Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-06-30
Original Sketthes.
ACROSS THE PLAINS.
by REYNOLDS $. PATTERSON.

While writing the description Of our
journey from South Pass to the VAL
ley of Salt Lake, my memory was great
ly in default and the statement that our
descent from that pass to that valley was
through and down said mountains and
landed us at spot nearly opposite to
the City of Salt Lake is erroneous.
While thinking over the thing since.
| find have omitted to say n word
about crossing during this part of our
trip, any river, whereas We crossed sew
eral and Green river, in particular, the
largest water encountered by us, save
the Platte, on the whole route, and run
ming through wide territory compare
tivoly level. and except Immediately on
the Green and other streams, very poor
and sterile Green river empties into
the Colorado or ella, somewhere in the
present Territory of Arizona, and the
country through which it runs, a wide
plateau or table land extending from tho
neighborhood Of the South Pass to the
Gulf of Colorado, much more barren at
the south end than where we traversed
it, and sloping, not gradually, but pre-
cipitously into the Valley Of Salt Lake
per Echo, Goose and other cannons, and
it was down, from and through this
great plateau, crossing on the way, Bear
river, Webbor and Jordan rivers in
Utah Territory. we finally reached the
spot spoken of above as being in the
valley and nearly opposite the City of
Salt Lake.
The Boss had determined for some
time before reaching Salt Lake City that
we would remain their several days to
recruit man and beast, and of course we
anxiously longed to get there and were
delighted when we did SO. We did not
stop ut, but passed through the place
and encamped about two miles west Of
it, where there was fine grazing for the
animals. The change from the wild,
rough aud dreary country we had been
lately travcrsing to this beautiful, level,
grass green valley was like that expe-
ricnced, doubtless, by long cell-in-
carcerated, bard-tasked prisoner released
to light and liberty. 1t is wonderful
how soon the human frame aud mind
will recruit under such circun stances.
We traded for fresh meat, (beef J
vegetables, &c. while passing the town
and that night had glorious meal, Ooh
for 1.-THE now of the appetite with
which enjoyed that supper, or properly
dinner and supper together and after a
superb bath at place | shall describe
shortly, and good nights sleep all of
the party felt as if they had undergone
II month of rest and rcfreshment.
The next moning after another good
meal some of us went back to tho city
to buy -four and some other things to
provision us through to California. We
had enough brandy left out of the five
gallons started with to exchange for six
gallons of their whiskey. made of wheat
IA smooth, good-tasted article. We
we're all much pleased and benefited by
the trade. Brandy was it seemed very
high there, while whiskcy was cheap.
We purchased the -four from Old Brig
ham, or rather from a woman who
seemed to have general charge during
his absence The old Boss was at his
saw aud flour mills in the mountains,
some nine miles from the city, This
woman informed us she was one of his
wives and that there were some twenty
eight of them at that time in the house.
We questioned her as to how they all
got along together She assured US
very peaceably and happily" We
learned there that he had so many he
did not know his own offspring when
meeting with them. If this approaches
the truth in any degree what becomes
of the love of parent for child aud Of
child for parent, excepting as between
the mother and child. That beautiful
principle or attribute seems indestructi-
bic in all animated nature under any
conditions Of life, or tho exceptions
thereto at least only proving the rule.
The Mormons, however, in their advo-
vacy of the doctrine Of plurality Of wives
have for precedent the.liv Of old King
Solomon and the good people Of his day
| reckon. however, this account of old
Brigham was exaggerated, although re-.
collect well whilst holding long con-
vcrsation with a quite intelligent old
man there, and asking him as to the
truth Of this matter, he seemed to evadc
direct reply and said something to the
effect that he himself was uniformed in
the matter aud that it might be so-that
he hadn't chosen to concern himself in
the matter. This old man had but one
wife and three children, two grown girls
and boy. The family made and had
for sale buckskin coats, pants and gloves,
they were all dressed neat and clean
and the house in which they lived was
furnished plainly but kept exceedingly
clean and tidy The old man told me
be was an Illinoisian and had been a
Baptist preacher there for sometime be-
fore embracing bis present faith, and | +,
through his conversation and manners,
was convinced he faithfully believed in
Mormonism lie had the Book Of Nor
mon, as believe it is called, bound to-
gether with and rs part and parcel Of
the Bible. He read to me thcrefrom and
quoted passages from the Bible which be
affirmed were prophetic Of the rise and
progress Of Mormonism. This is about
all recoilect Of the tenor of bis remarks,
from his conversation, became salts
fed he was not an illitcrato, ignorant
man, but on the contrary, well read
and informed ono--at the same time |
thought detected "A mind IN him some
what unbalanced and capable Of and dis
posed to exccntricity and fanaticisn.
The residence of the "Young" family
was the largest and best looking private
building in the place, being frame one,
while all the rest were adobe or sun
burnt brick, not very large, brown and
gloomy looking outside, but very cool
in summer and warm in winter. Each
house bad large lot attached quite an
acra in axtaul and ao,no of than mora