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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
May 10th, 1859 -- After last night's relaxation most of the boys felt a little squeamish, some even went so far as to evacuate their stomachs. We struck tents about nine o'clock, and travelled up the Platte some 16 miles over the best farming land that can be found in any country. There is one great drawback however, the scarcity of timber, there is a little skirting the Platte in the distance, and a trifling amount along some of the creeks we have crossed, and that is all. Today we have met some teams coming back whose hearts have failed them. They bring all kinds of reports, such as land- robbers, robbing the provisions, wagons, men being killed ahead of us, and everything else tended to dishearten the timid, but we think we are made of sterner stuff, and are determined to see the Peak, gold or no gold. Harper has amused us all today, stopping every man he met and asking if he had got any reliable news. We heard today from Mr. Miner, who left Marengo some three weeks ahead of us. We passed the place where his son-in-law lives, the old man started on again for the mines some ten days ago, and several teams start from the same neighborhood tomorrow.Powell
Travelled about fifteen miles. We are encamped by a fine creek to knight. We crossed Turkey Creek to day and one or two other streams.