The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-25


supper and were gathering around
an abundant breakfast the next morn
Tag. when Mr.. Walker discovered that
II was with these. or a similar worm.
that the bags had been filed, The
stomachs Of the stout trappers were
not proof against their preJudices,
and the rcpulsIve food was suddenly
rejected.
Mr. Walker had further opportun-
itles OF seeing these WORMS used as
an article of food: and I am inclined
TO think they are the same as We
saw, and appear TO be a product OF the
salt lakes II NAV be well TO recall
10 mind that Mr.. Walker was asso-
ciated with Capt Bonneville, in his
expedition 10 the Rocky Mountains.
and has since that time remained In
the country. generally residing In
Some one of the Snake villages. when
not engaged In one or his numerous
trapping expeditions. in which he Is
celebrated as one OF the best and
bravcst leaders who have ever been
In the country
Carrying with us the barometer
and other Instruments. In the after
noon We ascended 10 the highest point
of the island. a bare. rocky peak,
eight hundred feet above the lake.
Standing on the summit we enjoyed
an extended View OF the lake. enclos-
closed In n basin of rugged noun
tains. which sometimes LETT marshy
flats and extensive bottoms between
them and the shore. and IN other
places came directly down into the
water with bold and precipltous bluffs.
Following with our glasses the irreg-
ular shores. wc searched for some
indication OF communication with
other bodies Of water, or the entrance
OF other rivers; but the distance was
so great that We could make out
nothing with certainty.
To the southwark several pcnin-
sular mountains, 5000 or 1000 feet
high entered the lake. appearing, so
as the distance and our position en-
abled Us to determine. to be connect
ed by flats and low ridges with the
mountains in the rear These are
probably The islands usually Indicated
on maps of this region as entirely de-
tschcd from the shore, The season
OF our operations was when the wat
ers were at their lowest stage. At
the season OF high waters in the
spring, il is probable that tho marshes
and low grounds are oyerflowed, and
the surface Of the iaSc considerably
greater In several places the View
was OF unlimited cXtent-here and
there rocky islct appearing above
the waters, at a great distance, and
beyond. everything was vague and uu-
defined
"As We looked over the vast eX-
panse OF water spread out beneath us
and strained our eyes along the silent
shores over which hung so much doubt
and uncertainty, and which were so
full of interest to us. | could hardly
rcpress the almost irresistible desire
TO continue our explorations; but the
lengthenlng snow Oh the mountains
was a plain indication Of the adyanc-
ing season, and our frail linen boat
appeared so Insecure that / was unwill-
ing to trust our lives to the unccr-
tainties Of the lake. 1. therefore, un-
willingly resolved to terminate our
survey here, and remain satisfied for
the present with what We had been
able To add TO the unknown geography
OF the region.
we felt pleasure, also, in remem'
beriug that we were the first who. in
the traditlonary annals OF the country,
had visited the Islands. and broken,
with the chaarful sound of human voic-
cS, the long solitude OF the place.
From this point where we were stand
lag the ground fell off on every side
to the water, giving us perfect view
of the island, which is twelve OF thir-
teen miles in circumference. being
simply n rocky hill. on which there
is neither water nor trees OF any kind;
although the Frcmontia yermicularls,
which was In great abundance, might
easily betaken for timber at a dis
tance The plant seemed here TO de-
light in a congcnial air. growing in
extraordinary iuXurlance. seven or
eight feet high. and was very abundant
or the upper parts OF the island. where
it was almost the only plant.
Il accidentally left on the summit
the brass cover to the object end o.:
my Spy-class. and. as II will prob
ably remain there undIsturbed by In
dams. 1t will furnish matter of spec
ulation TO some future traveller In
our excursions about the island, We
did not meet with any kind Of ami
NAL; a magple. and one other large
bird, probably attracted by the smoke
OF our fire. paid us visit from the
shore. and were the only living things
seen during our stay The rock con-
stituting the cliffs along the shore.
where we were encamped. Is a tai
cous rock. or steatIte with brown
spar
In 1891 a party headed By f A. Nc
Daniel, an ogden editor. visited Ere
mont Island" and made special search
for the brass cover" but round no
trace Of II
Returning TO Fremont's account;
AT sunset. the temperature was 20
degrees We had arrived Just in tine
10 obtain a meridian altitude of tho
sun. and other observations were OBJ
tained this evening, which placed our
camp In latitude IL degrees, 10 min
UteS. ~ seconds. and longitude 112
degrees. 2l minutes, seconds from
Greenwich. From discussion of the
barometmcal observations made during
our stay on the shores of the lake. we
have adopted 800 feet for Its elcya.
tion above the Gulf OF Mexico. In
the first disappointment we felt from
the dissipation OF cur dream OF the
fertile islands, | called this DISap-
pointment Island
out of the drift wood We made
ourselves pleasant little lodges. open
to the water; and, after having kindl-
ed large fires TO excite the wonder
OF any struggling savage on the lake