Transcript

Transcript for Murdock, John Riggs, [Reminiscences], in Joseph M. Tanner, A Biographical Sketch of John Riggs Murdock [1909], 150-51

"The south fork of the Platte was high, and we had a dreadful time in crossing it. We reached the Missouri river, about six miles above Nebraska City. On reaching that city we made our purchases and loaded up with freight and emigrants. We remained at Nebraska City about ten days and then commenced our journey for Salt Lake City. The first night out, our horses stampede and scattered all over the country. It took us four days to find them and get them together again. After that we were frequently threatened with a repetition of a similar experience. We consequently had to keep men mounted all the time to prevent another stampede.

"One who had never seen animals stampede can scarcely understand the nature of it, nor how impossible it is to stop a stampede when once it begins. The horses and mules would all be scattered over quite an area of ground quietly feeding and at any little noise they would all jump together and away they would go like a flash. We continued our journey, and at the south fork of the Platte we were overtaken by two families. One was that of Judge Gilchrist. They had made forced marches to reach us and to gravel in our company to Utah. On our way home I was met at the mouth of Echo canyon by my devoted wife Almira. Upon reaching Salt Lake City and unloading my train, I returned with her to Lehi."