Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-04-08
AMONG THE MoRxoss IN 1865.

AMONG THE M0RMOSs N 1865.
Editor J. Zeamer, OF the American
Volunteer, published at Carlisle. Pa :,
has, In the last Issue OF hi, paper Il
hand, an article watch hs cali
"Among the Mormons," 1t is chapter
10 OF MIR. Zeamer'I 81 y, Across tbs
Plains by Immigrant Wagon in 1866
The gentleman says his narrative Ia q
true story Of his trip to California anC
what he saw on the way; and judging
by what he tells In this chapter, up Il
his arrival In Salt Lake City (wbeit
the narrative closes TIL the next Issue
OF the American Voiunteer), our
newspaper friend is giving graphic
| anu accurate account OF HE ex-
periences, iree from obi c.ionable
comment or prtjudiced explosions,
OF coutse there are some slight mis-
takes In nsmes, etc, such ne cRsu,l
traveller would be liable 10 make, bui
Mr.. Zjamer has remarkably few even
OF thea; and his statement is given
In such consecutive, straightforward
and interesting form as to make 1t
really valuable historical account
traDscontinental travel o third OF "a
century ago. His party came by way
OF Echo canyon, and the Chalk Creek
route; they entered the Salt Lake
valley by Parleys canyon, which
Mr.. u smer mistakenly calls Immi.
grant canyon, probably In confusion
with Il migration ca yon, de
north OF PLrle)'s. Several columns
are devoted to the journey In Utah,
nnd afford entertaining resiing. Here
is an extract:
AT Bear river, forty-hve miles west of
Fort Bridger, we camo into me first Nor
mon settlement ON our way. low log
house that was without windows stood
close by the road aud was occupied by
two families. q her shacks, or habita-
tions, widely separated. stood farther
down the bottoms, but tho one by the
road was the most important and res.
pectablo In appearance. Patches of
ground were enclosed by rude fences
and farmod in wheat, oats and vegetables.
The crops were in a very backward state,
the wheat not yet In head, aud the oats
not sufficiently advanced 10 hide the
clods. The general elevation of he coun.
try was so great that there was still an
abundance of snow in the hills mile or
two south OF the settlement, and its white
surface could be seen through gaps in
the timber. Several streams, which
originated up near these snow banks,
flowed through the lowlauds about
the settlement and their water was
as clear as crystal and ice-cold. One
of the Two Mormon men who lived
in the house by the road owned a
likely roam pony on which Cot'erill pro-
posed to trade Mother WhitmAn's lame
horse. The Mormon felt half inclined
but affected uuwillingness for the pur-
pose VI getting all oul Of the trade that
was in II. The lame horse had cost TWO
hundred dollars in Illinois and was near
ly twice tho size OF the pony, but his
lameness had grown so serious that he
could scarcely travel at all. While Cot
terlll and Dave aud the Mormon were
bargaining, 1 interviewed the younger
Mormon, who informed me thai lie for
merry lived in Nebraska and came to
this country two years ago; that no did
not like II; that there was snow all
around them when he came here, and
there had been snow all around them
ever since. Besides these dlscomforts
they were without the most ordinary
advantages OF civilized society, 1t being
thirty miles 10 the neares. posloillco.
There were twelve tow- headed chill.
dTen about the premises, all OF whom be-
longed to the older OF the TWO Mormons,
the younger not having any. During tho
previous winter these TWO families were
in dire want, and because OF the deep
snow were unable TO get to the other set
Al. oil AI IL H..
mon,h-tho month OF Marcb-they had
nothing l1 cat but east away rawhides.
When beef was killed its hide was
thrown away and alter being exposed to
tho sun and wind became almost as dry
aud hard ~ bone. When the extremity
came these famlshod people gathered up
tho rawhides that were within reach of
their premises, Gu: them up, aud cooked
and used Them Tor food.
o. Sunday, July 2atd, the party
approached Coalvilie, Summit county.
The record continue:
That afternoon we came upon small
Mormon settlement. IT was strung ont
through the canyon tor mile or moro
The houses were built Of logs aud
covered with boards, and hardly one II
them had any windows. Tho buildings
and their surroundings wore u cloluiy
aspect In every instance. Adjacent 10
tho buildings small pa chea OF ground
were enclosed and planted with vcge-
tables, or sown with whel' and oats.
These patches were irrigated, either from
Chalk Greek or from side streams tina.
empAed into II, As il was Sunday, work
WIN tho Inhabitants wa suspended,
some OF them were sitting in tue door
| ways foadinB books, others were visit
| ing AZ their noighboTs, and oilers stand.
ing ABOUT chatting. Their clio ling was
Of an out-of.date pattern and Showed
! ngnS Oh much wear but was aerupulous.