The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-24

way TO southern California The special
excursion given TO them is in recognition
OF the energy. bravery and fOTtitude dis
played by that hardy band of men who
Ilrst opened up the 'old San Bernardino
trail.
Who the Survivors Are.
The survivors of the first band of pio-
neers, who left Salt Lake City on May
3, l650 for Las Vegas and will participate
IN the excursion, are as follows: w. Z. A.
Smoot, James A. Bean, A. l.. Hale, Ben
JamIn Cuff, w. w. Cuff, Henry Heath.
p b L. E 4Sli, y ;. Worthington, Ruel
ley, William G Mitchell, William Robbins,
Charles CrismOn. Alexander Gemmill l.
n. Dunnyon, George Speirs, a. Milton
Thomas Dallin, Hop Fender, j. Lawson
Nathan Tanner and Phil Margetts
Fifty years ago these old grizzled pio-
neers; then IL the prime of life, yOlun-
teered when the call was issued by Presi-
dent Brigham Young, TO go to Las Vegas
Tor the purpose of building a fort for the
protection of the United States mail and
emigrants that were TO follow them. The
journey was a perilOus undertaking, but
nevertheless the mettle of these men was
not TO be daunted and three weeks after
the call was issued a band of forty men
with six OK teams and pack horses Started
to cross this waste country, known only
10 few Spaniards. and Indians.
Periis of the First Trip.
The hardships they suffered are known
only 10 pioneers. They launched out into
this unknown country. covered with cac-
tus trees and inhabited By nothing save
the wild horses and lizards. Time and
again they got lost and wandered about
sometimes re-crossing their own trail.
Water was scarce and death threatened
them from thirst. Many of their oxen
and horses died on the trip and they were
forced TO leave some of their provisions
behind. They fought an uphill fight
against nature, but they were not to be
discouraged By hardships. The Indians
made trouble for them. Oftimes while
they were camped near a spring or the
head OF a small stream. the Indians
would stampede their cattle They en-
gagged IN number of skirmishes, but none
of them were killed. For nearly six weeks
these men struggled over the dreary
wastes of Nevada before they reached
Las Vegas. There in the canyons they
found streams and settled to build a fort
Cor the protection of the pioneers who
were To follow them.
Began to Plant and Build.
Upon their arrival they proceeded to
clear the lands and SOW garden seeds, each
man planting about one and q quarter
acres. William Bringhurst was chosen the
leader OF the party after they arrived at
Las Vegas, and under his direction the
men worked. They constructed a canal
from the Vegas springs to the tOwnsite
they located for irrigation and domestic
purposes. With plenty of water their
crops flOurished and they raised enough
grains and potatoes to provide them with
a winters supply. After their crops were
well under way thew proceeded to build an
adobe Tort. II was built twelve feet in
height and eighteen inches in thickness
and on the south side in the interior they
erected houses TO live in. When this was
completed their mission" on which they
had been sent by the Mormon" people
had fairly begun.
They did d great deal of missionary
work among the Indians. They taught
nPlnHln1lG "a pa1 TCrif md
made friends with them. They also
traded with them and taught them the
art OF farming. This was done during
the winter months while they were
housed behind thdir fort The following
spring they explored the surrounding
country for timber lands and mines.
These pioneers then took up the Old
spanish trail from Las Vegas and worked
their way on to San Pedro and Whining
ton harbOr. In their explorations they
climbed the mountains west of Las We
gas, followed the Colorado river on the
east, thence up the Colorado to the
Muddy river, thence up the Muddy to the
Great Salt mountain. While they were
at San BernardinO they traded cattle for
mules and gathered supplies for their
return trip.
Other Parties Followed.
The years following parties of emf
grants started across the desert for
southern California Although the trail
had been beaten, the journey was not
free from hardships, and many lives were
lost. 1. \. DunyOn, one of the survivors,
was member of Captain Bells party
which started across the desert to San
BenaTdinO They travelled through
southern Utah to Resting Springs on the
edge of the Great Southern desert. There
they camped for some time, preparing for
the dangerous trip across the great
stretch of alkaH plains.
After a rest of several days and feed
ing their cattle well they broke camp and
4 III
next stop they made was at Salt Springs,
where they found an old abandoned gold
mine. The water at the springs was
salty and they had to boil il for drinking
purposes. They rested here for a day
and then attempted TO make Bitter
Springs, distance of forty miles.
The distance was too great a jump to
cover and their supply of water gave
out. Many of their oxen and horses gave
out and death stared them in the face.
When their animals lay down and died
the men cut the OXen's threats and drank
the blood to quench their thirst This
company contained women and children,
and many of them died there. Seven
wagons and considerable provisions We're
also left behind. About two-thirds of the
company reached Bitter Springs, ana
then, after a hard struggle, they ar
rived al San Bernardino.
Took Men for First Trips.
These are some OF the things encoun-
tered DN the sturdy ploHtttS WHO III
crossed the desert. For several years
after the trail was opened many lives
were lost and the Indians grew hostile
and drove away the emigrants' sheep and
cattle. At this time Los Angeles was
only a village and San Bernardino was
a ranch, Each year brought more emil
grants 10 the west over this trail which
marked the beginning Of the empire Of
southern California. Now over this same
trail straight as the crow flies inc
San Pedro. Los Angels q Salt Lake rail-
road holds its right ~ way
viii Cross the Desert Again.
These old pioneers, companions in the
times of hardships and distress. have ac-
cepted the invitation TO cross the old
trail again before their death In a Pull
man palace car instead of with a pack
train They will gather in Salt Lake from
different parts of Utah and Idaho ana
leave for a weeks trip 10 Los Angeles.
Some of them have not met each other
i'm wears and while they are in Los An
geles a reception has been arranged Tor
them.
Badges have been presented 10 them IN
burnt leather. At the top is an arrow
head. the emblem of the Salt Lake route
The OK team is also represented as the
method of transportation in 1890. Below
il the head of an Indian and modern
equipped train with the date 1905.
ADDITIONAL SOCIETY.