Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-08-04
ON TO THE PACIFIC.
Mormon BatIallOHS First Glimpse
Of The Western Ocean.
FROM GREAT HUNGER AND THIRST
they Get Belief 10 a Land Of Plenty
Abraham Bunsnker aud the Turtle
Doycs-San Diego Mission.

marched IS miles through heavy sand
The afternoon was hot, teams gave out
and two wagons were left. The baggage
was packed on mules. Al night we
camped by a well that had been dug by
General Kearney but it WIS dry and in
It was a dead wolf Details were made
and the men put to work. The we'll
was soon made deeper and new one
dug, when water was had for the army.
The next morning orders were given to
leave two more wagons; the probability
was they would be sent for from Cali.
iornia. Here Major Cloud cached a
trunk Of tools aud some other articles.
On the 18th we reached another we'll.
II was dry and in Il four dead wolves.
This well was soon cleaned out and dug
deeper, at the same time a new one was
made, and water was obtained. on
the morning OF the fIth twcnty.iour
men, with Weaver, the chief guide,
went ahead to dig for water. That
night we made a dry camp. Early on
the following morning we were on the
march. By 10 a. m. we came up to the
men digging for water, they had reached
some but Il was Of very poor quality.
Neither men nor mules liked to drink Il
Here we met the men who had been
sent from the ella to General Kcamey
TO meet Us with fresh mules and beef
cattle. With the party were some Mex
leans and California Indians. The col.
onel ordered one OF the beeves killed.
and the men to be ready to march IN
one hour and a half Our flour, salt
sugar and coffee ccing exhausted we
thought one beef insufficient Tor a bat.
TALON OF 100 hungry men.
The mules brought had never been
broken and there was lively time, but
tile soldiers aud the native Calllomiaus
with their lassoes seemed TO ENJOY the
sport and the wild mules were forced to
submit to the harness. This was the
FIRST time that myself and many others
ever witnessed the lassoing business,
and we enjoyed the fun Alter a hasty
dinner we marched 20 milcs and campcd
without water
On the l6'h we started at midnight
and travelled until 3 p, M, over a very
sandy road and under hot SUI.
Twenty mules gave out and were lett to
suffered on account OF hunger aud thirst.
The first who reached water carried
canteens Of Il back to their comrades,
Who had given out and were len by the
way. one mule was lost with his pack
on his back.
Here will relate what Brother Abra.
ham Huusiker told me since our dis
charge. He belonged to Company D..
lie was detailed TO lead a pack mule.
and was LETT behind and out OF sight
lie was nearly hmished for want OF
water when two turtle doves came and
1T, one on each OF his shoulders. lie
had been thinking Of home, and was
troubled about his family and consider.
ably alarmed at his present condition.
The doves remained on his shoulders
Tor some minutes, when all at once his
fears lett him and his troubles about
himself and family ceased and he was
comioned.
On the 18th we clmped where there
was plenty Of good water, On the 18th
the camp did not move. The day was
spent cleaning guns, for our muskets
were lllled with sand and dust; washing
and mending our clothes, for they were
ln tatters and our feet nearly bare
One Of my messmatcs shot q crow. Il
proved to be tat one. lie ate Il and
said It was splendid.
Some Of the boys had recovered so
Tar from their weary marches that they |
sang, hddled and danced. while others |
amused themselves by going to tue top !
Of mountain near camp and rolling !
large powders down the mountain. !
making a noise like loud peals OF !
thunder and lairly shaking the earth. |
This seemed to get away with our
colonel and he could not understand |
how men, "hlll starved and staggering |
as they walked, as soon as camp was |
made and tents up, engaged In tddling |
and dancing"
Late In the evening an Indian brought |
a letter TO the colonel. Rumor In camp |
said II was from General kearney and |
that he had battle and had lost several |
OF his men, On the 10th OF January we |
had hard march In crossing noun |
tain, We had to move large stones out |
Of the way 10 make a road passable for |
our wagons. At another mountain we
took our wagons apart and carried them
and their loads through a narroN, rocky
channel. That day Tor the frst time |
saw wild sagebrush AT dark We
camped on top OF mountain without
water The night was cool aud there
was no wood for fires except fine brush
on the 2ist OF January we reached |
Warmers ranch, the first settlement Mr |
Warner Is native Of the state OF Maine |
aud owns square leagues OF land and |
three thousand head OF cattle. our
colonel procured few fine beet cattle,
when our rations were increased TO -four
pounds aud a half OF meat to each I,
soldier per day. This did very well
though II was Hat eating without bread
and salt.
Ga the afternoon OF the 25rd OF Ian.
uaIy II began to rain; the weather tuiu.d
cold. On the mountains each side o
us, we could see II showing, The wind
arose and blew almost a hurricane. We
halted to camp and undertook 10 Witch
tent, but the wind blew them d wn
most as fast as we could put them 40.
Hats were blown away and lt continued j
TO storm all night, The next morning
iour mules were found dea !, II was
pltllul sight to see the poor dumb beasts
mat survived the storm shlvyring and
shaking with the cold. 1t soon cleared
up and the weather became pleasant
On the 25lh we camped IN a beautiful
valley where we were met by an express
messenger from General kearncy who
had marched to san Diego, where be
was qJartered. THIS intelligence
pleased US, as the expressmln. No
Walker SAID that ship load OF provis-
ions was daily expected to arrive at that
e.