Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-04
VISITING THE SAINTS.
Elder Jensen Describes Ills Experiences
In Various Settlements.
EDITOR Dea.r,i Mens

Editor Doscrei NewG
On Sunday, March eTth, I let 81
George for the purpose OF visiting tho
settlements OF the Saints lying far TO
the northward, and after travelling
five miles reached the qulet little
town OF Santa Clara, pleasantly ritu-
ated on the Jeff bank Of tho stream
after which the settlement IA named.
This is the oldest settlement ol tho
Saints ON this side OF the Rim Of the
Basin. II was fret located as mis-.
sionary station by Jacob Hamblin and
others In 1854, and now has popula.
ton Of 30 souls or thirty.eight FAM.
lies, all Swiss except four families. The
present Bishop Is john g.. Hafen.
Santa Clara IL nptosperous little town,
hut the facilities OF the same are very
limited. Almost every foot Of available
land II cultivated for all II IL worth,
aud there is really no chance for the
town to grow. Consequently, the
young people, az rule, when they
marry and begin to raise families Of
their own, have to leave the old home
steais and seek places for themselves
elsewhere to dwell.
On Monday, the 18th, after meeting
with the old settlers u Santa Clara,
set out for Gunlook, about eighteen
miles distant, but being unacquninted
with the road went up the Jackson
Wash and at length found myself In
forest OF cedaa near the top OF the
mountains. Discovering my mistake
beat hnsty retreat and struck the
santa Clara stream, about shutdown,
when the clouds, which all day had
indicated nn approaching storm, began
to send forth "a heavy rain, oxpOsed 10
which and shrouted In utter darkness
| Travelled nine or ten miles 10 Gun.
lock, where I arrived about nine
O'Clock at night, having crossed the
creek fOrty-rlx tlmes since leaving the
settlement Of santa Clara, anu having
tested the strength OF my light vehicle
by leaping II over the magnificent
boulIers and rocky lodges with which
the creek bed abounds. After coming
over such road "a this In dark
night, and reaching my destination
without accident, felt truly thankful
10 the Lord for His protection, and
think shall not for n long time after
this experience feel inclined to com.
plain OF the condition Of the roads In
Northern Utah.
Notwithstanding the latG hour ofmy
arrival the people Of Gualock turned out
for the meeting appointed anu In for n
good time. Gunlock ward embraces
the village OF Gunlock and ranch on
Magotso Creek, six miles north. The
villRg, consists OF string Of houses
n,stling In the midst OF thrifty
orchards and IL situated ON tho west
side OF the Santa Clara, at "a point
where the narrow gorge, through
which that stream passes from It,
source In the Pine Valley mountains,
To the Rio Nirgcn, widens out to the
width of nearly quarter OF mile.
The place IL about twonty.thTee miles
northwest oil st. George, twenty-five
miles from Pine Valley and twenty.
two anu half miles irem Hamblln in
the Mountain Meadows. The strength
OF the ward IL represented Ia thirteen
families or eighty.fHo souls, presided
over by Bishop Franklin o. Holt, who
acts with VIM. Il. Jones aud James =.
T.. Bowler Us .counselors. The very
limited amount OF land at this point,
lis acres, II rich and productive and
Notwithstanding It's Isolated location,
the inhabitants seem TO be pleased
with their little oasis In the desert.
Leaving GunlOck on the morning Of
Thursday, March .Sth, we followed
the santa Clara for u distance OF RbOut
two miles, then passed over u noun.
tain Ridge locally known rs White hill
anu thence down 10 and across tie
Magotso, small stream rising In thp
Mountain Meadows aud putting into
the Santa Clara above Gunlock, thence
up n long steep rocky dugway Mt the
upper end Of which the traveller finds
himself on stretch OF elevated table
land overlooking the Dixie country
southwark, thence the road crosses
the bench and follows washes
In their windings between the noun.
tains until Cane Syringe IL reached,
from which an opening In the noun.
tains westward affords easy access TO
the mountain meadows which consists
OF n narrow valley extending north
and south ior distance ~ about seven
miles with an average width Of nearly
a mile. The Rim OF tho Basin divides
the valley into northern ind southern
section, and IN the extreme north end
stands the village OF Hamblin, thus
named for the late Indian Interpreter
ami missionary, Jacob Hamblin, who
Is widely aud very favorably known
throughout this entire southern |
country. Most Of the land IN tho |
Mountain Meadows lying south OF the |
Rim is owned by Harrison j. Burgess,
WHOSE ranch house stands near the |
spot where the Arkansas company OF |
emiRrants met their sad fate In the fall |
of 1851. The little place known as |
Hamhlln has at present five families,
which together with three families at |
iolps ranch constitute branch Of the |
Pluto ward.
After stopping over night at Hamb. |
lin. with Eitlar lama IanH.Id a,