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Show 20 A TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS. CHAPTER VI. "8outh I•n 8s "-Separation,-Gr~~~~ lliT~r,-llnm'• :t'or.i.-..6 Suppcl·.-~nolv' Rond-~oda or Ike• Spr1-UK1t-@ICIR 'ft1h o'aC Spriugl!f. Next morning we forded the t~vcr, which was co~siderably swoHt n frY ratn, and 1nelung of the snow .. fhe wagon belonging to the Canton l\1e~~, was overturned Irl the strearn and their provisions considerably damaged. Nine miles travel over a very good road brought us to the South Pass or &um·mit of the Rocky mountnir.s. 1,his i::; about nineteen m~les in width, with a very grudual ascont. Manv pa::.s over the mountains here, without know· in ., h . d " (J' w hen they are at t h a s u m mit, but t e ' ' L w 1 n moun s,. tw~ hills- about sixty feet high, and sixty rods apart, will poinl this out. as they arc very ncar the dividing ridge.' fhe '·Pass" is about nine hundred miles west 0f St Joseph. Altitude 7 490 feet Lat. 42° 27' N. L0n. 109° 27' W. The Pacific Springs are th-t·ee n•·iles west of the '<Pass," Pacific ct·eek one mile· fu·rther. 'Fhi:s is one of the head branches of the Col.orado river, which empties into the Gulf of Californin. rr he D·ry Sandy i·s nine n1iles farther.J unction of the O·rcgon un.d Salt Lake roads, six mil(?s farther. . At this point our- company was divided, a few goiAg by Salt Luke in orclet· to get some provision~. But the majority thought they could get through With tho alnount on hnnd. lf we had taken the Ft. Bridger r·oad t<> Ft. Ha '1 we might have travelled together fo1· some distance farther, hut this is n l'OU ndubout wny, about seventy-five n1iles farther, than by "Sublette'~ cut off." The httle Sandy is five miles from the junction. Here we encamped, that is the greater part of the company.As our captain had just left (going by Salt Lake, all discipline was suspended.) and a part of the company, principally from Holmes county, 0., travelled a few m~iles farther before encamping. A day or two nfter, we elected J. Weirick, of Dalton, captain, and something like o1·der was again restored. Next morning (Sunday !\fay 19th, )wo left Little Sandy, and forded the Big Sandy five miles far .. ther. As the1·e is no water and very little grass, between this AND LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. 21 nnd Green River, distant 35 nliles, we rested until one o'clock, P. M ., in order to prepare our stock for this long drive. We likewise supplied ourselves with a considerable quantity of water. . We encamped, after travelling about 14 nliles. This part of the road is tolerably level, but somewhat sandy in pla'ees. No fuel but wild sage. Next morning at 3 i o'clock, A. M. we left the encampment and reached Green l'iver about noon. There are sevet·al very long, steep hills to ascend ond descend in this distance. As the river had not yet risen much, we we1·e able to ford it. There are two islands in it ul this ford. Width about 300 yards. 'rhis is a very dangerous stream to cross, ow .. iog to its width, depth and rapidity of cul'rent. It is J'Urely fordable during the months of June and July. Numbers are drowned annuaJiy in attcrnpting to cross it. \Ve l·ested here until next morning. In the evening we hod a cotil? ion party. Our spaaous roorn was illuminated, by lightJng two or three dozens of sperm candles, and arranging them in tho fot·m of a circle. Soo11 the violins wea·e tuned up, and the performances commenced. The evening's entertainment was concluded by singing a few songs. Unfortunately none of the ''gentler sex" was present. Sotne of those who were in the best spi t·its on that evening, have long since found graves west of the Sie!Ta Nevada. Next mot·n1ng we left the fot·d, and tt'ilvelling about six miles, struck a branch of Green rivet· coming in from the north-west. 'rhe road in this ditance is very tortuous, in one place going about a mile and a half in ordet to make nbout sixty .rods : but the peculiarities of the country ren .. dered this necessary. After striking this bt·anch. we fol .. . ]owed it ab')ut six miles, and c1·ossed it. Rather difficult on account of the swollen state of the stream. In the afternoon we h·nvelled about thirteen miles, in a direction south of west, and encamped near the foot of some high blutfs. partially covered with snow. At this place the Lamison and Peffer messes thre\\· away their wagons and "went to packing." This is a very fine. camping place--:-plenty of fir ti1nber and snow wate1\ |
