"Sunday [ ] did not travel [ ] found a spring of mineral tar about 3 miles off [ ] in the evening felt symptoms of the mountain fever [ ] passed a very restless night [ ] next morning journeyed on till noon 9 3/4 miles [ ] stopped to bait [ ] was then baptized for my health by A S Gibbons and confirmed by a member of the brethern from which ministration I received some relief"
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So, they struck oil and they didn't even know it! Too bad. Brigham could have handled the oil industry better than anybody in the world today. They had no idea what this gooey stuff was, but they were completely out of tar for the wagons and found that, as a substitute, it came in handy for that. So, they loaded up on the stuff and carried it with them. Norton Jacob had kind of an inkling of what it was when he called it a "fountain of petroleum".
From "111 Days to Zion".............."The pioneers used the thick liquid to oil their gunstocks and shoes. Some filled buckets with it and used it to lubricate their creaking wagon wheels. Jacob Norton said, "the discovery came very opportunely for we were entirely out of tar for the wagons." It was an unusual spot as near the oil spot, there was also a spring of clear, wonderful tasting water. It's interesting to note here that sixty-five years later, Wyoming had an oil boom. And the rest is history.
The mountain sickness is still hitting some of them.
Thomas Bullock thoughts:
"July [ ] Sunday 11 [ ] ice on the Water Buckets [ ] a Pleasant morning [ ] Mr Miles Goodier Came into Camp he lives at Weber River gives a very favorable account of the Country [ ] has a garden planted with all kinds of vegetables [ ] he reports Mr. Wells an Englishman living on his place [ ] after conversing with Prest. Young he went with bro Little Matthews & Brown to shew them a new road & nearer [ ] he made a map of the roads & gave it the brethren [ ] at the foot of the mountains near the Camp was discovered a Sulphur Spring having flour of Sulphur floating on the top of it and about 1½ miles on the South road was discovered a tar Spring where several brethren take their tar buckets to fill to grease their Wagons with it burned bright like oil [ ] here are Pure Water Springs a Creek a Sulphur Spring & a Pitchy or Greasy Spring within 1½ Miles of Camp [ ] it appears as if Nature herself had separated her different productions for the especial use of the Persecuted Saints on their journey [ ] as I lay in my Wagon sick I overheard several of the brethren murmuring about the face of the Country altho' it is very evident to the most careless observer that it is growing richer & richer every day [ ] grass grows luxuriant Cedars are beginning to flourish Pines are seen on the mountains Cotton Wood Trees on the River banks Flowers are getting very numerous herbage is getting richer all over the Country & the Artemesia disappearing [ ] After dusk the brethren were called together & decided to take the west or northern route which Miles Goodier spoke of[ ] a Warm P.M. [ ] to me this has been the stillest day I have had being sick neither speaking or being spoken to [ ] the brethren had a singing meeting this P.M."
NOTE: Searching through Wyoming history of oil in that part of the state I found this:
"During the fur trade and Overland trails periods, mountain men commented on “oil springs” where oil bubbled to the surface of water pools. Native people seined off the oil for eons, using the greasy residues for war-paint, decoration on hides and tepees, as horse and human liniments, and for medications. An oil spring near Hilliard was well-known when Fort Bridger was established in 1842. The first recorded oil sale in Wyoming, however, happened along the Oregon Trail when, in 1863, enterprising entrepreneurs sold oil as a lubricant to wagon train travelers. The oil came from Oil Mountain Springs, some 20 miles west of present-day Casper"
