Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-24

ross q point at the upper end OF the
,orral, where the rock projecting to the
liver did not look to be over fifteen or
twenty feet high, and if forced over, that
hey would get into q bottom above on
the same side Of the river. Wei
approached that point, and
after listening and hearing no sounds
from beyond we clambered over this
point, which we did with difficulty, feel
ing satisfied no mule would voluntarily
cross here, and doubling their ability to
do 90 if pursued by Indians. But to make
sure we examined carefully for tracks
none we retraced our steps, and
concluded we would seek those mules
that had been the cause OF 80 much
anxiety. After houndering around
among the yellow sand and high grass,
we came to the herd. Some were feed
ing around, others were lying down, rest
ing quietly. All appeared quite surprised
to see us at this time of night. The next
thing was to take another cold bath,
crossing the river. When we got back
the next thing was to account for the
deception practiced on our guards. We
knew it was no practical joke, and there
wes no man in camp who would
be less likely to raise the camp
than he. His courage could never
be doubted under any circumstances.
He was one of Colonel Donaphan's g
soldiers who had crossed the plains to
join General Taylor in Mexico. 1t was
q matter of too much interest to be
treated lightly, 90 the middle and last
guard were doubled by throwing out a
picket guard. Finally morning came,
the mules were secured all right, and we
were soon on the road, among the greatest
crowd of teams We had come to yet. All
we're rushing to see who could get to the
summit of the Rocky mountains first.
Representatives from all parts of the
United States can be seen here. One
can locate with reasonable certainty the
place the party comes from by the style
of whip used to drive the team of oxen.
If stick from five to six feet long with
spike in the end is used, called a CAD
that fellow is from New England-most
likely from the pineries of Maine. If a
short handle, say eighteen to twenty.
four inches. with long lash, such
as is used by drovers, you may feel
sure you are amongst men from the
Middle States. If a long pole OF
stalk, say ten to fifteen feet.
longer, is used-the noise of which ia
equal to pistol-you may know there
are Illinoisans, Missourians, or some
other Western States fellows around.
Irecollect in crossing through Illinois
in 1889, of my father questioning fell
low about the country. He was turning
over the sod with team of five or six
yoke of cattle. In reply to my fathers
question he said: "Well, stranger,
guess this is pretty good country, least.
wise it is good for men and dogs, but it
is hell on women and oxen-go on there,
Buck whoa ,haw, Darby )" and the fellow
let of a whirl of that long lash that re-
sounded over the prairie like the crack
of gun. This slashing and cutting to
get in the front before reaching the Rocky
reminds nae of those big
teams ploughing up the prairies through
he West. wondered how long it would
De before the fine lands we had travelled
,ver would be settled, and in place of
he sneaking, thieving, blood-thirsty In
iians, a prosperous, happy, intelligent
ace occupy them.
From our last starting point we trsv-
lied eight miles up the bottom, theu we
lad to leave the river, as it ran through
. deep gorge. There was much very
leavy sand that day. On reaching the
,weetwater we drove few miles 30 as to
cave the great gang of teams
hat we knew would 60 into
lamp at the first chance
If water and some grass. The number
xf md LoL
since leaving the States was 1904
There we're possibly hall that many still
ahead, and from all we could gather as
We came on-counting those on the bor-
dor of Missouri, in Jackson county, and
those outfitting about St. Joe, and those
coming by the way OF Council Bluffs
we were in the front of the emigration.
1t is safe to say there were 10000 to
15, 900 teams that started out after we
did. AS yet no one had ever passed us
We camped on the bank of Sweetwater,
having travelled twenty miles.
We made Camp AZ on Saturday, June
16, aud got an early start 80 as to get
ahead of al many teams as possible.
Turning from the liver over the rolling
lands, which still continue on the south
side of the river, in striking contrast to
the cliffs and perpendicular rocks hun
dreds of feet high which came up to the
river on the north side, the mountain
peaks still beyond rose higher and
higher, while there was no high mount
ain to the south in less than thirty miles
At places there were high hills within q
few miles of the river, but no snow
capped mountain near by to the south.
After travelling some six miles we came
to the celebrated ice spring, or swamp.
1t is level place, some 100 yards across,
covered with tufts of grass, on which one
can walk. As it is some little distance
from the road, we had nothing to dig out
the ice except butcher-knife, that we
carried in a scabbard on our belt. That
not being very long, we were unable to
dig deep enough to get the solid ice. We
took out quantity in the shape of ice.
sickles. While it gets very cold here al
night, it is hot enough this June day for
ice to be quite treat. The question
comes up in nv mind, if the DEVILS king.
dom is not east of the Gate instead Of
west, as we had number of hot springs
before we reached there, which we had
no particul ,r use fo-, and now we found
this delightfully."- refreshing, clear ice
which is 30 desirable of hot day. We
travelled eighteen miles during the fore.
noon, and stopped on the Sweetwater for
noon. We crossed the river, assembled a
high rocky hill to avoid cafion, where
the Sweetwater passes between two steep
bluffs. We crossed the river (or as it is
down to creek here) twice and camped,
having travelled twenty-eight miles.