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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
August 23rd, 1859 -- Last night he died! The boys who joined Ben's wagon lost one of their oxen. About midnight we hitched up and travelled 12 miles before breakfast, not being able to get grassy any sooner. We are now at the outlet of the Humboldt where it runs through a long marshy flat to the right. We have been cutting a sort of coarse long-jointed grass called cane-brake in this section. The cattle were so tuckered out they wouldn't eat a bite, after resting about three hours however they pitched in and did good execution. We have been plunging and thrashing through the marsh in water crotch-deep, cutting and curing grass for the desert, "Jordan am a hard road to trabble."Powell
Travelled 10 miles. We started at 2 o'clock this morning. We travelled down the 1ake'to the outlet. There is not nigh so much water runs from it as runs into it. The outlet is a ravine. It runs a few miles and spreads out and finally all disappears. There is no feed here but canebrakes. The cattle don't like them. The grass that is here is very salty. We start on the desert to morrow. Bellows boys lost an ox last knight caused by dust. It is awful on the lower part of the river. Black tailed hare abundant along this river and some antelope. This river is only about 4 rods wide.