History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

NARRATIVES OF BIDWELL AND BELDEN. 31
the river, turned aside by the hills. It was past
mid-summer, and the sun's rays beat heavily on the
white salted plain. The signal fires of the Shoshones
illuminated the hills at night. " In our desperation
we turned north of east a little and struck
Bear River again a few miles from its mouth. The
water here was too salt to quench thirst; our animals
would scarcely taste it, yet we had no other."
The green fresh-looking grass was stiffened with salt.
Mr Belden says: "After separating from the missionaries
we followed Bear River down nearly to
where it enters Salt Lake, about where Corinne is
now. We had some knowledge of the lake from some
of the trappers who had been there. We turned off
more to the west and went round the northerly end
of Salt Lake. There we found a great difficulty in
getting water for several days, all the water near the
lake being very brackish. We had to make it into
strong coffee to drink it."
On the 20th of August the company rested while
two of their number went out to explore. They
found themselves encamped ten miles from the mouth
of the river. Thence next day, Sunday, they took a
north-west course, crossing their track of the Thursday
previous; on the 23d they were in full view of Salt
Lake. Men and animals were almost dying of thirst,
and " in our trouble," says Bidwell, " we turned directly
north toward some high mountains, and in the
afternoon of the next day found springs of good water
and plenty of grass." This was the 27th, and here the
company remained while two of their number again
advanced and discovered a route to Ogden River.
What befell them further on their way across to the
mountains the reader will find in my History of
Nevada. 15
15 The expedition entire is given in Hist. Cal, this series. See also Belden's
Hist. Statement, MS.; Hopper's Narrative, MS.; Taylor's Dis. ami
Founders, i. No. 7; Sutter Co. Hist, 17; S. F. Bulletin, July '27, 1868; S. F.
AHa, Aug. 5, 1856, and Sept. 1868; Santa Cruz Sentinel, Aug. 29, ISGS; Los A?igeles
News, Sept. 1, 1868; San Die