he Sweet Water three times to-day. Got in with a train
of ox wagons which hindered us so much that we turned out and camped at
3 o'clock, P.M. Found good grass at camp, but have had sandy roads and
no grass on the drive. Left our heavy wagon, for the good of other
comers, who will probably burn it. Ice made last night half an inch in
thickness.

19th. Started at half past three o'clock this morning, and passed all
the ox trains in their camp ground, the Sweet Water, four miles from
camp, from which crossing we will have 16 miles to travel without water
or grass. Saw several dead oxen along the 16 miles, which were killed
by alkali.--Crossed the Sweet Water again--passed one tent on the river
of a man and his wife, the man down with the mountain fever. Roads
sandy and grass poor. We overtook the balance of our company, who left
us last Sunday, again to-day. This is the second time they have left
us, and we have overtaken them within three days afterwards, which
shows pretty conclusively, I think, that nothing is gained by driving
Sundays.

28 miles.

20th. Got up into the region of snow to-day, and have passed several
snow banks alongside of the road in the ravines. Road better, but no
grass to speak of. We passed the 10 wagons to-day which left us on the
Platte because we would not drive on Sunday. They had had four days
start of us at Ft. Laramie. When we passed them they had 14 men down
with the mountain fever. Crossed a branch of the Sweet Water and the
Willow Creek, and camped about a mile from the latter. We passed to-day
a grave made yesterday of a man found with his throat cut. He had in
his hand when found, a jack knife, and near him was found a scanty
supply of provisions. He had committed suicide. It was evident that he
was a foot packer, and had probably become depressed by his journey and
the gloomy prospect of his not being able to get through his long
journey with his slender supply of provisions. Poor fellow; he had
become discouraged in prosecuting one long journey, and had entered
upon another longer journey, with, perhaps, less preparation than upon
the first. His name was not known.

20 miles.

21st. We lost our horses this morning, which hindered us some time, but
we succeeded in finding them again. We crossed the Sweet Water for the
last time; 10 miles from the crossing is the summit of the Rocky
mountains at the South Pass, which we reached at noon. It is known by
two conical shaped moun