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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
July 9th, 1859 -- Three miles up we crossed on a government bridge, 1½ miles more brought us to Black's Fork where the road from Pike's Peak via the Cherokee Trail comes in. Several teams came in as we passed, 9 miles further we reached the river again, and three miles more brought us to the second crossing where we now are. We passed more dead cattle today than any day yet, all of an ancient date however, we saw where several wagons had been destroyed by the Mormons. Here lie the remains of the wagons and upwards of a wagon load of heavy log-chains made out of ¾ iron. Some person for his own amusement had linked several strings of these along the road. I had the curiosity to measure three of them, each one of these made 50 good paces, and many separate piles besides, as high as haycocks. Grass thin and scattering very indifferent.Powell
Travelled 17 miles. We crossed Hams Fork on a tree bridge. Trading posts here and Indians. 1½ miles from there we cross Blacks Fork of Green River. Then we travelled 12 miles without water and crossed it again. We are camped by it to knight. There is more dead stock along here than we have seen in enny one place along the route. The most of it has died previous to this season. It appears as though a train has been destroyed here. There are strings of log chains 50 yards in length and some piles scattered around, one of which has a two horse load in. I believe the Mormons destroyed this train between the Sandies. We saw where a carell of 30 wagons were burned to save life from cold of Government property.