Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-09-15
REACH SUFFER- FORT.
DiMcult Trip Of The Battalion Boys
From tho Place Of Di}blnim .nL
HELD BACK ny Tnr slrnsAs.
Compelled 10 stop al Suffers to III
Out for the Journey 10 the
Great salt Lake Valley.

I on the evening Of the 7oth OF luly,
1897, we commenced to organize com.
panies for travelling home. Where that
was not a soul in camp knew Elisha
Everett and nine or ten Others were APP
pointed to act as pioneers by going
ahead and selecting the way we should
30. The next morning Captain Everett
and men myself one Of thcm) set for
ward. leaving the main camp to com.
plctc the organization into companies OF
hundreds, Of iiltes and tens. Our
course was now up the Los Angeles
river In a northern direction. Reaching
General Andres Pico's ranch,w bought
some fine pears. Proceedings few miles
farther we campcd. Here We were
visited by General Pico. lie was a
jolly soul, well dressed. wearing red
silk sash around his body. lie bore in
his hand a lance and showed how Il was
used, maueuyefing itas II In action with
ON enemy. On the 9Th Of July all hands
were up, when It was agreed to puf-
chase cattle to take along for beef
ForIy.hyc head Of fat three year.olds
were bought a, the Frisco ranch, Tor six
dollars per head, amounting to $40.
The next morning we broke camp. duy-
Ing our cattle before us. We found
them Wild aud hard to drive They
would charge at US aud our horses, aud
IN crossing bushy mountain We lost S
head. The next day We lost three, ana
on the 5olh concluded to kill what was
lcii and save cur beef before losing
any more. Wood for fire was plentiful.
Crotches were cut and driven into the
ground, upon which selnolds were
made, the meat cut IN thin slices and
laid on them and nicely jerkcd. The
next morning the pioneers went forward
leaving the camp TO complete the dry
INK and then 10 follow our trail.
That evening We campcd in a canyon,
where We found cut on tree the name
Peter Lcbcck, killed by a bear, oct
I5th, 1857" ! made o. note of bis death
Ia my diary, callug TO mind when the
dead would be- hapuzed ior Near by
lay the skull and b,elchcd bones ol a
grizzly bear
Aug. Isl, We entered large valley
called lulafe valley. Here we saw
herds Of antelope and some elk. Cross.
ing the valley we came TO lake, which
our Indian guide told as We could not
cross with our animals. Here our guide
LEFT Us, saying he was not acquainted
with the country beyond this point. We
remained here unll oycuaken by the
company behind, wien all hands moved
up the valley six miles and campcd.
The lake, as we supposed, was nov
river and abouudgd With fish, but q,
how plentiful we're the hungry mos.
quitoes!
Being without guide, Captain Ever
eft went to an Indian village, In sight.
The next morning he returned to
camp with several Indians, one OF
whom promised TO 20 as q guide for
few days. On the 5rd We continued
cur journey up the river The travelling
was bad owing to the great amount Of
alkali and other mineral substances en-
crusling the earth, II was like travelling
over hard frozen earth,
On the 4th we crossed the river.
so or 90 yards wide, by making a rait on
which We transported our baggage.
Some OF the boys wadcd the river aud
carried some OF their things ON their
heads. Our animals swan Il. The
next morning the rcdskin who agreed
10 go as guide refused to travel any fur.
Their unless we would hire his entire
company, cigh N number.
Leaving the 1uldre valley on our len
we travelled without guide over hills
and lofty mountains and campel in a
canyon where water was so scarce the
camp was all night watering their ami.
mails.
on the evening OF the sixth and after
supper the camp was called together.
Father Pettegrew, Levi w. Hancock
and several Others addressed the meet
ing In regard 10 travelling In order and
keeping the commandments OF God, TO
be united and to heafken to our officers,
etc, for In truth there was and had
been little friction among brethren.
But at this meeting | believe everything
was made right and smooth. From
this time ON we had several prayer
meetings. On the 9th we reached a
beautiful river, where we were visited
By Indians who said they believed MS to
be good men aud that they " uld not
steal our horses. The next morning we
passed through their village, where We
saw large quantities Of fish and various
sorts OF roots hung up IN The sun to dry.
on the NH we crossed a dry plain TO
a river. Many suffered with thirst. A
few gave out and could 20 no uuher
| Full cantecns oiwater were carried back
when they revived and an came into
| camp. The next day Captain Everett
went up the river TO examine the route
/ and look for Walkers pass leading over
the mountain. In the evening be sent
word for the camp to move up the river
ten miles, where he would meet them
the next day. Accordingly the next
morning we moved up the river, and In
the afternoon were met by Captain
| Everett and men, who reported that the
camp could not cross the mountain with
/ their animals and that there was no
pass or anything like il.
lieuteuauts James Pace and Andrew
| Lyle, two Of our principal officers, to-
/ gcihcr with Levi w. Hancock and
| Father pettegrcw, Immediately called a
! meeting OF the whole camp TO know
! what TO do aud what course to 20, etc.
/ II was decided TO give up the Walker
| pass as we had no guide nor good man
for the cd one we had did not give the
names OF the streams-in fact, we did
not know where We were. The vote
was unanimous to take Fremonrs route
and 20 by way Of Suffers Fort.
Accordingly the next morning we re.
traced our steps a few miles, and crossed
the river about seventy five Yards wide.
II was deep and the current swift on
the ISlh we reached another beautily'
| river and In the country over which W
passed the soil rich and game Of varioI
| kind abounded. Wolves were so 10
they would not run from US, but w
smlIeT ms 10 pAss within Il lnN NnrL-