The Nevada journal., 1854-05-26
Trip Across the Plains.

a" oPPettuHity VI ieduiHS OeidHO 1HI
Across the Plains we would advise then
to furnish themselves with a copy imme.
diately. As sample of the authors man
ner of describing incidents, we publish
the following, which will be found exceed
ingly interesting
Daylight showed US nothing but rugged
barren mountains, and instead of the grass
we had been assured of, there was not a
blade to be seen. All that there had been
grew on little moist place. irrigated by
three small springs, and this trife had all
been consumed by advance trains. The
water from the springs sunk into the ground
within FIVE rods of their source, and entire
ly disappeared. 1t was now twenty miles
or more to Rabbit Springs, the next water
Our wagons had passed during the night,
and were far in advance, so that we had
the prospect OF late breakfast before US.
Taking parting drink from the pure
/ fountain, we pursued our way in a north
west direction up the gorge to the ridge,
and then following down another ravine.
Z Az TIC diStdlCC vi INO IUlicS lIOIL tIlC
spring we were upon the northeastern rim
of another barren sand basin, in view of a
broken country far beyond. About the
centre of this basin, we overlook wagon,
standing by the road side, when we begg
ed for drop Of water; but, alas! they had
none for themselves, and we were obliged
to go on without. Crossing the basin and
ascending high hill we overlook our
! train. Just entering another defle on the
northwest. when we refreshed ourselves
with a cup of tea, made from the acid wa
ter of our vinegar keg 1t revived US, and
we pushed forward, anxious to reach the
promised spring, for our cattle as well as
ourselves stood greatly in need of water.
The day was excessively warm yet we
hurried on, and descending couple of
miles through de6le, we passed the most
beautiful hills Of colored earth ever cav,
with the shades of pink, white, yellow and
green brightly blended. Ve.ean;c noun
tains were around US. and under ordinary
circumstances we could have enjoyed the
strange and peculiar scenery. Turning
westerly, We pressed on through small
basin beyond the defile, when, after as
cending little elevation, the glad shout
was raised, 81 see where the spring is !''
Several wagons had stopped in the road,
and a knot of men were gathered around
particular spot, which marked the place of
the glorious element, and with parched
tongues we went up. Judge of our disap
pointment. when we found the promised
springs to be only three or four wells sunk
in the ground, into which the water pee
olated in volume about the size Of straw,
and each hole occupied by a man dipping
it up with pint cup, as it slowly filled a
little cavity in the ground Each man
was taking his turn TO drink, and we had
ample time to get cool before our turn
came to taste the muddy water; and as
to getting supply for our cattle, it was
out Of the question. Beyond us, far as we
could see, was barren waste, without
blade of grass or a drop of water for thirty
miles at least. Instead of avoiding the
desert, instead of the promised water,
grass, and better road, we were in fact
upon a more dreary and wider waste, with
out either grass or water, and with har-
der road before US. We had been inveig.
led there by false reports and misrepresen-
tations, without preparing for such con-
tingency, as ne might have done, in some
measure, by cutting grass on the river
Our train came up, followed by others and
about the same distance to the spring ahead.
Should we 90 back! Our cattle Lad already
gone without food or water nearly thirty
hours. Could they stand it to 60 back?
Could they possibly go forward?
While we were celebrating, four wagons
came in from the west on their return.
They had driven ten miles on the plain, and
seeing no probability Of reaching water,
they commenced retrogade movement for
the river A few of our older men hesita-
ted, and were OF the opinion that prudence
dictated that we should return to the river.
where we were sure of the means of going
forward, rather than launch out into the
uncertainties before us. But the majority,
without knowing anything of the geogra-
ply Of the country, decided that they might
Fas we'll 60 forward as back-trusting to
luck more than to judgment-a measure
which reduced us to, weeks of continued
toll ana increased hardships. W E came to
the determination that we would wait till
! near sunset, as the cattle could travel better
without watcrm the night than by daylight.
During the afternoons poor fellow from
Illinois, named Gard, whom we had trav-
eled with on Goose Creek, and who was
emigrating with his family, came in, after
4 II I : 4 =
miles His cattle were exhausted, and it
was impossible in their present condition
10 90 either forward or backward, and it
appeared to us allth his case was sad in
deed, with family of small children. II
his cattle had given out entirely, the, emf
grants would have done. all they could;
IYet, in burning house9each oneiis apt to
Think more of his own safety than of his
4 Eneighbors. While standing at the well,
/ I recognised Colonel Watkins. who, with