ELDORADO 27 



CHAPTER II. 



ON THE PLATTE. 



The main Platte river below Laramie is formed by 

 the two principal branches, the North and South 

 Forks, the Sweetwater, and some smaller streams that 

 issue from the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. 

 In the spring and early summer a large volume of 

 water finds its way to the Missouri from the melting 

 of snow upon the high range, and from the heavy 

 rains that fall at that season of the year. Some of the 

 severest thunder storms that I have ever witnessed 

 were encountered as we approached the higher alti- 

 tudes. Whenever these occurred our train was halted 

 and every man sought shelter in our covered wagons 

 from the driving rain, which was often accompanied 

 with hail. The blinding flashes of lightning and near 

 peals of thunder were at times most appalling. 



To favor our animals as much as possible, no man 

 was permitted to ride unless he was sick. The average 

 distance traveled each day was about fifteen miles, ex- 

 cept where wide stretches of desert or alkali plains 

 were met with. Then a longer distance was traveled 

 to reach grass and water, in some cases thirty or forty 

 miles, and in one instance ninety miles. 



The Platte water was unfit for use unless strained 



