considered very hazardous for any one to undertake.  This they had learned after consulting mountaineers and others who knew about the regions, and as there was nothing doing among the Latter Day Saints to give employment to any one, it was decided best to keep moving and go the southern route by way of Los Angeles.  No wagons were reported as ever getting through that way, but a trail had been traveled through that barren desert country for perhaps a hundred years, and the same could be easily broadened into a wagon road.

After days of argument and camp-fire talks, this Southern route was agreed upon, and Capt.  Hunt was chosen as guide.  Capt.  Hunt was a Mormon, and had more than one wife, but he had convinced them that he knew something about the road.  Each agreed to give him ten dollars to pilot the train to San Bernardino where the Mormon Church had bought a Spanish grant of land, and no doubt they thought a wagon road to that place would benefit them greatly, and probably gave much encouragement for the parties to travel this way.  It was undoubtedly safer than the northern mountain route at this season of the year.  It seemed at least to be a new venture for west-bound emigrant trains, at least as to ultimate success, for we had no knowledge of any that had gone through safely.

Some western people remembered the history of the Mormons in Illinois and Missouri, and their doings there, feared somewhat for their own safety now that they were so completely under their power, for they knew the Mormons to be revengeful and it was considered very unsafe for any traveler to acknowledge he was from Missouri.  Many a one who had been born there, and lived there all his life, would promptly claim some other state as his native place.  I heard one Mormon say that there were some Missourians on the plains that would never reach California.  “They used us bad,” said he, and his face took on a really murderous look.

These Mormons at Salt Lake were situated as if on an island in the sea, and no enemy could reach any adjoining state or territory if Brigham Young’s band of destroying angels were only warned to look after them.

At a late hour that night we lay down to sleep, and morning came clear and bright.  After breakfast Mr. Bennett said to me:—­“Now Lewis I want you to go with me; I have two wagons and two drivers and four yoke of good oxen and plenty of provisions.  I have your outfit yet, your gun and ammunition and your two good hickory shirts which are just in time for your present needs.  You need not do any work.  You just look around and kill what game you can for us, and this will help as much as anything, you can do.”  I was, of course glad to accept this offer, and thanks to Mr. Bennett’s kind care of my outfit, was better fixed then any of the other boys.

We inquired around among the other wagons as to their supply of flour and bacon; and succeeded to getting flour from Mr. Philips and bacon from some of the others, as much as we supposed the other boys would need, which I paid for, and when this was loaded on the two colts Hazelrig started back alone to the boys in camp.  As I was so well provided for I gave him all my money for they might need some, and I did not.