The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-06
THE JOURNEY OF
THE PIONEERS
Original Journal of the Trip Made to This Valley
Fifty Years Ago.

Stopped at noon on the river bank anC
arrived at Shell creek towards night
This is a beautiful place.
Thursday, the 24th.-This morning W,
crossed the creek and went on in tn,
pioneer track. We who Travelled on the
off side suffered much with the dus
from the Others and we were glad Il
encamp near the river so we could
have good washing. All is well.
Friday, the 25th.-LaSt night cour1
sat. Elder Taylor charged Captain
Grant and President John Young witt
being disobedient and insulting the
priesthood. They acknowledged theil
fault and the good spirit prevailed
again. We understand that we are
now 80 miles from the place where we
expected to cross the river but the
water is too high and we Will have tc
go up higher. This is called Soup Fork
Our cattle got mixed with some Others
/ this morning because of the slothful-
ness of some individuals. Stopped I'M
til noon on the river. where there are
/ some large cotton trees. The grass is
thin on the prairie. This evening we
encamped on the river. not far from an
unoccupied trading house. This after
noon we met some traders coming from
Pawnee.
Saturday. the 26th.-Cloudy. While
waiting for the other companies to
start, Captain Smoot called the men
together and instructed them to be
! prayerful. to be faithful in their duties.
/ etc. After noon we crossed Looking
! Glass creek on a bridge. Travelled
about 10 miles today which is more
than we have done before. Suffered
much from the dust and got to the
camping place after shutdown, when it
] s,zTr,
/ creek called Beaver creek, with much
wild fruit on it.
Sunday the 27th-Very pleasant. rainy
/ towards night. Five of the Pawnee
! farmers arrived here. They did not
know of our being here. Public gen.
eral meeting today. The conclusion is
to follow up on this side of the Platte
and thereby save 100 miles travel and
the danger of the river.
Monday the 2Sth-Very warm: crossed
Beaver Creek and another one and en-
camped at the PaYnee settlements to-
night
Tuesday. the 29th-This morning two
Pawnee Indians came to our camp
Some of our cattle are sick with foul
feet. Started over the creek and past
Pawnee village burned down by the
Sioux and built up again AT o'clock
crossed Willow creek and encamped for
the night on the Platte river.
Wednesday, the 30th-Fine weather
The banks are here very high. so we
have to let our cattle go without water
Passed another Pawnee village and the
burned ruins of one. AS the region
abroad seems to be rather broken, we
stop here expecting 10 ford the river
here.
Thursday, the LIST of July-Cool and
windy At middle of day we crossed
the river and no accident happened TO
us From here to the main river is %
miles. We are now towards $50 miles
from Winter Quarters.
Friday the 2d-Cool and windy Tray
eled about 20 miles over rolling land
calculating to go to the Platte. but had
to stop, because of rain storm, within
sight of timber on the river No wood
and no water. Four antelopes seen to-
day.
Saturday, the Sd-Pleasant. Before
noon we came to a muddy creek We
cut grass and threw ii in and went
over by doubling the teams. Near night
We got into the pioneers track and en-
camped on a creek not a great way
from the river. We came Is miles to-
day.
Sunday the 4th-Rain this morning:
public meeting. Elders p p Pratt.
Taylor and Father Smith spoke against
growing cold and careless and neglect
thanks TO God. who is blessing us all
the time They also, spoke against
swearing and taking the name of God
in vain. They gave strong warning and
spoke of some of the law which will be
put in force hereafter. They exhorted
TO union, obedience, etc, and eXhorted
the fathers concerning their children
how to bring them up. etc. They said
if we should forget God it would go
with us as it did with the Lamanites.
etc. We must not set fire to the prairie
for il is a signal for the Indians co
gather together. We have now come 175
miles. The conclusion is to travel each
company of 80 by itself and to have il
encamp and herd by itself
Monday the 5th-PleaSant Crossed a
stream called Wood river being de-
tanned by the breakdown of a wagon
We had to encamp tonight far from
wood and water.
Tuesday, the 6th-Pleasant At IL
oclock last night Sister Nancy Smith
had a daughter. She was named Sarah
Ellen. Stopped at noon TO water and
found some intelligence from the pio-
reers. They had been here on the 18th
or 30th of April and it was 2O7 miles
from Winter Quarters. Here is good
feed but the ground is covered with
saltpetre and the cattle lick it and get
sick.
Wednesday, the 7th-very warm.
Watered in the Platte at noon and to-
night encamped near the head of Grand
island. 1t is dreary looking country
around here and the feed very Door.
Thursday. the Sth-Very warm and |
dusty. Stopped until noon. Went on |
again and crossed a dry creek with |
large elm trees on il, and encdmped on |
another one tonight. The companies |
behind US got in sight tonight after we
had not seen them for some days Bet |
ter feed here. Found an inscription /
on a buffalo scalp saying that the pio- |
neers were here on the 4th of Nav.
Friday the 9th-Very warm. Built a |
bridge and went on TO the Platte river.
which here is over a mile wide.
Saturday, the 10th-Pleasant Ex-
pecting 10 find no wood for a while we
stopped at noon on a good place where
there are many islands full of willows.
A company of hunters went to hunt
0uffaloes but found none. Our hunt
ers killed an antelope and a deer and
some other hunters had seen great
nerds of buffalo
Sunday, the 11th-Pleasant Making
Goals of willow wood and getting wag-
ms repaired.
Monday. the 18th, warm weather. En-
2amped tonight on place where there,
Are many islands with pleasant groves.
Tuesday, the 1Sth-Warm weather
IT. the forenoon it happened that a
wagon broke down and we had to turn
o the first camping place on the river
Wednesday. the 14th-Fine weather
Went on and passed Captain Beach's
Ind Captain Grants companies in the
afternoon. who had eDcamDed because
II an accident. After this we
vent over some sand hills and
on the river without