The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-02-24

Swcct"atcr. On this stretch our fuel is wild
sage. Some 4 or 5 miles before we reach
the summit Of the Rocky Mountains we left
Swcctwater river to our right travelling al
most upon . level, though some times little
inclined, until we reach the twin mounds,
which are said to be exactly i'll the centre of
the South pass. They are situated the one
on the right the other on the left, and soon
after we pass these mounds we began to de-
sccnd the western slopes of the Rocky Noun
tains to what is called the Pacific Spring
This spring is about miles west of the south
pass. Here it was that we first quenched our
thirst out of the waters that flow into the
great Pacific. They were cool and good
Here we were almost ready to imagine that
our journeys end was close at hand. But in
this we were sadly mistaken rs we were not
yet half way.
From Pacific Spring to Green river was
our next point, Il distance of about SO or 60
miles-ovcr this stretch we found grass
scaicc. By taking II left hand the day we
left the Pacific Spring we avoided what Is
called the IS mile desert, which is without
water. 1t WAS in passing over this last 50 or
GO miles that we began to see trouble, MS my
wife, and II. II. Small and his eldest son.
John, were all violently taken with the noun
tain fever, under which they were suffering
greatly when we reached Green river, ut
which place we saw the elephant in all his
forms. The river was out of banks in many
places, caused by sudden thawing of the
snow in Green River Mountains The ferry
men were having bad luck with their boats as
they could not yet their posts to stand any
length Of time to which they had their ferry
ropes fastened, in consequence of the ground
being so wet. We succeeded finally in get
ting on, wagons and cattle over after three
days hard labor, during which time was al
most constantly wading water from knee to
chin deep and also frequently swimming,
the water being almost rs cold as the snow
from which it had just melted. Out of the
four or five ni"hts we were ut Green river, !,
together with several Of our company, had to
stay two nights away on the opposite side OF
the river from our wagons and families with
not dry thread on our backs. This WAS
caused by the ferry ropes breaking or giving
way both evenings Just rs we were returning
from swimming our cattle, which of course
would stop all crossing until they would have
time To repair in the morning. When we lett
Green river our sick were on the mend and all
recovered soon. We pail $6 per wagon and
81 !, head for horses icrriagc ut this place.
We left Green river on the 25th of June,
and at the time we left there must have been
not less than , or 5000 head of stock round
and about the ferry, and not less than
200 wagons We We're glad to get away
from this place, all Of US, alive. | consider
Green River about the halfway ground to
Oregon. From this point we struck for the
Bear River Valley, distant about 10 or 81
miles. Over this part of the road we hac
toicraOie grass and splendid water, as w
were skir,ing the Green River Mountains ant
sometimes climbing the same. We had NJ
sooner passed these mountains than we begai
to chamber those of Bear River, which wcr,
! very high and Steep though rich to the yer!
summit. 1t was among the Bear River
mountains that we saw tho first aspen and
balsam fir groves, which cheercd us very
much us we had not seen any timber OF con-
sequence for great distance. On the 9th
of June it showed upon us all day at inter
walls, unit, while before night it began to
law and at sundown old mother earth was
completely carpctcd in snow to the depth OF
about two inches. That night we had cold
time of it, Us our fuel was scdgc as usual in
this section of country. Our cattle had to
browse upon the willows along the creek
upon which we campcd for their rations.-
The n,Nt morning we had ice in our water
buckets to the thickness of m inch, it being
the morning of the 2sth June. We were
then in the Green River Mountains. BY
noon of that day the snow had disappeared
and was quite pleasant We entered the
Bear River valley on the evening of the 18th
June, which we found to be II very rich valley,
ol,oundinr in grass of the finest quality
We Travelled down this valley about so miles
TO the forks of the road, of which we took
the righ, hand the left leading to California.
We were about week in passing down this
valley rs We made only half day drives, rs we
were aiming to recruit our stock somewhat.
In passing down this valley we saw in the
side of the mountain, just before we reached
the Soda Springs the mouth OF an old crater
which in times past no doubt had sent forth
its volumes of smoke, fire and lava as the
effects of the same are yet plainly to be seen
upon the face of the country round. About
j miles before we left the California road we
came to the Soda Springs, Steamboat Spring,
&c., which conceive to be the greatest Gu
riosty in the world or among the greatest.
There are great many of them, some of
them are gurglin9 up upon the top OF mounds
which are raised from 6 to 10 feet above the
immediate and surrounding country or valley
the water flowing from the top of these
mounds runs down its sides and forms
into kind of rock which keeps raising these
IL. IL lur Iii
spring few steps east OF one OF these mounds
which boils mp in kind of rock pct formed
appcarantlv from some of the ingredients Z"
which take the water to be composed. This
spring bols up strongly but sinks back ana
does not run over the natural pot in which il
bois. This spring is clear, sparkling, COO
and rood to drink. Close by not more than
ten steps still east of the last mound spring
are three Others called the Beer Springs
which are bolin. away in their natural pots
or boundaries like tie first but not so strong.
These three are called tn, Beer Springs iron.
the color of their water which resembles very
much that of beer. There are great many
other springs boiling up close at hand, a
number of which can be seen sparkling in
the b, ttom Of n creek which runs close ut
hand. About II miles down Bear River from
these springs aud Immediately on the bank
and nearly level with the surface of the river,
i, IA sprinr called the Steamboat Spring, which
boils up out of round hole in n large ledge
of rock as high rs u mans knee. ioaming and
roaring and sparkling like steamer. The
water that thus surgcs out from this rock is
n little over blood heat, while at the same
time not distant more than five feet there Is
another spring issuing from the same rock
which is cool and does very well to drink, the
flavor of both being that of soda.
From Soda Springs we set out on the
morning of the 9th July. our next point being
Fort Hall. distance of So or 60 miles, which
l. Il .n..l ANN