60 



lEOM FORT LARAMIE TO FORT BRIDGER. 



the tube in two. The rates of the two chronometers, which were 

 in the same wagons, were, however, unchanged. The large spring- 

 wagon, containing all the instruments, came near meeting with a 

 fatal accident to-day, by the breaking of a breast-chain while de- 

 scending a steep hill, at the foot of which was a very precipitous 

 ravine, and it was only saved from destruction by the promptitude 

 and presence of mind of one of the men. 



The hills over which we passed to-day were composed of coarse 

 sandstone and conglomerate, with a slight dip to the south. From 

 the summit of some hills to the left of the road, a view was ob- 

 tained of the ridge we had passed over yesterday. It terminated 

 in some low hills. To the W. S. W. of this ridge, and parallel to 

 it, about twelve or fifteen miles distant, was another higher ridge, 

 of which Laramie Peak appeared to be the most easterly elevation. 

 Toward the west was yet another, running north-west, the soil at the 

 base of which was formed from the decomposition of the red sand- 

 stone and shales. On the ridge itself were found white and red 

 sandstone, very hard, and foetid dark limestone, the same as that ob- 

 served at the quarry near Fort Laramie. The dip was here fully 60° 

 to north-east. Some fossils, Terehratula and Productus,weYe collect- 

 ed here, principally from the limestone. The strata in the valley ap- 

 peared to consist of sandstone and shales, and were not conform- 

 able with the rocks forming the ridge. These rocks, nevertheless, 

 were found cropping out in some places. On descending into the 

 valley of the Platte, we passed a section of some gray sandstone, 

 with, perhaps, some dark shales, probably carboniferous. 



Wednesday^ July 25. — Morning bright and cool. Brisk wind 

 from north-west. A distance of five miles up the Platte, over a sandy 

 soil, brought us to Deer Creek, a bright, clear stream, running 

 pleasantly through a large grove of timber, principally cotton- 

 wood. Judging from appearances, this spot has been a favourite 

 camp-ground for the emigrants. Property of every description 

 was strewn about in all directions, and in much greater quanti- 

 ties than we had yet seen. Just above the mouth of this stream, 

 there was a ferry over the Norh Fork of the Platte, at which I 

 determined to cross the train. The means employed for this pur- 

 pose were of the rudest and simplest kind. The ferry-boat was 

 constructed of seven canoes, dug out from cotton-wood logs, fas- 

 tened side by side with poles, a couple of hewn logs being secured 

 across their tops, upon which the wheels of the wagons rested. 

 This rude raft was drawn back and forth by means of a rope 



