The herald., 1895-03-03


there, then thousand miles or more
from the frontier
Owing to the lateness of the season and
from accounts of some Mormons returned
from the gold mines on the American
river, il was evident that before we could
reach the foot of the Sierra Nevada it
| would be impossible to cross with any de-
gree of safety. The fate of the Bonner
party was warning against any such
foolhardy attempt in the winter season
The great body OF the overland emigrants
by the South Pass route preceded us, GO
ing either by. the Humboldt or Fort Hall,
and most of them had already reached
their destination in the land of gold.
While We were thus delayed at Salt Lake,
undetermined whether to remain over
winter or attempt a southern route, some
| Missouri traders Pomeroy Brothers
having sold out their merchandise,
brought into the valley in early sum-
mer We're preparing to take their live
stock and freight wagons to Southern
California. We concluded to join them A
Mormon, Captain Jefferson Hunt, who
had just returned from San Bernardino,
where they had located colony was en-
gagged as guide. We left Salt Lake the
| 3rd of November, 1919, pursuing south
erly and southwesterly direction along the
foot of the Wasdtch Mountains. The
route is through series of fertile valleys
to the point where the road crosses the
southern rim of the great Utah BASIN.
The first and largest valley south of Salt
Lake is the Utah valley. AT the southern
end of the Utah Lake we struck the old
| Spanish trail, the northern route travelled
by the Spaniards between the Pueblo OF
4 Los Angeles and Santa Fe. A number of
fine streams put down from this range
OF mountains, flowing into the desert,
| timbered along their banks, the largest
being the Spanish Fork and Sewer
River. Where the range turns westerly
there is low depression called the Noun
| tain Meadows. 1t was famous camping
place on the line of the old Spanish trail.
The camp ground is near a spring at the
| foot of the mountain on the west side of
| the valley or meadow, with timber ON the
slope of the mountain. The night We
camped there it commenced showing and
we were obliged to corral the cattle and
other stock and guard them; and build
fires of the dry cedar hauled down from
the side OF the mountain to keep our
selves warm. The storm continued the
next day with considerable violence and
the stock was guarded to keep them
J from straying off. Owing to the snow
there was no chance for feed here, so we
were obliged to move on without delay.
! 1t was at this same camping ground, some
| years later, that a party of emigrants
| from Arkansas and Missouri were at
tackled by Indians and some Mormons as
| allies; and after being given assurance of
| protection if they would surrender, were
| brutally massacred - men. women and
| children. Soon after we commenced
| descending the southern slope of the
! divide the weather became warmer. and
| from that on we had no difficulty as far
| as the climate was concerned.
| We reached the Santa Clara, tributary
of the Rio Virgin, December 18th. The
| Virgin River is a considerable stream
coming down from the Wasatch range of
mountains, that we had crossed and
| flowed southwesterly into the Colorado.
| Along the Santa Clara and the Rio Vir-
gin, we found considerable feed; but
being without it SO long, already the stock
| was nearly starving; and many cattle gave
out and were left along the road.
| noticed ON these river bottoms cornstalks
and some squash or pumpkins still re-
naming on the ground, and also indica-
tions of irrigation the work of Indians
of course, as no white people were then
in this region OF country. These Indians
are the Piutes, described by Fremont in
his report of explorations in 1884 as
causing him considerable trouble on his
return by this same route. They are
marauding and savage tribe of Indians,
and seek every opportunity to waylay. and
massacre small parties or stragglers from
larger ones. Our company was so large
however, that we were not troubled with
them, except in the stealing and killing
OF stock that wandered from camp.
another famous camping ground. 1t is a
large meadow with several springs at the
head, which, uniting, form quite a stream
| flowing through it. One of these springs
is so large as to make good bathing
| pool, and the water is warm and boils up
| with. such force as to buoy the swim
mer like cork.
We were at point about where the
state line crosses this trail at the close of
the wear 1S49 and the beginning of that OF
1850; as to which side there is some doubt.
However, in after years, the Society OF
California Pioneers gave me the benefit of
the doubt by admitting me as member
of its body; its constitution requires the
applicant to have been within the state
prior to January l, 1850.
So many of the cattle had died or been
abandoned that the remainder were not
able to move the trains except very
slowly and in consequence we had al
ready exceeded the time anticipated in
getting into the settlements, and our pro-
visions were nearly exhausted.
1t was proposed therefore that some one
should go ahead and send back relief, and
about dozen of us volunteered for that
purpose, We reached the Mojave River
the second day after leaving the camp, at
a point not far below Barstow, as near as
| can Judge. We continued along the
same old Spanish trail that we had been
following up that river and across to the
northern end of the Cajon pass, wnere
we arrived quite late the last day OF jan
uary. Our provisions being exhausted,
and there being a moon, we concluded to
venture through the pass that night! in
stead of remaining over till morning:
From nv notes | quote: - never shall
forget this nights adventure in this wild
mountain pass. We issued from the pass
into the valley about o'clock in the
morning>of February the LIST. We halted
at the mouth of the canyon until day
light, and then renewed our walk: If we
had not been in famished and exhausted
condition we might have appreciated with
pleasure the agreeable change in the
country. Even yesterday we were travel
ing in dry and barren desert; today we
are treading on beds of beautiful flowers
and wild clover, and the morning breeze
is laden with their perfume.
We reached the Cucamonga Rancho
about 10 O'Clock, February LIST. We found
| an American family there and were sup
piled with an abundance, including milk
and butter-a rare treat, indeed, and a
great change in the fare we had been ac-
customed to during the many months OF
our trip. A few days later we passed
| over to the Chino Ranch better known
among the immigrants Of that period as
| Williams Ranch. Colonel Williams, the
owner, had during that season, sent out
MANY parties for the relief of immi-
| grants The next morning Colonel
| Williams. furnished me a horse and q
I guide to come into Los Angeles, as had
| Some letters and packages to deliver to