September 17, 1847 ~ Friday

17^th We started out on a Buffalo Hunt this morning But after view[ing] [page covered]
the Hills & Plains we could not see any Buffalo cows & as Bulls we[re] [page covered]
poor this season of the Year we would not kill any of them so
we returned to camp, Harnessed our Horses & drove 12 miles & camped
on the Bank of the Platt, grass quite good, on the way I exhamined
the grave stone of A young man who was drowned while swiming
the river in the spring He was one of the Mo emigrants going to Orego[n] [page covered]
It is warm plesant weather (distance 12 [miles]

September 18, 1847 ~ Saturday

[FIGURE]
18^th We travled 18 miles & camped on deer Creek which abounds with
game I walked up the creek with my gun 2 miles I came near a large
griselly bear quarelling with her cubs I did not think it prudent to appr[o]- [page covered]
ach her alone I crossed the creek & went on to a high Bluff & she
came out onto an open place whare I had a view of her I found
she was working down the creek towards the camp. I went to camp
& reported & Brother's Young, Kimball, Richards & Benson walked up
the creek to vew A coal mine And they came within 4 rods of the
old Bear with two cubs before they saw her the old bear took After them
Br Kimball shot at her with his rifle But did not hit her Br Benson
could not get his rifle off Br Young shot at the cubs 3 times with a
7 shooter pistol knocked one of them over but he got up & followed th[e] [page covered]
mother who rose a high Bank whare the Brethren stood they left
the ground, & retreated to a high rock, the Bears then left following them
& took to the timber. Soon men & dogs were on the ground from camp
but it became dark & the dogs would not follow & we gave up the cha[se] [page covered]
I was 20 rods from the Brethren when the Bear attacked them & did
not see it. There were two Antilope killed to day And A Frenchman 18 mile
that was travelling in company with us shot A vary fat Buffalo cow
& distributed a good share of it in our camp which was excellent
eating there was Also two Buffalo Bulls killed today

September 19, 1847 ~ Sunday

19^th Sunday. Early this morning A company of Hunters crossed the
river to get some Buffalo cows in a herd near By, in the chase Br
Mathews horse fell with him but did not hurt him, the others continued
on & killed one cow & two black tailed deer while this was going on
the Twelve with many others went up the creek to see if they could
get the Bears But we could not find them I came in sight of 3
deer & shot 3 times at them with A coarse sighted rifles & shot over
them evry time Brother Barnham shot one of them I went a little
above & saw about 50 Antilope in a flock feeding on the plain I got
within 30 rods of one of them & shot him dead in his tracks I broug[ht] [page covered]
my horse up to put him onto his back to pack him into camp And I
laboured hard one hour before I could get the horse willing to let me
put the Animal on his back I was 5 miles from camp & walked & led
my horse in the Antilop was fat. We then Harnessed up & drove
9 miles & camped on Fourchebaise Creek 9 miles

September 20, 1847 ~ Monday

20^th We travled 30 miles we crossed dry creek, little timber, & camped
Big timber, did not get through untill 9 oclok at night Had great difficulty in
finding grass as the other camps had eat it off. A Boy by the name of Judson
Persons did not get into camp but lay out 10 miles from camp. 30 miles
[FIGURE]

September 21, 1847 ~ Tuesday

21^st A cloudy morning. At about 9 oclock the call was made to
get up the Horses. I started for the Horses which was in the timber abou[t] [page covered]
half a mile from camp I got about two thirds of the way to the Hors[es] [page covered]
when one of the most exciting scenes wcommenced I ever witnessed
I herd the report of several ^guns^ in quick succession And herd the guard cr[y] [page covered]

September 17, 1847 ~ Friday

17th We started out on a buffalo hunt this morning but after viewing the Hills & Plains we could not see any buffalo cows & as bulls we [illegible] poor this season of the Year we would not kill any of them so we returned to camp, harnessed our horses & drove 12 miles & camped on the Bank of the Platt, grass quite good, on the way I exhamined the grave stone of a young man who was drowned while swiming the river in the spring He was one of the Mo emigrants going to Oregon It is warm plesant weather (distance 12

September 18, 1847 ~ Saturday

[FIGURE] 18th We travled 18 miles & camped on deer Creek which abounds with game I walked up the Creek with my gun 2 miles I came near a large griselly bear quarelling with her cubs I did not think it prudent to appr[o] ach her alone I crossed the Creek & went on to a high bluff & she came out onto an open place whare I had a view of her I found she was working down the creek towards the Camp, I went to Camp & reported & Brother's Young, Kimball, Richards & Benson walked up the creek to vew a coal mine and they came within 4 rods of the old bear with two cubs before they saw her the old bear took after them Br Kimball shot at her with his rifle but did not hit her Br Benson could not get his rifle off Br Young shot at the cubs 3 times with a 7 shooter pistol knocked one of them over but he got up & followed the mother who rose a high bank whare the Brethren stood they left the ground & retreated to a high rock, the bears then left following them & took to the timber. Soon men & dogs were on the ground from Camp but it became dark & the dogs would not follow & we gave up the chase I was 20 rods from the Brethren when the bear attacked them & did not see it. There were two antilope killed to day and a Frenchman 18 mile that was travelling in Company with us shot a vary fat buffalo cow & distributed a good share of it in our camp which was excellent eating there was also two buffalo bulls killed today

September 19, 1847 ~ Sunday

19th Sunday. Early this morning a company of hunters crossed the river to get some buffalo cows in a herd near by, in the chase Br Mathews horse fell with him but did not hurt him, the others continued on & killed one cow & two black tailed deer while this was going on the Twelve with many others went up the creek to see if they could get the bears but we could not find them I came in sight of 3 deer & shot 3 times at them with a coarse sighted rifles & shot over them evry time Brother Barnham shot one of them I went a little above & saw about 50 Antilope in a flock feeding on the plain I got within 30 rods of one of them & shot him dead in his tracks I brought my horse up to put him onto his back to pack him into Camp and I laboured hard one hour before I could get the horse willing to let me put the animal on his back I was 5 miles from camp & walked & led my horse in the antilop was fat. We then harnessed up & drove 9 miles & camped on Fourchebaise Creek 9 miles

September 20, 1847 ~ Monday

20th We travled 30 miles we crossed dry creek, little timber, & camped Big timber, did not get through untill 9 oclok at night had great difficulty in finding grass as the other camps had eat it off. A boy by the name of Judson Persons did not get into Camp but lay out 10 miles from camp. 30 miles [FIGURE]

September 21, 1847 ~ Tuesday

21st A cloudy morning. At about 9 oclock the call was made to get up the horses. I started for the horses which was in the timber about half a mile from Camp I got about two thirds of the way to the horses when one of the most exciting seenescommenced I ever witnessed I herd the report of several guns in quick succession and herd the guard cry