabled to proceed with [!
them From the same cause, the woodwork of !
the mathematical instruments was rent and split,
in some cases breaking the tubes and otherwise !
causing serious damage. The mirage on the !
shore of the Lake where the ground was moist |
and oozy was very great, and gave rise TO opti-
cal illusions the most grotesque and fantastic.
The difficulties which tba party boJ 70 n,
counter were very great-so that the journey
from Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri dis.
tance of less than 1900 miles, occupied the Ex-
pedition about twelve weeks. But the obstacles
in the road to the Salt Lake dwindled into insg-
nifcance when compared with the difficulties in
its immediate vicinity. In one place, Captain
Stansbury says -
'tAt two o'clock, in the afternoon, we reached
the western edge of the plain, when to our inf
mite joy we beheld small prairie or meadow.
covered with profusion of good green grass,
through which meandered small stream of
pure, fresh, running water, among clumps of
willows and wild roses, artemesia, and rushes-
1t was most timely and welcome relief to our
poor, famished animals who had now been de-
sixty hours, during the greater part of which
time they had been in constant motion 1t was
indeed, nearly as great relief to me as to them
for I had been doubtful whether even the best
mule we had could have gone more than half
dozen miles further. Several of them had Civ
en- out in crossing the last plain, and we had
to leave them and the baggage behind,
and to return for it afterwarl Another day
without water, and the whole train must
have inevitably perished. Both man and beast
being completely exhaused, | remained here
three days for refreshment and rest Moreover
we were now to prepare for crossing another
desert of seventy miles, which, as my guide in
formed me, still lay between us and the south
end of the lake. He had passed over it in
1S45, with Fremont, who had lost ten mules and
several horses in effecting the passage, having
afterward encamped the same ground now
occupied by our little party
The Importance of the exploration so gallant
ly conducted by Capt. Stansbury is indicated by
the fact, that the Valley of the Great Salt Lake
is the only point between the Missouri and the
Pacific Ocean whence supplies of provisions can
be procured, and it is Of the utmost conse-
quence, therefore, that it should be considered
in any scheme for road across this vast CONT
nent to California.
The number of emigrants to the "Diggns,"