Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-02-14

We have now penty OF Sood water
wood for fuel and an abundance Of
grass.
Tuesday, l4th. This day was spent
in getting the balance of our wagons
over.
Wednesday, the 18th. All of our
wagons are now safe in camp. After
giving our mules good rest We re-
sumed our toilsome journey, but made
little headway, only travelling about 6
miles and crossing the river FIVE times.
This river is not more than thirty
yards wide, but has very rapid cur
rent and rough, rocky bottom, which
makes it difficult fording. We were
obliged to encamp tonight without
grass, feeding our animals on willow
bushes
Thursday, the 10th. Started early
this morning and travelled few miles,
when,we found little grass and halted
two hours to Craze our mules, after
which we went little farther and en-
camped for the night, only making 9
miles and crossing the river seven
times.
Friday, the 18th, We resumed our
winding course early as usual, and
made some eight miles, when we halt
ed for breakfast. The long-drsaded
Sierra Nevada mountains made their
first appearance this morning. They
are completely capped with snow.
After resting few hours We took up
the line of march, made about fifteen
miles, and crossed the river ten times.
We encamp tonight in a splendid val
ley covered with fine grass. This val
ley is about FIVE miles in length and
two or three in width.
Saturday, the 18th, we remained IN
camp this morning, waiting for the
carriage that we left behind to pro-
cure some bacon and -four, our bacon
being entirely exhausted and we have
very little -four on hand. In the even
ing we moved about three miles furth-
er up the valley and encamped for the
night. The carriage has not yet ar
rived.
Sunday, 10th. The carriage came
up this morning and We resume our
course through billy and rocky
country, making about sixteen miles
and crossing the river four times.
Several Of our mules were swept away
by the current, but fortunately they
were all rescued.
Monday, the Goth Started at day
light this morning and crossed the
river again, making twenty-seven
times in a distance of about thirty
, miles. About noon today we reached
the base of the Sierra Nevada noun
tains. These mountains are clothed
with fine timber, pines, frs and cedar
: trees. Pine trees can be found here
| eighteen feet in circumference and
, fifty or sixty feet without limb. The
J cedars are also very large. We trav-
eled six or seven miles over the noun
tains, then halted for breakfast in a
little valley surrounded on every side
, by mountains of a tremendous height,
where we remained until three o'clock
in the evening,when we again marched
on few miles farther and halted for
the night.
Tuesday, the 2lst. Broke camp
very early this morning and crossed
high range of mountains. The road
runs southwest today. Yesterday we
travelled nearly northwest. Crossed a
pleasant little brook of excellent wa
ter, a tributary Of the Truckey river.
Passed over another range Of hills and
came into splendid valley through
which flows fine stream Of excellent
water. This also is a tributary Of the
Truckey river. Here we stopped to
Craze and refresh our animals and
ourselves. Three men were sent
ahead today to johnson settlement
and Fort Suter to find out the situa-
ton and to make arrangements about
some provision. After dinner we re-
sumed our march and arrived at the
Donor cabins this evening, the place
where the Donor party perished in
1916. 1t is truly an appalling sight.
The ground is all scatterd full Of hu-
man bones. 1t may not be improper
for me here to state that party Of
emigrants in the year 1916, consisting
of men, women and children, started
for California led by George Donor.
They attempted to make cutoff. were
lost in the mountains, were caught in
snow, and nearly all Of them per-
ished. God save our party from a like
fate.
| Il l.