Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/172

 country, but imparted rather startling news to us with regard to Indian troubles. Fifteen miles from here, on our road, at Marshy Springs, where they had stayed the night before, two guards had been shot while on duty. This struck a panic in our company. But the company was large and well armed. Along here, several trains were traveling together; at this place there were fifty wagons in camp together. We remained here the balance of this day, having learned that we would find no more water for fifteen miles. At this point, the California route turns off and follows up the stream.

July 22.—This morning we set out for Marshy Springs. Our road leads over a dry, sandy, stony, dusty sage plain; the day is very hot, making it one of our worst days of travel, but here we find good water and plenty of good grass. Our company has increased to 61 wagons in all. There have been three men shot by the Indians at this place, within the last three nights, only one of whom is likely to recover.

July 23.—All quiet this morning. A lot of our cattle took a scare last night and started to run but were soon overhauled and brought back. This day we traveled down the Marshy Spring branch and crossed. Here we nooned, found wood, water and grass for all. Five miles farther this afternoon brought us to Goose creek, a deep, narrow stream lined along the banks with willows and plenty of grass. Here we encamped. The river valley here is from twelve to fifteen miles wide. The country, except along the creeks, is a dry, ashy sage plain, destitute of timber. The road is filled with dust that fills the wagon tracks like water.

July 24.—This day we traveled nineteen miles; seven miles through a deep, dusty sage plain, brought us to where the road strikes the river. Here we halted for a short time and watered our teams. We here left the river and traveled for about five miles over the roughest, strongest road on the whole route; then seven miles through deep dust, brought us to Pool creek, where the