St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1906-04-06
A Matter Of Local History
The Diary Of James st. Johns Now
Printed For The First Time.
Prepared by George II. Hines }

arrived at the north fork OF the
Platte about noon. Took dinner
here. Seen no buffaloes today
except one. Encamped this night
on the bank of the north fork of the
Platte.
June 18th. This morning bad
accident happened one of our men. !
was out of the camp helping to keep
the oxen from straying away (for we
have to let them feed on grass and
watch them to keep the Indians
from driving them away, and
while / was there heard a gun
fire in the camp and heard some
man scream. / went to the camp,
saw one of our men lay bleeding on
the ground. He had shot himself
with his gun. He was pulling his
gun from his wagon by the muzzle
and the lock caught something and
fired and shot him through the left
side. He lived about an hour and
died. We buried him in the sand
on a hill about a half of a mile from
the camp. The company appointed
committee Of five men to appoint
an administrator for the estate of
the deceased, which they did.
The captain was appointed. We
had sermon delivered on the
occasion by the Rev. Mr.. Williams.
We left there at n o'clock and
went to Ash Creek. There we en-
camped and killed an elk.
June iith. This being a rainy
day we did not leave here until the
18th. - This morning we left
here. The air has been cold for
three days. The name Of the
creek we camped at last night Is
Ash Greek. Killed one deer there.
The river here is wide, like the
south fork, and has hills OF each
side consisting Of sand and rock,
and narrow plains next the water.
We encamped this night about
IS miles farther up the river.
June i6th.-This morning we
left the camp at the usual hour.
The day was pleasant. We made
a good days drive. Killed some
rabbits and three antelopes, but
have not seen a buffalo for 4 days.
We seen some wild horses on the
opposite side OF the river today.
The land here is almost entirely
destitute Of timber. There Is some
cedar along the creeks aud on the
islands, few ash trees. some
mountain cherries and currants Of
the largest size | have ever seen.
We cncamped this evening on the
banks Of the Platte.
June 18th. We left the camp
this morning at 7 o'clock, Crossed
a creek OF excellent water at 9
o'clock. Seen a considerable
quantity of pine timber today.
along the creeks and bluffs. Two
OF the hunters went out yesterday
and did not return until - o clock
last night They brought in some
buiialoe meat with them, aud had
seen no Indians. We encamped on
the bank OF the river near the
mouth oi large creek in sight OF a
rock or clay peak called the Chin
ney Chimney Rock and in sight
of large clay mount which has
the appearance Of large mansion
house Court House Rock.
June ISth.-This morning we
started at six o'clock, The weather
Is fine and the air pure, We
travelled about IS miles today and
encamped about two miles from the
Chimney or clay peak II is a
sharp peak of clay mingled with
rock, We have killed no hultalocs
today. but have seen ? of them,
and killed two an,elopcS and one
deer.
June 10Th, This morning we
left camp at the go minutes past
six o'clock. The air is cool to-
day and the wind blows hard. We
have killed two mountain sheep
and ! elk today and one antelope,
We encamped this evening near
deep ravine OF water nearly sur,
rounded by high bluffs which have
a splendid appearance.
June 20. = We left here this
morning al six clock. Took din
ner on the banks of Horse creek
This is a cold, windy, disagreeable |
lay for travelling. This night We
encamped on the banks of the Platte
about thirty miles from f. l.aramy.
June 2I.-This morning we set
,ut at the usual hour. The day
pleasant except it is very windy
or one would judge from the short
less of the timber that IL is always
he case here, The hills are sandy
md in some places rocky, Some
iave the appearance OF chalk, con-
listing of substance resembling
'laster paris. We see but few
'utfaloes here, but have plenty of
neat in the camp yet, There is
'lenty OF small game, We enjoy
,ood health, excepting two or three
'ersons, who have been complain
ng for a few days, myself for one.
Ne have killed no game today,
mt one antelope. We encamped
his evening on the banks of the
latte.
June 22d,-This day we arrived
I Fort Laramy at 10 o'clock, The
pit is on the north side OF the
lver Laramy's fork, which We had {
, cross. In INNS into the platte