Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-22
PILGRIMAGE OF THE UTAH PIONEER
SIXTY YEARS TODAY

dant, tho water excellent, and generally
with gravel bottoms. 4 great variety
OF green grass, and very luxurlnnt.
covered the bottoms Tor miles whero
the soil was sufficiently damp, but in
other places, although the soil was
good, yet the grass had nearly dried up
Tor want OF moisture We found the
drier places swarming with very large
criokets, about the size of mans
thumb This valley Is surrounded with
mountains. except on the north, the
tops of some of the highest being COW
cred with snow. Every one or two
miles streams We're emptylng into II
from the mountains on tho east, many
ot which were sufficiently large TO
carry mills and other machinery. As
we proceeded towards the Salt Lake
the soil began to assume u more sterile
appearance, being probably at some
seasons of the year overnowed with
water. We found as we proceeded on.
great numbers OF hot springs issuing
from near the base Of the mountains.
These springs were highly impreGnateo
with salt and sulphur: the temperature
Of some was nearly raised TO the boil
ing point. We Travelled for about IL
miles down after coming into the val
lev the latter parts OF the distance
the soil being unfit for agricultural
purposes. We returned and found our
wagons cncamped In the valley, about
Eve and one-fourth miles from where
they left the canyon"
President Youpg's rear company re-
stunned the Journey early In the MORN
Ing stopped for breakfast after
iive-miles drive. President Young
Travelled in Milford Woodruff's car
rlage. and although the fever was still
on him, he stood the journey We'll. Aft
err breakfast the company travelled
about 10 miles over very rough, noun
famous road and comped for the night
on East Canyon creek.
"The road" writes Elder Clayton, 'ls
one of the most crooked | ever saw;
there are very many sharp turns, ana
the willow stubs standing makes IT very
rough for the wagons. The eucaInp.
ment for the night was formed ON
ridge. where there was large snring
Of cold water and tolerably good graz
Ing for The stock
The following Incident illustrating the
excessive toll endured by the camp
hunters in providing food occurred on
East Canyon creek; There was no
meat in camp" writes james a. Little
in his little work entitled From Klrt
land TO Salt Lake City" "and Joseph
Hancock left II early one morning to
make an effort to supply the want. He
felt impressed that on the top OF a high
ridge which doomed UP Ia the distance,
IN the clear mountain air, he would be
successful Arriving there, for the first
time he saw a portion OF Salt Lake val
ley, and realized his anticipations of
the morning by killing n large elk
Making il lighter by leaving the offal
he got the carcass ON his back and
started IT, the direction Of the camp.
He traveied well into the night with
out finding It. Attempting TO CROSS Il
creek on q beaver DAM he broke
through and found himself pstrido a
large log with his extremitles In the
water below. He was relieved OF his
burden as II lay on the log at his back.
Excessively weary he felt content to
rest, UncOnsoiously his head dropped
back on 10 the elk and he was sleeping
as only the weary can sleep. The first
sound that greeted his senses was the
growing of cock. This was assurans
that he was not tar from friends, and
little reflection showed him that he
had been thus detained by q kindly
Providence, instead OF making fruit
less exertions in the darkness to find
the object OF his toll. AS day was
breaking he dragged the elk across the
dam and again resumed his burden. BY
this time he was discovered by some
OF the men who were stirring early in
the camp
Tho main company broke camp at
$3.50 o'clock a. m. and soon came up
with Elder Pratt's advance company.
There were several bad places In the
road, and the brethren spent consld-
cradle time in fixing them. Elder
Clayton writes:
1T is evident that the emigrants who
passed this way last year must have
spent a great deal of time cutting Il
road through the thickly set timber
and heavy brushwood. II Is reported
that they spent 16 da'-- In making a
road through Weber river. a distance
of SO miles. II has taken us over three
days to travel that distance as we had
10 spend many hours In improving the
road. After travelling tx miles we
found the road crossing the creek again
TO the south side and then ascend a
very steep hill--so very steep that IL
was almost impossible for heavy wa
CONS TO ascend. and so narrow that the
least accident might precipitate wa
gon down a bank 900 or 400 feet, in
which case 1t certainly would be DASH
ed to pieces. To avoid this very dam
gerous place the brethren set to work
making n new road down the canyon.
along the creek, which took them about
four hours. after which the company
resumed their Journey and soon emerg-
ed into the open valley, travelled ~
miles further and encamped by a
small creek. Days journey 7h miles"
Thomas Bullock the camp historian,
gives the following account OF the Pho
neers entering the valley;
1--WE gathered up and started about
o'clock; we soon passed the other
company ground Cthe one occupied