Transcript

Aug. 16 - Sunday - Reached Cris Burton at noon where the railroad ended and about 130 miles from Laramie. At this place the wagons were waiting our arrival and proceeded toward our camp on the banks of the River Platte. We had to wait there for the arrival of our luggage. We slept in our wagons this night.

Aug. 17 - Monday - Still in our camp today.

Aug. 18 - Tuesday - Part of our luggage had come along with us, and we set out to find the remainder.

Aug. 19 - Wednesday - We waited all day in camp waiting the wagons to arrive with the luggage.

Aug. 20 - Thursday - Went up to the station to get the remainder of our luggage which as yet had not arrived.

Aug. 21 - Friday - Stayed in camp all day.

Aug. 22 - Sat. Still in camp.

Aug. 23 - Sunday - Continuing our journey over the plains. Traveled about 18 to 20 miles and arrived in camp about 8 p.m. along the side of a lake into which a small creek was running. Its water is bitter. We are staying here Monday and Tuesday waiting the luggage wagons to arrive.

Aug. 26 - Wednesday - Starting very early today and we traveled about 14 miles and camped near a creek where the water was pure.

Aug. 27 - Thursday - Starting today again very early. Approaching very rough roads, which made it very hard and difficult for the cattle (oxen) to pull the wagons. We are approaching a place which is called Whiskey Gap where we shall camp. There are scores of Indian graves here. Two Indian tribes met here in battle. Here they buried their dead, and placed huge stones as markers above the graves.

Aug. 28 - Friday - Drawing near the Sweetwater River. Nearby is the spot where a wagon stopped and the driver was killed by Indians; and where a company of Saints buried him 11 days before. After plundering the provisions and all else, the Indians had left the corpse where they had slain him.

Aug. 29 - Sat. - Traveling is very difficult again and we are camping near the same river.

Aug 30 - Sunday - Traveling again difficult. We came upon a spring of very foul water, very bad to the taste. We traveled about 15 miles from where we camped yesterday. We saw some antelope for the first time.

Aug 31 - Monday - We are camping tonight on the top of a mountain. Here the springs are very good and pure.

September 1 - Tuesday - We shall arrive near the River by this evening.

Sept. 2 - Wed. - Started this morning again. Come to some against diner. Got diner there. Started from there and camped in dry place.

Sept. 3 - Thursday - Started this about half past three. Walked about 15 or 18 miles before breakfast. We came to a river about half past ten and got breakfast there. This river was called Little Sandy. An old lady 72 years of age died here and was buried this day in same place.

Sept. 4 - Friday - Camped this night on the side of a river called Sandy.

Sept 5 - Saturday - Started this morning about 7 and reached Green River against diner time. Started from there about 2 o'clock. Came about 7 miles and camped in a dry place.

Sept. 6 - Sunday - Started from this place in the morning and came to Ham's Fork against diner time and stopped there all day.

Sept. 7 - Monday - Started from this place in the morning and camped for dinner at Flan? Fork and started from there about 2 o'clock and camped on the Muddy at night.

Sept. 9 - Wednesday - Started this morning about 7 o'clock in the morning and camped about 100 miles from Salt Lake City at a place called Quaking Asp Ridge.

Sept. 10 - Thursday - Came today about 10 miles, very wet in the morning.

Sept. 11 - Fri. - Camped last night 2 or 3 miles the other side of the Needle Rocks. Came to Echo where the railroad is working under Brigham Young's contract. John and me stopped there.

Sept 12 - Sat. - Building a little hut for us to sleep in.