History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

22 ADVENT OF TRAPPERS AND TRAVELLERS.
From Great Salt Lake in August, 1826, Jedediah
S. Smith sets out on a trapping and exploring tour
with, fifteen men. Proceeding southward he traverses
Utah Lake, called for a time Ashley Lake, 4 and
after ascending Ashley River, which, as he remarks,
flows into the lake through the country of the Sampatches,
he bends his course to the west of south, passes
over some mountains running south-east and northwest,
and crosses a river which he calls Adams, 5 in
lar cliffs, which hemmed ns in on either side, was equally impossible. Our
onty alternative was to go ahead. After passing six days without food, the
men were weak and disheartened. I listened to all their murmurings and
heart-rending complaints. They often spoke of home and friends, declaring
they would never see them more. Some spoke of wives and children whom
they dearly loved, and who must shortly become widows and orphans. They
had toiled, they said, through every difficulty; had risked their lives among
wild beasts and hostile Indians in the wilderness, all of which they were willing
to undergo; but who could bear up against actual starvation? I encouraged
them all in my power, telling them that I bore an equal part in their
sufferings; that I too was toiling for those I loved, and whom I yet hoped to
see again; that we should all endeavor to keep up our courage, and not add
to our misfortunes by giving way to despondency. Another night was passed
amid the barren rocks. The next morning the fearful proposition was made
by some of the party for the company to cast lots, to see which should bo
sacrificed to afford food for the others, without which they must inevitably
perish. My feelings at such a proposition cannot be described. I begged
of them to wait one day more, and make all the way they could meanwhile.
By doing so, I said, we must come to a break in the canon, where we could
escape. They consented, and moving down the river as fast as the current
would carry us, to our inexpressible joy we found a break, and a camp of
trappers therein. All now rejoiced that they had not carried their fearful
proposition into effect. We had fallen into good hands, and slowly recruited
ourselves with the party, which was under the charge of one Provo, a man
with whom I was well acquainted. By his advice we left the river and proceeded
in a north-westerly direction. Provo was well provided with provisions
and horses, and he supplied us with both. We remained with his
party until we arrived at the Great Salt Lake. Here I fell in with a large
company of trappers, composed of Canadians and Iroquois Indians, under the
command of Peter Ogden, in the service of the Northwest Fur Company.
With this party I made a very good bargain, as you will see when they arrive
at our camp, having purchased all their peltry on very reasonable terms.'
4 Jedediah Smith in 1826 calls the lake Utah, and the stream flowing into
it from the south Ashley River. ' Je traversal le petit lac Uta, et je remontai
le coors de lAshley qu'il recoit.' Extrait d'une lettre, in Nouvelles An. des
Voy., xxxvii. 208. For an account of this journey see Hist. Gal., this series,
where are fully discussed the several conflicting authorities. Warner's Pern.,
MS., 21-9, dates the journey 1824, and carries the company from Green
River, south of Salt Lake, and over the mountains near Walker Pass.
Accounts in Cronies Nat. Wealth Cal.; Hutchings' Mag., v. 351-2; S. F.
Times, June 14, 18G7; Randolph's Oration, ZW-U;' Tuthili's Hist. Cal, 124-5;
Frigvet, La Califomie, 58-60; Douglas' Private Papers, MS., 2d ser. i.;
Victor's River of the West, 34; Hines' Voy., 110, are mentioned.
5 The Sevier; or possibly he crossed from the Sevier to the Virgen and
supposed them to be one stream.