12 LIFE SKETCHES OF A JAYHAWKER 



party proceed on the cart of two wheels. 



We were very much over-loaded and in consequence the cattle could 

 not stand the strain, and grew weaker day by day. So hundreds of pounds 

 of the finest bacon, beans, flour and sugar were left on the wayside. The 

 bacon was piled like cordwood, and some of the men poured turpentine on 

 the provisions and set fire to them, so the Indians couldn't eat them. Some 

 men seem to be born mean, but to me such meanness was despicable. 



Coming to the second crossing of the Platte River we found a small 

 ferry that could accomodate but one empty wagon at a time. The ferry was 

 owned by every train that came along, that is a train would buy the ferry, 

 do their crossing and then sell it to the next train that was in waiting. 



We reached the river Sweet Water, a small but swift stream a distance 

 from the Platte. We forded without any trouble, and found the noted land- 

 mark. Independence Rock, covering an acre of ground and two hundred 

 feet high. It was discovered, I believe, on the Fourth of July, and so received 

 its name. A little further on we came to the Devils Gate, a narrow cut or 

 gorge through the mountains like a crevice. It was reported that no one 

 had ever passed through its passage. Many had started, but had to turn 

 back. So it was a great incentive for us to try. A party of us started, but 

 there was only two to complete the trip, one other fellow, who nearly lost 

 his life, and myself. 



We crossed and recrossed several times, and at one crossing he was 

 swept down stream by the current, and under a shelving rock. He held to 

 the rock with his hands, his body swept under the rock by the current. I 

 had crossed the stream safely a little further up, and so was able to come 

 to his rescue. In some places we had to climb almost perpendicular walls, 

 almost a hundred feet in height, then walk along a narrow ledge where a 

 mountain goat would hardly venture. 



I have heard of foolhardy escapades, and have often wondered how we 

 ever managed to come through with our lives, but luck must have been 

 wiht us, for it makes me shudder even now to think of the danger we were 

 constantly in. 



Passing up the Sweet Water for quite a distance, then turning to our 

 right we travelled up a long gentle grade for almost twenty miles, where we 

 came to the South Pass of the Rocky Mountains. There we camped on a 

 large flat, finding many springs, the water from these springs taking their 

 course to either side, some to the Atlantic and some to the Pacific Ocean. 

 We had heavy frosts, and some ice and this was in the latter part of July. 



Travelling on we came to the Little and Big Sandy Rivers, where the 

 roads forked, one leading to Ft. Hall, and the other to Salt Lake. Here a 

 discussion arose as to the proper course to take. We argued the advantages 

 and disadvantages, and the result was a natural one, a disagreement. We 

 parted company, each man choosing his company to travel in, so all were 

 entirely satisfied. 



Our next stream of any size was Green River, where we ferried again. 

 The Mormons owned the ferry and charged five dollars a wagon; this was 

 a regualr gold mine for them, for the travel was heavy. We had to swim 

 the cattle as before, but happily lost none. For many days we pursued our 

 way; nothing transpiring of note beyond the usual occurrences found on the 

 plains. We reached Emigrant Canyon shortly, a canyon that required six 



