Nebraska advertiser., 1865-06-08
c. sArr.LAKE 60. U. n.


days n this, the "Cityo Of Saints, "pve con
eluded TO let you hear from me in con-
pIiance with your request previous 10
leaving. / did intend giving you full
particulars Of my trip across the Plains
and over the Mountains, but hearing Of
the death Of that noble man-our Presi-
denton reaching Kearney. l felt like
abandoning the trip, and, instead Of going
to the regions Astounding in wealth, re-
turn again to The field Of carnage and
battle for the right.
The morning Of the 18Th April, took
my seat in the coach bound for this place
expecting to make the trip in fourteen
days little did we know about it, and
could we have seen the Mountains and
snow before US, l doubt not, we would
have vacated u seats and begged to be
excused.
From Nebraska City to Kearney and
as far as Julesburg, we got along fine.
but then we commenced riding behind
animals poorly fed, at the rate Of two
miles an hour, roads level as a floor /;
we were just eight days getting to Dem
yer, travelling day and night.
Morning of the 21st, took the coach
for this City, and to make a long story
short, l will say we had the pleasure of
riding in all kinds Of vehicles, from a
fine coach down to a jolting lumber
wagon, with now and then a long walk
thrown in, by way of variety. On reach.
ing the mountains we also reached snow
from l to 10 feet deep. We hear laid
in a supply of shovels, and found them
very useful before leaving the mountains.
1t was a very common o%ccurrance for the
horses to break through up to their necks,
this was a signal "to-shovelsyp p sometimes
l hour and sometimes 8 hours would be
spent in tuging and ~shoyeling. Every
stream we came to seemed ravlng mad,
many of them swimming the horses, while
we few out of the coach like bees, scrab-
ling for a higher seat. On descending
one of the many mountains we crossed.
We came TO a little valley which we had
to cross, being very accommodating we
jumped out 10 walk over on the snow
on went the stage, horses plunging and
dashing, we stood gazing at them till
they arrived safe on the other side, when,
10 the road had filled with water. We
took to the snow, when, ckug, we went,
nj by one, in up TO our necks. boots
filling with water. l tell you when a
fellow gets in up to his neck, with his
boots full of ice water, he soon looks
round for help, but alas all were in. Il
is said misery likes company" but for
once / can say / wished one had kept on
top to give me a "wee bit az a pull''
~Ae~' then After working until we
were comfortably warm, we got out, but
finding our tendency downward, we &C
complished the feat of getting to the
coach by laying down and rolling owe
and over like so many barrels.
About /, P. NJ, May 9Th, we gained
the summit of the last mountain, where
we stood upon five feet of snow, and
looked down upon the great Valley of
Salt Lake, all clothed in green, bounded
on all sides by snow capped mountains.
Directly in front of us, some is miles
distant, lay the great City, while just be-
yond the silver lake reflected the dazzling
rays Of the sun, while an island from its
centre of solid rock towers mountain
high. The peach trees in and around
the City all in full bloom. We clapped
our hands with delight, the scenery filled
our hearts with joy, we bounded into The
coach having received fresh horses, we
went buzzing down the mountains at a
'reckle ss rate. As the sun sank to rest
in the western horizon, we drew up in
front of the Salt Lake House, where we
we're taken in at the reasonable sum Of
SIS per week, at which We did not grum-
bic, for here we got something besides
Ben's canned fruit. which always came
in the shape of bacon and beans from
$3.50 to $500 per meal. You'now havU
a faint idea of the hardships Of the trip,
and the half has not been told. Yet,
after all, l can truly say, | am not sorry,
for lhis Valley, City, and the surround
ing country is worth coming to see.
Brigham Young resides in a Palace
surrounded by a high stone wall. He
returned to the fond embrace of many
wives, from a tower north, last Friday,
and is now in the City. A temple is be-
ing erected here, but progressing slowly,
the tabernacle" where all congregate
to hear the Observation-Disclosures
his Elders prhphesy, &c., is fine build
ing, and l am told viii seat 5000 people.
The streets are wide and straight-living
water running on both sides of them.-
The CITY islayed off in Wards, each