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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
July 31st, 1859 -- Report has it that a fracas occurred a few days ago on Sublett's Cut-off, between the members of two families which resulted in one man getting shot dead. The company being probably afraid of doing any thing with the murderer, suffered him to run at-large. Happening a few days after to visit a large train further ahead, they mentioned the circumstance to him lamenting the unfortunate issue of the affair -- "Yes," said he, "I am the man that killed him and I shall shoot two or three more of them too, before I get through." They immediately nabbed him, waited till the other train came up, formed Court, empaneled a jury of twelve men, examined witnesses, argued the case from dark till daylight, found him guilty and sentenced him to death. A scaffold was made by elevating two wagon tongues, on which he was hung like a dog. I suppose from all I can hear he had as fair a trial as ever a man had, and the proceedings throughout were orderly in the extreme, stern necessity in such cases, on such a trip requires just such action, all the legal fraternity to the contrary notwithstanding. A large train of horses that have been travelling sometimes before, and sometimes behind us ever since we were on the Platte had a regular stampede last night but they have found nearly all of them today. The Indians are as thick as hops, crouching and squatting behind every rock and peak, laying in wait and watching a chance to commit some mischief. How I would like to pepper the d----d "yaller skins." I feel just like it after hearing of their cruelties. We only travelled 10 miles, got to the point where we leave Goose Creek, camped, and have had quite a rain.Powell
Travelled 9 miles and camped. There are a great many camped along here. Some Indians of the Banack nation and some other mixed tribes.