| OCR Text |
Show 246 MEDICINB- BOW BUTTE. the form of an ordinary skin lodge, which had been erected among the timber by different war- parties: they appeared to be very strong, and were ball- proof. From the river we turned more to the northward, in order to pass around the northern end of Medicine- bow Butte, a small isolated mountain, detached from the main range immediately south of it.- The ground rose gently for nine miles, when we reached the bank of a small stream issuing from the pass between the butte and the range just referred to. It was through this gorge that Fremont passed in 1842; but as he had represented it as very rough, and our guides declared it to be wholly unfit for the passage of wagons, it was determined to look for a route farther to the northward. We halted to noon on this little stream, to which we gave the name of " Pass Creek," and to take a meridian observation, which gave the latitude 41° 37' 15". 8. Crossing this creek and passing over a pretty little prairie, covered with grass, now cropped close by herds of buffalo and antelope, we continued our journey near the northern base of the butte for about ten miles. At night, we encamped upon a branch of Rattlesnake Creek, at the foot of a spur, the sides of which were covered with a heavy growth of pine. The route travelled from the Platte has been too far to the right for a good wagon- road. By following up a wide, smooth valley running parallel with our route, and about a quarter of a mile to the left, an excellent road may be obtained, with a regular asceht, until reaching the south branch of Rattlesnake Creek, where some uneven ground, but presenting no material obstruction, will have to be encountered. Numerous bands of buffalo and antelope were seen during the day, and in the afternoon, a monstrous bull was killed; but the hunters took only a piece of hide from the back, to make lash-ropes for the packs, the marrow- bones from the hindlegs, and the tongue, leaving at the very least six hundred weight of good beef on the ground for the wolves and the ravens. In several places along the route to- day, I noticed fragments of white crystallized sulphate of lime, bituminous shale, clay- slate, and marble; and after striking the valley of Rattlesnake Creek, indications of coaL Latitude of camp by observation, 41° 40' 45". 2. Longitude, 106° 43' 37". Day's march, twenty- three miles. Tuesday, September 24.- Ther. at sunrise, 51°. Last night was cloudy, and we lost an observation of Altair. A good one of |
