Litchfield enquirer., 1853-02-24


q spur Of this mountain. about SO feel
vide and 400 feet deep. called the De-
yil's Gate. rusl.es the Sweetwater with
great violence. presenting one Ofthe most
wild and picturesque views in the world.
Being tired of hauling our heavy wag>
Ens. We stepped. knocked out the sPokes
from the wheels, fOf-which / made the
frames Of some pack-saddles to which
we attached canvass bags stuffed with
grass. We we're then prepared for pack
hgs. but our paeking>cords net being
sufficiently strong. the packs on one side
Of our mules gave way, which of course
loosened those on the other-at which
the simple animals took fright and ran
through the sage bushss.and one of them
into the river, in the widest confusion
disposing Of our provisions faster than
an hundred hungry men could havs
done. The vast ledge Of rocks above
mentioned extends along the north side
Of tbe syee,water for about three days
journey. Their appearance seems to in
aicate that they have been worn by the
water. and if this range is not entitled
10 the appeIlation Of Rocky Mountains
q .
/ am at loss to know where it is. In
this region, at the South Pass, and for
. hundred miles west, occasionally nc.
ticed enormous mounds or heaps some
goo feet high, with Perpeudic ular sides.
similar to i" chimney rock. evidently the
remnant ola once higher surface from
which the earth has been washed away.
The Sweetwater River. so called from
the excellence of its water, proceeds from
the great Windfall Mountain, runs south
east and falls into the Platte.
AT the South Pass the prospect is
very extensive and varied. The highest
swell or point in the trail we passed about
noon on the 9th Of May. The ascent
from the east and descent to the west
Is very gentle. Tothe east is prospect
., extensive as cap be found in your
Eastern States and to the west it takes
in still wider range but all tie land
embraced within the bound Of vision.
is MOI worth enough to purchase tie
for Whitney's Railroad. To the south
Uses very high hill which stretches far
away to the still more distant south, and
is destitute Of snow on is summit
Nineteen miles to the north, (for that is
the width Of the Pass,) rises the south
ern abrupt termination Of the Windfall
Mountain 5000 feet above the barren
sage prairie which surrounds it., and
$4,000 feet above the sea. The nouns
tain appears comparatively unbroken and
its sides very steep, destitute of timber
aid white With snow nearly down to it's
base. Il can be seen stretching away to
the porth for an hundred miles or more,
With 2 wintry SKY in. midsummer. The
clouds. as if in Difference to its august
majesty. salute it with a storm of snow
Or hail as they pass. In. tie north west
and south west, At the distance of thirty
Or. forty leagues. are. ranges Of snow
mountains while the intervening country
appears like vast plain bat on trav-
cling it, we found valleys and hills to
pass over. Like little folks, however,
among the aristseracy. they were not to
be noticed in the sight Of the great noun
tain. es IA.
After travelling four days, we passed
ever very high range Of hills and los.
sight Of the Windfall mountains. The
last ! saw Of them they had altered bu:
very little in appearance On account Of
distance. ~
May 80. Arrived at Green River, so
called l suppose on account Of the green
poplars and good grass which we found
along its banks. Several COWS, belong
Ing to some white ferrymen. were here
feeding. These men live with Indian
women. They probably left their coun,
try for their country's good. and their
own especially. There are several such
establishments along the road. where
horses and,males are kept, recruited and
Eaded Nth emigrants. a. fact which
have heretofore omitted to mention.
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