Transcript

One hundred miles from Cuba brought us to Nauvoo on Saturday, and we rested the Sabbath. I strolled the streets of the city. Many of the houses were vacant. Those that were inhabited were occupied by a people whose language was strange to me. I was told that the builders of the city were a lawless set who for their crimes had been driven out and beautiful and substantial homes had become a prey almost without price to a company of French Icarians who purchased from the mob at low prices the homes of the exiled Mormons. Here we crossed the Mississippi River and followed westward on the roads made three years previously by the fleeing fugitives from Nauvoo. We crossed the Missouri river at Omaha and rested a few days until we were joined by other gold seekers, and we numbered 75 men and 30 wagons. William Maxwell was accepted by all as captain.

The journey to Salt Lake Valley was a prosperous one. The most lively incidents were the days when for sport we hunted buffaloes, thousands of them were shot down for the mere fun of the thing. No one seemed to consider that they were the property of the Red Men, and that they by generations of inheritance claimed them as we claim our marked and branded cattle. Sad indeed was it for the Sioux nation when the withe man made a thoroughfore through their well stocked hunting grounds.

On the 24th of July we entered the Salt Lake Valley, emerging from Emigration canyon. We were all on tip toe anxious to see what kind of civilization the Mormons would exhibit to us.