116 
DELAWARE CREEK 
the effects of the cold. Several gave out entirely, 
hung their heads, and sank to the ground, or refused 
to move further. These were necessarily removed 
from the teams, so that several of the wagons were 
reduced to two feeble mules. As my carriage mules 
were in better condition, I had got some distance in 
advance, when word was brought me that the animals 
were giving out so fast that it would • be necessary for 
us to encamp at the first place where good grass and 
water could be found. A few miles further brought 
us again to Delaware Creek, where, finding good grass 
as well as fuel, we stopped and encamped. Dr. Webb 
and myself walked the entire distance to-day. An 
examination of the mules soon showed that in their 
present condition our progress must be very slow, not 
exceeding twelve or fifteen miles a day ; and that it 
would be absolutely necessary to give them a couple 
of days’ rest where there was good grazing. This 
delay would destroy all my plans of reaching my place 
of destination within the period required, and exhaust 
our provisions before the supply sent for could arrive. 
I determined, therefore, as my carriage mules were in 
good order, to push on myself. With this view I made 
up a party consisting of Dr. Webb, Messrs. Murphy, 
Cremony, Matthews, Young, and Thompson ; these, 
with my carriage driver and another, made eight 
persons, a party I believed sufficiently strong to go 
through in safety. We selected good animals, and 
made such preparations as were necessary during the 
afternoon and evening, to insure an early start in the 
morning. A sack of our remaining corn was lashed to 
the axle-tree of my carriage for the mules. Some salt 
