The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1894-03-21
Notes From Journal Kept by Mrs,
Francis n. Sawyer in a Jour-
ney Across the Plains,
MAY 9 TO AUGUST II, 1852.
Revis ID and Compiled for the Enter
tainment of the Readers Of the
Breckenridge News.

August / We all slept well last night
and didn'te even have guard out. None
of us slept much the night before, as we
were crossing the desert. However, |
laid on my bed in the carriage and slept
some in the fore part of the night and
the boys did the same thing in the wagon,
one at. a time. But when the mules
began to tire, we all became too anxious
for a safe passage across the sandy waste
to be visited by the angel of slumbers or
the god of dreams.
We had weary march of fifteen miles
to-day without water or grass, but we
have splendid grass tonight.
Distance travelled fifteen miles.
Au1ust 5.-We had another hard
march OF ten miles over heavy sand this
morning.
This river, however, is a pretty little
stream of clear. cold and good water
There are some cottonwood trees, willow
and blackberry bushes growing on its
banks, and good camping and incoming
places are easily found.
Distance travelled, twenty miles.
August CT saw a lady where we
nooned to-day, who had fine son three
DAYS old. The arrival of the little
stranger had made it necessary for his
friends to go into camp for week or
more, and they had settled down t. make
themselves at home, quietly and patient
" awaiting the time that they might
resume their march. The lady was com
fortably situated and in good spirits. l
have heard of several children being born
on the plains, though it is not very
pleasant place for the little fellows to
first see the light of day.
Distance travelled thirteen miles.
August Mr.. Sawyer sold our four
horse wagon and harness this morning
for S25. He thought it was not worth
taking over the Sierra Nevada noun
tains, besides it would be very hard on
the mules. The men have been getting
ready all day for packing" They will
put some light things into my carriage
and drive it as far as it will hold out.
Mr.. Sawyer will walk and drive over
the bad places. will ride mule, and
the boys will ride another. The re-
mainder of our things will be packed on
the backs Of the other animals, and we
will thus be converted into a pack train.
We camp at Gold Canyon. There are
fifty or sixty miners at work here, and
there are three families living i'll log
cabins.
Distance travelled, three miles.
August sabbath day. Mr.. Sawyer
went out prospecting this morning up
the canyon. He obtained about twenty
five cents worth of gold dust, but he con-
cluded that that would not pay, so we
left camp in the afternoon.
bought some turnips to-day, at ten
cents each, and was inclined to think
that they were pretty dear vegetables.
Distance travelled, ten miles.
August 0-We came to Carson valley
to-day. 1t is a beautiful valley, and
some emigrants are settling here. The
Mormon station has been built one or
two years. 1t is a boarding house and
store together, in pretty location at the
edge of the mountains, with tall pine
trees all around it. There are some gar
dens here, and l bought some more
turnips, at five cents each. We have at
last arrived into civilization, though
things are still very high. Mr.. Sawyer
got one shoe put on mule at black
smith shop, and it cost him one dollar.
Distance travelled, eighteen miles.
August l0.-We travelled up the Car
son valley to-day to the foot of Humboldt
canyon and went into camp
Distance travelled, nineteen miles.
August ll.-Started into the noun
tains this morning through Humboldt
canyon. Crossed three toll bridges. Our
road is very rough, rocky and difficult to
travel over. Some stones, right round
and as large as hogsheads, lie right in
the middle OF the road. Our carriage
broke down, and we have abandoned it
One wheel got fastened between two
rocks and broke all to pieces. We
packed everything ON TO the mules and
went on four miles further, where we are
in camp on the bank of beautiful
mountain stream OF pure, good water.
Our men are making more pack-sad-
dies
Distance travelled, fourteen miles
August, l2.-We travelled fast to-day
and crossed the first summit OF the
Sierra Nevada mountains before noon
and stopped at beautiful lake (Tahce)
10 noon.
have had the tooth-ache so bad to-
day that could not enjoy the beautiful
landscapes and scenery.
In the afternoon we crossed the second
summit OF the Sierra Nevada. II is
1000 feet high and we went over snow
six feet deep We had to travel'till ten
o'clock at night before we could find
place level enoug on which TO pitch our
camp. After il got dark Mr.. Sawyer