| Notes |
- CONTINUEATION OF THE DIARY OF CORNELIOUS PRATHER'S TRIP
FROM IOWA TO CALIFORNIA:
June 10 We are corralled for the night opposite Chimney Rock
and in sight of Court House Rock which was nearly
opposite where we stayed last night and we are in
sight of Scott's Bluff which is 29 miles ahead. Wide
valley on this side but very wet.
Platte very high, wood very scarce, all we have is what
we can gather of drift along the river. Very scanty
supply. We traveled today .. 23 Miles
We had a stirring little scene in camp today at noon.
Hamilton cained his daughter. A little after talking
her about disobedience and she saucing him and she
started for the river as though she was going to throw
herself in -- one Mr. Skeen went and stopped her and
she got in with another wagon.
June 11 We had some very good road and in the evening we had a
small thunder shower. Traveled. 25 Miles
June 12 We passed a camp of Sous (Sioux) today, they were
very friendly. We are now in camp near a French trading
post - the French have Indian Squaws for wives, we had
some mud today on account of rain yesterday. It threatens
rain today. We lay up 1/2 day -- traveled. 15 Miles
June 13 Bad roads on account of heavy rains -- traveled. 16 Miles
June 14 Weather cool, three hail storms today -- no damage
done. All well but me and I am not sick but have
rheumatism. We are this evening opposite Ft. Larimy.
June 15 We left Larimy this morning and in a shourt distance we
entered into the Black Hills. rough road traveled about 12 Miles
June 16 Very rough road stopped before noon there being plenty
of grass -- grass has been very scares for some time,
we traveled about... 8 Miles
June 17 Good mountain road today.. Traveled. 17 Miles
June 18 Good road grass scarce, fine day. -- met 53 Salt Lake
teams camped with or near 40 more Salt Lake teams -
Traveled. 25 Miles
June 19 We traveled on good road till noon and the most of
the train said they were going to lay over until the
next day and I did not think it best to make such long
drives and then stop so often and three wagons of us
drove out and this day we traveled 20 Miles
June 20 We joined a small train of five wagons today noon,
Hamilton and Jones we had very heavy hail storm this
evening and half past 4 o'clock we traveled about
12 miles, grass is short. 13 Miles
June 21 We had some very heavy road today, passed some trading
stations, grass short we can see snow on the mountains
that is south of the river, we traveled about .. 15 Miles
June 22 Heavy fog this morning. We have 18 men in our train.
6 families, 6 women and 10 children. We traveled
through some Alkali swamps today and some very heavy sand
-- we crossed the Platte on the lower bridge and camped
on the south side - toll with a ticket of free passage for
the upper bridge was .50 cts. for a wagon and a team.
We traveled about .. 18 Miles
June 23 We drove 4 miles and went into camp - grass very good
- snow on site, road good. 4 Miles
June 24 After staying two nights on the south side of Platte we
crossed back to the north side on a good bridge. River
high, road rough for 10 miles and then fine and good for
15 miles being sport of park. We passed some very strong
Alkali water. 26 Miles
June 25 We had no grass for our cattle last night and we hooked
on soon after daylight and about 5 miles to good water
and grass -- got breakfast - after breakfast we started
on, it being nearly 10 o'clock. We had a very good road
the day though. We passed some very strong Alkali water
today, we are camped on sweet water this evening, grass
short. 23 Miles
June 26 4 miles and we cross sweet water on a toll bridge at a
stage station at which place there was 100 soldiers in
camp quartered -- toll $1.00 per team and wagon -- we
pass Independent Rock, next the Devil's Gate go into camp
at noon for day. Grass and water good, we traveled. 11 Miles
June 27 There was a kind of grass or weed where we camped last
night that made our cattle sick. The most of them got
better so we hooked up and traveled on to find better
grass -- Late in evening we stop and take our cattle far
from the road to get grass -- find it good.. 20 Miles
June 28 Traveled afternoon, cattle a ;; right.. go 9 miles camped
early, take cattle off road for grass, find it good.. 9 Miles
June 29 Heavy sand for five miles - just as we got through two
men came with news that the indians had stampeded 140
ponies of some Californians- the emigrants soon got into
a large train - the indians soon left - got away with
ponies but left a few of the indian ponies -- we traveled
all day. Very cool, no grass, 95 wagons in camp. 26 Miles
June 30 Got breakfast early and started on to find grass passed
where tow men got killed, on the 28th by Indians, the
savages go away without any injury. We are near the south
pass. Traveled. 13 Miles
July 1 We had a stampeed last night at midnight with our cattle
they were in a correll they run aginst some wagons and
broke two wheels and tore a tent down with 8 or 10 persons
in it, no one hurt -- we come on to pretty good feed today,
road good -- traveled.. 9 Miles
July 2 We started out with 28 wagons, and one buggy all for
California. We had the finest kind of road for shod
animals but rather gritty for barefoot teams -- we
passed a stage coach that had been stripped of its cover by
Indians. We passed the last sweet waters this evening.
We are in camp a short distance north of twin mounds.
We get our water from a snow bank, the weather is very
cool. We traveled ... 20 Miles
July 3 We started on this morning passed the sumit and stopped
at Pacific spring at noon, passed three companies of the
Ohio sixth in camp three miles from the springs - some
little sickness in camp. We traveled about .. 7 Miles
July 4 No travel. Some drunk men in camp. -- very cold.
July 5 We start out and drive 25 miles without any grass to
Little Sandy. Grass scarce -- Evaline sick (wife of
Cornelius) water high. 25 Miles
July 6 Traveled to Big Sandy, it was very high, run into our
wagons, crossed over.. 10 Miles
July 7 We have elected a captain for our train last evening
-- grass better that is good, Evaline is better.
Several in train sick (diarheoa) we traveled today.. 17 Miles
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