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Journal of Western Travel
by John McTurk Gibson
edited by Weldon Hoppe
May 28th, 1859 -- Travelled over what I denominate the Buffalo Flat, intersected every two or three rods with deep trails, and covered with wallow-holes, where the animals are in the habit of wallowing in the mud to prevent the flies, gnats and mosquitoes from annoying them. The whole flat is impregnated with alkali and resembles a boneyard, here lie the bones of many an unwary ox who had drunk too freely of the poisonous water. There too the remains of the wounded and worn out buffalo, with here and there a pile of bones that look as if the Indians had killed them by the dozen, and had there fleshed them. We had the good fortune to kill a hare, and a fine wild drake. Some of the boys are now out after the antelopes and have not yet returned. We are said to be 42 miles above Kearney encamped on Plum Creek as dry as a chip, but having a deep and wide channel.Powell
Travelled eighteen miles. We are camped thirty five miles above Kearny. We crossed Plumb Creek this afternoon. it is quite small with little or no timber. I was hunting, I saw antelope for the first time.