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Show 30 ALONG LODGE POLE CREEK. last fall, and the graves of several who had fallen by the same hands at different periods. Along this route, and indeed throughout the valleys and flat lands extending from the main Platte to the Pacific coast, there are deposits of an alkaline substance ( a salt of soda) to be found on the surface of the ground. I learn, from reliable authority, that in places on the northern route it is found to the depth of a foot ; but where we travelled it formed only a small coating over the ground where it had been dissolved by the rain, and deposited again upon the surface in a white powder, after the evaporation of the water. On the yth of June we encountered one of those terrific hail storms, so common on the plains. Early in the evening a cloud was observed just above the western hori zon. It attracted but little attention at first, as the wind was blowing directly towards it, and we supposed the storm would not reach us, but an upper current caused the cloud to approach rapidly. The eastern wind soon changed to one from the opposite direction, and between eight and nine o'clock it blew with the violence of a tornado, and with it came a few drops of rain. Immediately afterwards the hail commenced j at first only a few pieces of moderate size mixed with the rain, but in a short time the whole of the cloud seemed to have congealed, and fell in fragments as large as black walnuts, and with a velocity and force that was terrific, and in a few minutes almost covered the ground. The night was intensely dark, and during the frightful storm the flashes of lightning followed each other in quick succession, and with painful brilliancy ; and the roar of the thunder together with the noise of the hail stones striking the tent- poles, sounded like artillery in battle amidst the rattle of musketry. I felt confident that our new stout canvass tents would be perforated, and that the mules would break from their fast enings and stampede ; and feared serious personal injury to any who might be exposed ; but much to my surprise and gratification, I learned, when it was over, that no accident |