Index
Nebr. Map
Wyo. Map
Utah Map
Cal-Nev Map
Trail Links
Home
Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
May 21st, 1859 -- I went out early this morning to look after the cattle, and accidentally met one Westley, who lives north of Marengo, he and three others went to the peak early in March, footing it all the way and packing provisions, he was 11 days in the mines, try'd it faithfully all the time, could not make anything, and saw none who did, so he left for home. We gave him breakfast and filled his kit with provisions. And while I was gone hunting, the other boys met Tom Carter from Toledo, who told the same story, some of the boys saw several antelopes but didn't get near enough to shoot. We pulled up pretty early this evening in order to do up a good bill of washing that has been accumulating ever since we left home. And we all realized in part, what the women have to endure in order to make a home comfortable and tidy. We rubbed and scrubbed till the skin came off both hands and shirts. It would have been an interesting sight for a painter to see all hands up to their elbows in soap suds and their awkward attempts at washing. I don't think any of us will ever forget our first acquaintances with the wash tub. We are now nearly 60 miles from Fort Kearney.Powell
Travelled about fifteen miles. Some of the boys hunting to day but got nothing. They saw twenty antelope, they could not get close enough to shoot. The country back from the bottom is very level.