er property. Wagons, harness, stoves,
and all kinds of property we find strewn along the road now. We had a
tremendous hail storm this afternoon. The hail fell two inches deep,
some of the pieces of which were an inch in diameter. Many who were
exposed had their lips and cheeks cut through by the hail. The storm
beat our tents down, and we had to crawl under the wagons for shelter
from its fury. We got up our tents again after the storm passed over,
but had to sleep in three inches depth of mud through the night.

20 miles.

10th. We were camped last night opposite Laramie's Peak, distant about
10 miles. We first saw the Peak at a distance of 70 miles. It is always
covered with snow, which makes it a prominent object. We reached La
Pointe Creek about noon. Have had a hilly road to-day and poor grass.

26 miles.

11th. Camped last night at the Red Stone Quarries. Here we found the
most beautiful, pure specimens of white free stone. It was soft and
could be cut readily with a knife. The real free stone is equally soft
when it first comes out of the quarry. We have had muddy roads to-day,
and a very barren country to travel through, with but little grass.
Passed Pearl Creek, where we had another severe hail storm. Saw a fine
horse that had been left behind to-day. His feet had become injured for
want of shoes.

22 miles.

12th. We saw a good vein of coal to-day, about ten inches thick. It was
on the bank of the Platte river, where the water had washed the bank
away. I examined it, and found it of good quality. A camp near us lost
twenty-six horses and one mule last night, by a stampede. We have heard
to-day that they have found sixteen of the horses, and mule. Country
barren, and grass poor. Passed the Deer Creek to-day, which is a
beautiful stream, with cotton wood trees growing on its banks. Fuller
and Ingalls caught a mess of small fish out of it.

22 miles.

13th. Reached the Upper Platte ferry about noon. We found four boats,
two belonging to the Mormons, and two to a St. Louis company. The
charge for crossing is four dollars per wagon, and 50 cents for a horse
or mule. The celebrated Kit Carson is here with a drove of horses and
mules for sale. I did not see him, he being out on the hills with
stock.--The country is very barren here, the Black Hills reaching down
within a few miles of the river, and covered with snow. Crossed the
river and camped on a barren hill-side without grass, which was the
b