DECEMBER 1995 NEWSLETTER
Henry Mower Jr. Trip across the plains in 1849 by wagon train... continued...
July 29--- Sunday. The camps met together for meeting and received much instruction from Bros. Smith and Benson. In the afternoon a discourse was delivered by Judge Wm. I. Appleby on the signs of the times.
July 30--- Morning clear and cool. Having left the road at this crossing, we had to travel a route without a road for 12 miles. I accordingly sent Lieutenant Merrill ahead on my horse to look out the way. The camp followed at 8 o'clock. In the evening we had to turn off our course about 1 mile to get water, having traveled about 10 miles, not reaching the road.
July 31--- Morning fair and very cool. Started at 7 o'clock. Reached the main road in about 3 miles. He we struck sand hills and we met the other companies, which had struck the road a little farther back. They traveled on the right hand track, we on the left. Made 18 miles to Prairie Creek today. The forepart of the day over heavy sandy roads, in the evening over broad, wet flats.
August 1--- Started a little after 7 o'clock. Crossed the creek which was very soft and muddy. Traveled 12 miles to Wood River.
August 2--- Morning fair. Pres. G. A. Smith came to our camp, in consequence of some dissatisfaction that existed in the camp towards Pres. Clawson. After talking the matter over, Pres. Clawson resigned the Presidency of the company. Pres. Smith proposed that the first 10 of our company, of which Moses Clawson was captain should travel in his company, leaving the company of fifty without a President or Captain, as both belonged to the first 10. The company expressed a wish to retain their captain. Pres. Smith then asked the company if they were willing to have Captain Richards for "Captain, King and Ruler". And they submit to and do what he said, and they voted unanimously that they were willing. Then it was determined that all the first 10 that wished to might remain with me, and I should lead the whole company except Bro. Clawson. Pres. Smith told him to fall in the rear of his (Pres. Smith's Company, and remain there). We proceeded on our journey. We traveled 16 miles and camped on the prairie, about 1 mile from the Platte. Timber. A heavy thunder shower tonight with hard wind.
August 3--- Morning rainy. Started at 8 o'clock. Fair through out the day. Roads very bad for 8 miles. Then we came to dry ground. Also, we came to the grave of Capt. S.H. Gully who died of cholera, July 5, 1849. He was well known to most of our camp and coming to his grave by the wayside before we had heard of his death caused a general halt and we gazed with emotion on the spot of ground that contained his body. This evening we camped on the prairie having brought a little wood with us. 15 miles today.
August 4--- A heavy thunder shower began about 6 o'clock with hail and hard wind. After the storm cleared, we started a little after 8 o'clock. Weather fair by 10 and the roads good. Traveled about 15 miles and encamped a little above the head of Grand Island. More rain and wind tonight.
August 5--- Sunday. Our situation not being good for remaining in camp over Sunday, there being no wood, we traveled about 8 miles to Elm Creek and stopped at 12 o'clock, called a meeting of the camp in the evening, gave some instructions relative to cattle, which we thought safest to tie up at night. The Cleveland Ohio Company, Captain A. W. Rathbun, with 13 other men on the way to California gold mines, requested permission to join our camp for safety. They travel with horses and carts.
August 6--- Morning cloudy and appearance of rain. Became partly clear about 8 o'clock. Lay in camp till noon, for the purpose of baking and making other preparations for traveling. Our camp was in motion at 1 o'clock. We traveled 7 miles, camped on the prairie, plenty of water for teams. We dug well and got good water for camp use.
August 7--- Morning clear. Traveled 11 miles by 11 o'clock and stopped for noon on the bank of the Platte River. A little timber on the Island near, road good today. Went 6 1/2 miles. Camped on the bank of the river opposite to a long island, overed with willows. Thunder and lightening tonight.
August 8--- Morning fair, wind N.W., day comfortable. Stopped for noon at Willow Lake, camped in the evening, having traveled 15 miles. No timber for 2 days. Buffalo sign.
August 9--- Morning fair, day fair. Stopped at 4 o'clock, camped at a large marsh, in the prairie, having made 12 1/2 miles.
August 10--- Morning cloudy and cool. Traveled over sandy bluffs. Heavy drawing. We drove into corral at 6 o'clock in a violent storm of rain and wind. We were thoroughly drenched with rain, and took every precaution to secure our horses and cattle. The rain continued violently till 12 o'clock. We anxiously waited the appearance of daylight, finding our animals safe though man of them were standing deep in water. Also many wagons.
