NEW ROUTE THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 229 



trunks and heavy baggage were left in charge of Major Bridger, 

 to be forwarded by a Mormon train from the city; Governor 

 Young having kindly engaged to see that they were safely trans- 

 ported to St. Louis. Carrying with us, therefore, only such arti- 

 cles as were absolutely indispensable, we prepared for our de- 

 parture. During our stay, daily observations were taken, the re- 

 sults of which gave for the lat. 41° 18' 12''.8 ; and long. 110° 32' 23''. 



On the 7th the mail arrived, bringing the unlooked-for intelli- 

 gence of the death of the President of the United States. 



Before leaving Salt Lake Yalley, it had been determined not to 

 return by the beaten track, but to endeavour to ascertain the prac- 

 ticability of some more direct route than that now travelled to the 

 waters of the-Atlantixj. If it should prove to be practicable to 

 carry a road across the north fork of the Platte, near the Medi- 

 cine Bow Butte, and, skirting the southern limit of the Laramie 

 Plains, to cross the Black Hills in the vicinity of the heads of 

 Lodge-pole Creek, and to descend that stream to its junction with 

 the South Fork of the Platte, nearly a straight line would thus be 

 accomplished from Fort Bridger, and the detour through the South 

 Pass and the valley of the Sweetwater, as well as all the rugged- 

 ness of the Black Hills, upon that line, be entirely avoided. The 

 country through which the proposed line would pass was repre- 

 sented as entirely practicable and as affording every probability 

 of success. ^ 



Major Bridger, although at considerable sacrifice of his own in- 

 terest, with great spirit offered his services as guide, he being well 

 acquainted with the ground over which it was my desire to pass. 

 The offer was most cheerfully accepted ; and as our route would lay 

 directly through the war-ground of several powerful Indian tribes, 

 care was had fully to equip the party with arms and ammunition 

 necessary for our defence. 



Tuesday^ September 10. — We left Fort Bridger in the afternoon, 

 and proceeding about five miles down Black's Fork, encamped in 

 a small meadow upon the right bank, with good grass for the ani- 

 mals. A merchant-train for Salt Lake passed us during the day, 

 from which I procured some sugar and coffee, of which articles we 

 were nearly destitute, the supply of Salt Lake City having been 

 exhausted long before our departure. 



Wednesday, September 11. — Ther. at sunrise, 23°. Our route 

 to-day follows the emigration road down Black's Fork, which is 

 twice crossed. In eight miles from camp we crossed Smith's Fork, 



