Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-03
CROSSING THE ROCKIES.
Coming to California by
Mule Team In 1849.
HR. ]. NJ. HIxsON's DIARY.
The Continental Divide With Its
Snow Peaks and Mosquitoes.
The Indian Traders.


and the HERALD has been publishing his
diary kept on the road. Hero is another
installment:
On Thursday, June 21st, We were at
Camp AZ. We left camp at a. m. and
drove down to the ferry on the Green
river. This was as primitive a convey
ance to carry human beings across .
deep, rapid river of several hundred feet
in width as could be imagined. A sim
pie wagon box, with the cracks stopped
with rags so ss to keep out the bulk of
the water, but it keeps one or more con-
stantly bailipg out water to keep the frail
boat afloat. The estimate was one or
more persons drowned daily. The cur
rent is SO swift and the water 80 cold, if
one gets into the river he has but slim
chance to get out. The wagons had to
be taken apart and put into the boat,
and the mules had to swim. Some of
the boys swan with the animals, to pilot
them to the landing. We we're fortunate
in getting in among the first, and got
over and all ready to pursue our journey
by noon. After travelling over q high
ridge to . small stream that runs into
Green river, we came to fine grass, where
We camped, after travelling eight miles.
On Friday, June 22d we left camp at
6, travelled up the stream about six miles,
then struck across the highest mountain
we had yet came 10. crossing several
small streams that flow from the still
higher mountains to our right from the
snow. banks that melt during the day.
The grass all through this section on
hills and bottoms was good. After trav-
cling eighteen miles we encamped on
stream running to the southwest, to help
swell the Green river, and on to the
Pacific ocean via the Colorado.
On Saturday, June 23d we struck out
at 6. The road was fearfully bad, with
mudholes, gullies, steep banks and
swampy bottoms. Finally we arrived at
Hams fork of Green river. This was
deep, rapid stream, most too small to be
called river, and too big to be called
creek. 1t was just barely fordable by
propping up our wagon beds, which
was done by cutting pieces FROM the
small cottonwoods or willows that grow
along the streams from twelve to
eighteen inches high, owing to the depth
of the stream, and placing these posts
on the bolster of the wagon by the side
of the standard, and tho bed of the
wagon was placed on the posts, and
with ropes lashed SO as 10 prevent the |
bed from topping over. In this way we
were able to ford streams and save get. |
ting our provisions wet. Some of our
mules were fine swimmers and we could |
usually manage to have some of them
touching bottom while the others were
swimming. In that way we made the
crossings.
After crossing the stream we ascended
the mountain that divides the waters of
Green river and those of the Great
Basin. The waters running westerly
from the summit of this mountain reach |
the Great Salt Lake by the Bear river.
High up on the side of this mountain we
swarm of mosquitoes that
baff1ed description. They aettled on the |
mules like q swarm of bees "on sour
apple tree" and the poor animals we're |
frantic; we could scarcely manage them.
As SOON as we could do 80, we unhar- |
messed them, and secured them to the |
wsgon wheels; then built fires of the |
chaparrel and dead quaking- asp poles |
We secured near by, but the pests did
not appear to mind the smoke. Wei
then stewed out bacon grease, and ga
thered the most offensive smelling herbs
we could find, and put in the grease, and
doped the mules from head to heels.
This gave them some relief. In the
meantime we had to put our handker-
chiefs over our faces and wear our gloves
to protect ourselves from the mo quitoes.
After some relief from the bacon grease
and herbs, and gentle breeze that came
in an opportune time. we hitched and
drove to the edge of snow bank on the
summit of the mountain, where we hoped
the cold would prevent the mos
quitoes from troubling us during
the night, but we found they arose
from the edge of the snow,
although not in such swarms as had
attacked US during the afternoon. We
only travelled eighteen miles.
Sunday, June "a, we struck out
at sun up; mosquitoes fearfully
bad, although the night WAS cold
and our camp was near by
snow bank not less than thirty feet deep.
As We had to pass through quakiug-
asp grove where there was a great
amount of dead saplings, we hoped by
making dense smoke to clean our
mules of the mosquitoes. Before the
wagons reached the grove Major Lane
and had a emoke 80 Gense the animals
could scarcely be seen. But all in vain.
The mosquitoes buzzed and sang as if
they were only pleased at their
power to annoy. So we passed
on and soon reached the top
of a high ridge, and commenced the
descent to the waters of Bear river. by
the way of long, narrow ravine, which
was go steep we had to let our wagons
down by means of ropes. We tied
long rope to the hind axle of the wagon
and then took turn around rock ard
let the wagon descend gradually, as the
hill was too steep for the mules to hold
it unaided. At the foot of this hill the
ravine makes bend to the north, and
we had to ascend another high noun
tain, ard here I came nigh collapsing,
going out like lightning bug. | had
got ahead of the teams, and as l had
often done before, 1 dismounted and un-
fastened the bride bit, so my mule could
feed on the graes, and lay down to rest,
taking the precaution to lie on the lariat,
80 that if there were Indians or wolves
about, the restiveness of the mule
would disturb nae if should fall
asleep. This time was not 80
easily aroused. We were at an eleva-
ton Of between 1000 and s, 900 feet, and
the atmosphere was very light, and |
suppose my lungs gradually congested,
and by the time the wagons came up
was in a comatose state. When the
wagons passed, my mule pulled the
l. - F. 4 Ill al