August 11--- Morning clear and beautiful. We remained in camp till 3 o'clock, to dry our loading and rest our teams. During this time our hunters succeeded in capturing 3 buffalo bulls, the first we had taken. Traveled 5 miles in the evening and camped on the prairie.
August 12--- Morning cloudy with a little rain, and cool, north wind. Started at one-half past 10 o'clock. Traveled 11 1/2 miles and stopped a little before 5 near the river and some small timber. Several buffalo killed today.
August 13--- Morning clear and cool N.W. wind. Lay in camp till noon, resting and cooking. Then traveled to Black Mud Creek, passed over 1/2 mile and camped at 5 o'clock. This afternoon a wagon ran over a girl of Mr. Green's, hurting her considerably.
August 14--- Morning cloudy and cool. A dragoon came into camp 3 days from Fort Laramie, 1 day from Capt. Taylor's company. Reported the roads very bad for 60 miles. He said he was going on express to Fort Childs. Day cool, road good. Traveled 15 miles. Camped at the west foot of sand bluffs, a good place for grass. Passed a number of large herds of buffalos on each side of the river. We were scarcely out of sight of them during the day. Cloudy and cool at sundown.
August 15--- This morning was cloudy with fog and mist of rain. We traveled to Bluff Creek 5 1/2 miles, encamped and procured some buffalo meat. We arrived at the creek about noon. Soon some of our hunters came in, having killed 3 buffalo, (2 cows and 1 calf) immediately we sent a wagon to bring the meat in.
August 16--- Morning still and foggy, very warm. Traveled 6 miles to east foot third sand bluffs, stopped for noon. In the afternoon went over the bluffs (2 1/2 miles) to the river bottom. By 3 o'clock our teams being very hot and weary we drove them into the river to rest and cool. There being no feed here, we were obliged to go a mile farther where we found good grass at Petit Creek, 9 1/2 miles. August 17--- Morning clear and warm. Only traveled 4 1/2 miles to Duck Weed Creek today in consequence of heat.
August 18--- Morning, some clouds and quite warm. about 8 o'clock a cool breeze blew up from the north and we traveled on. Day pleasant, roads good. Made 13 miles by 4 o'clock, and camped on the river bank in a pleasant place.
August 19--- Sunday morning cool, fair and beautiful. Lay in camp today. Held meeting, had a very able interesting discourse by Elder Samuel W. Richards. Night cool.
August 20--- Morning fair wind west. Started about 7 o'clock. At 11 met A. W. Babbitt from Salt Lake with the U.S. mail to Kane, Iowa. Stopped with him 2 hours for the purpose of hearing the news from Salt Lake Valley, and writing to Kanesville. Bro. Rob't. L. Campbell was in company with the mail. He read to the company a numbers of letters and interesting documents, which were interesting and gratifying to the Company. We were pleased to hear of the happenings and prosperity of the brethren in the west. We bade adieu to our passing brethren and passed over a sand bluff which was very hardon our teams, many having to double team. After traveling 10 1/2 miles we camped.
August 21--- Morning foggy, grass good. Made 15 miles and encamped two miles west of Castle Creek.
August 22--- Morning foggy, day very warm. Traveled 6 miles to the grave of Sister Hawke who was killed by a stampede of the teams of a company in advance of us. Camped on the bank of the Platte, only 9 miles today. Good feed.
August 23--- Morning fair, air west, day very warm. Traveled 9 miles. Camped on the banks of the Platte. Feed good. Thunderstorm.
August 24--- Morning cloudy, air south. Stay in camp till 1 o'clock for the purpose of washing and baking. Afternoon very warm till 4 o'clock when the wind suddenly blew up from the north and it was cool and pleasant. Traveled 7 miles and again camped on the river bank. There was good grass, the first since leaving our last camp.
August 25--- Morning fair and cool. Passed over cobble hills and by ancient bluff ruins and country being dry and sterile, no good grass. Encamped on the bank of the river about 5 o'clock in the midst of a thunder shower, having traveled 10 miles.
August 26--- Sunday morning fair and very cool, hard west wind. Did not travel today. Here Messrs, Thompson, Poor, Harvey and Hutchens left our camp and traveled on without our council or permission. They were not willing to comply with our camp rules or tie up their oxen at night. They were obstinate and profane, and left on their own responsibility. We have a meeting in the afternoon. Bro. R. L. Campbell (the express for the valley) came up this evening and stayed over night. REPORT FROM TRUDY SCHENK NEXT MONTH: Merry Xmas!!