52 ELDORADO 



and scarcely any vegetation. It has an elevation of 

 7,000 feet above the sea. After arriving at the summit 

 about five miles travel brought us to Pacific Springs, 

 the first waters reached on the western slope, where we 

 camped for the night, with scant feed for our stock, 

 but full of patriotic zeal for the morrow's celebration 



We were early awakened by one of our party firing 

 his revolver and he was soon followed by others. Then 

 came three cheers for the flag, three short speeches 

 and the singing of "America" and "From Greenland's 

 Icy Mountain," after which we partook of our usual 

 morning repast, alreadv provided by our faithful and 

 experienced cook. 



A large number of trains were camped in the vicinitx' 

 of Pacific Springs, principally from Arkansas and Mis- 

 souri, and long lines of "prairie schooners" could be 

 seen drawn mainly by oxen and mules. Often three or 

 four ]3air were attached to one wagon, for the animals 

 were worn down with hunger and fatigue. It was a 

 case of the "survival of the fittest." 



A few were taking the old Oregon trail by way of 

 Fort Hall, but a larger number were going bv wav of 

 "Sublett's Cut-ofif" to Salt Lake and California. This 

 was said to be a saving of distance over the older Mor- 

 mon route, besides otTering interesting features that 

 had an attraction for a certain class of travelers. These 

 were such natural curiosities as the Steamboat and 

 Soda Springs, the former constantlv i)ufiing like a Mis- 

 sissippi steamer, and the latter bubbling and sparkling 

 as it issued from a crevice in a rock, with the appear- 

 ance and taste of soda. 



The Sublett's Cut-off route crosses Rear river 

 (which empties into the Great Salt Lake) nearer its 



