The Nevada journal., 1854-05-26

Colonel took two pals and returned to Rab
bit Springs twice in day, for two Success
i've days, and carried water, which he dip
ped up with pint cup, and gave the er
hausted animal, thus saving his life. Tn,
other cattle were unyoked and driven thro
to Black Rock Spring when, after re
cruiting day, they were brought back
and hauled the wagon in.
While laying by during the day at Rab
bit Springs, | had visit from my old en-
emy, chill and fever, but luckily 1t wa.
slight, and although it weakened me I wa.
| able to walk after it. We started abou
six o'clock. with anxious hearts and sac
forebodings, on our perilous trip. We were
on level plain Of ashy earth, where moth
ing grew but few stunted sage and grease
wood bushes, with barren mountains sha.
ding the horizon in the distance on the
north and south. Our cattle travelled well
for they had thus far been prudenty driven
and were in good heart, and we began to
think it possible for US to get through with.
out leaving our wagons. About midnight
becoming worn ont, turned aside from
the road, and spreading my blankets, was
lost to the world and to myself in sleep, till
the morning sun was shining on my eye
lids. Even the wolves did not awake me.
Distance from first spring, forty miles.
August 17.-As walked on slowly and
with effort. great many animals. perish
ing for want of food and water, on the des-
ert plain. Some would be just gasping for
breath, others unable to stand, would issue
low means asl came pin most distressing
manner, showing intense agony and still
others, unable to walk, seemed to brace
themselves up on their legs to prevent fall,
ing, while here and there poor OK, or
horse, just aLle to drag himself along.
would stagger towards me with low sound.
as if begging for drop of water NV
sympathies were excited at their suferines,
yet instead of affording them aid, l was
subject for relief myself.
High above the plain, in the direction of
our road, a black, bare mountain raised its
head, at the distance of fifteen miles and
ten miles this side the plain was fiat, COM
posed OF baked earth, without sign of
vegetation, and in many places covered
with incrustations of salt. Pits had been
sunk in moist places but the water was
salt as brine, and utterly useless. Before
leaving Rabbit Spring had secured about
quart of water, in an india rubber flask,
which | had husbanded with great care.
When few miles from Black Rock Spring,
| came to a wagon, standing in the road,
in which was seated young man, with a
child. The little boy was crying for wa
ter, and the poor mother. with the tears
running down her cheeks, was trying to
pacify the little sufferer.
"Where is your husband % enquired,
on going up.
"He has gone on with the cattle" she
replied, "and to try to get us some water,
but think we shall die before he cones
back. 1t seems as if could not endure
it much longer"
"Keep up stout heart" | returned. "a
few more miles will bring us IN, and we
shall be safe. have little water left:
am strong and can walk it--you are wei.
come to it." ..
''God bless you-God bless you,'' said
she, grasping the flask eagerly, "Here my
child-here is water !" and before she had
tasted a drop herself, she gave her child
nearly all, which was but little more than
teacupful Even in distress and misery,
a mothers love is for her children, rather
than for herself. sU 1
The train had passed me in the night,
and our cattle travelled steadily without
faltering, reaching the spring about nine
o'clock in the morning, after travelling near
ly forty hours without food or water. If
ever cup Of coffee and slice of bacon was
relished by man, it was by me that morn
ing, on arriving at the encampment little
after ten.
Ve found this to be ar oasis in the des~
ert. A large hot spring, nearly three rods
in diameter, and very deep, irrigated about
twenty acres of ground-the water cooling
as it ran off. But we found the grass
nearly consumed, and our cattle could
barely pick enough to sustain lie. The
water in the spring was too hot for the
hand; but around it there was formed a
natural basin, with the water sufficiently
cool to bathe in, and |, with many others,
availed myseIfof the opportunity to take a
thorough renovation, which we found ex-
ceedingly refreshing.
Everything around bore the marks Of
intense volcanic action. A little above the
spring was the, mountain which we had
seen from the plain, q bare pile OF rock,
that looked like mass of black cinders,
which resembled those of blacksmith S
forge Desolation reigned around in the
full ertent. The desert and the mountains
were all the eye could view beyond the
little patch Of grass, and the naked salt
plain which we had crossed, proved to be
the dry bed of Mud Lake. After the SHOWS
melt on the mountains, and the spring rains
come on, the plain is a reservoir for the
waters, making an. extensive lake, which
the hot sun of . long summer eyapcrates,
leaving its bed dry and bare. Far to the
cnptI, xuac onother pnrOe bounded on the