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Show 269 Smith closed down the settlement and transferred the six remaining men to Meadow Valley. Besides Adams, the group included Urban Van Stewart, Josiah Reeves, William Walker, Lafayette Greyman, and William Roberts (a step-son of Adams). The group arrived at Desert Camp on July 12. Reeves and Walker eventually became discouraged and left the mission without being released. President Smith tried to dissuade them, but on July 19 the two homesick boys left for Iron County. Cave Springs was not the only settlement on the verge of collapse. It now looked as though there would be little or no harvest at Meadow Valley. The crops which were earlier described as "luxuriant" were withering as a result of the alkali in the soil. Most of the experienced men in camp felt it was unlikely they would ever mature, and President Smith called them "backward and worthless" on July 10, the day Dame's instructions arrived to abandon the settlement after the harvest. Three days later Smith maintained there was "slight prospect of raising any grain." Martineau claimed that the soil was impregnated with "black alkali," which began to rise as soon as the water was turned on it. The ditch itself, nearly two miles long, crossed a heavy alkali bed which also contaminated the water. The crops grew well at first but eventually became retarded in growth, and then began dying rapidly. By mid-July an estimated four fifths of the produce had 17 been destroyed "and a fair prospects for the remainder to go." Not only did the alkali affect the grain and vegetables, it also affected the health of the men who consumed the alkali-tainted water. The men in camp «18 "became seriously affected" by "sores which caused an intolerable itching. It was eventually discovered that strong doses of sour buttermilk went a long way toward curing tbe ill effects of the alkali. The cows sent by Dame proved to be a great blessing to them. An express was finally sent to Colonel Dame on July 19, explaining the |
