"this day Brigham attacted with the same complaint and he & Heber with a few of the wagons and the rest of the camp went on 6 3/4 miles"
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Brigham was sick enough that he could not travel so some of the wagons stayed where they were to give him some rest and care, and the rest went on ahead and found a camping place to wait for him and the others to catch up. Heber C. Kimball's group also stayed behind to care for Brigham.
When it was decided to let Brigham rest, they were at the Bear River. It is located about where the Utah border is today. Geographically they are also near a rock formation called The Needles. The wagons that went on ahead camped to wait for the others at a place called Cache Cave. It was thought to be a place where trappers stored their items.
Brigham being sick was very disconcerting to the pioneers. They depended on him more than they knew now and went on as best they could finally camp to wait for the rest, but it would be a while.
Norton Jacob:
"Monday 12th [ ] Started at 8 M a mile & an half crossed Bear river a rapid Strem heads in the Snow toped to South & runs North almost to Fort Hall & then turns South & emties into the Salt Lake nearly West of here [ ] passed up a fine valley to the S West & down another where there is a better Soil than we have found since we left the Big Platte [ ] made 9¾ miles & halted for dinner [ ]Br Brigham was taken sick last night [ ] he became so bad that he concluded to stop here [ ] Br Heber with three of his Waggons, Br Benson with one Waggon & Lorenzo with two while the remainder of the camp went on 6¾ through some fertile Valeys where that eye sore the wild Sage has disappeared [ ] we camped on a Small Branch of the Weaver River which falls into the Salt Lake 10 miles below or South of the mouth of Bear River [ ] ten Antelopes Killed today"
William Clayton with his wonderful descriptive thoughts on paper even though he didn't feel good also:
"Monday 12 Morning cloudy and cool [ ] we pursued our journey at ¼ past 7 [ ] at 1¼ miles rose a very steep low hill narrow but very steep on both sides ½ a mile further crossed the Bear River a very rapid stream about 6 rods wide and two foot deep bottom full of large cobble stones water clear banks lined with willows and a little timber good grass many strawberry vines and the soil looks pretty good [ ] About half a mile beyond the ford passed over another ridge and again descend into and travelled up a beautiful narrow bottom covered with grass, and fertile but no timber [ ] 4¾ miles beyond Bear River passed a small spring of good clear cold water [ ] at 10 minutes past 12 halted for noon in the same narrow bottom near a ridge of high rough rocks to the right having travelled 9¾ miles [ ] there is scarce any wagon track to be seen only a few wagons of Hastings company having come this route the balance went the other road and many of them perished in the snow being late in the season and much time lost quarrelling who should improve the roads &c [ ] there is a creek of clear water close by deep but scarce any current [ ] President Young was taken very sick awhile before we halted
After resting two hours the camp moved on again except Prest. Young & Kimballs wagons who concluded to remain there today on account of the Prests. sickness [ ] after travelling 1½ miles we crossed the creek at the foot of a high mountain and a little further crossed back again a mile further began to ascend a long steep hill narrow on the summit and steep descent [ ] we then wind round between high hills till arriving again on a narrow rich bottom [ ] at the foot of the hill we crossed last there is a spring of very good cold water and in fact there are many good springs all along the road [ ] at 6 o clock we formed our encampment near a very small creek and a good spring having travelled this afternoon 4¾ miles and during the day 16½ [ ] there is an abundance of grass here and the country appears still to grow richer as we proceed west but very mountainous [ ] there are many antelope on these mountains and the country is lovely enough but destitute of timber [ ] about ¼ of a mile West from the Camp is a Cave in the rock about 30 feet long 15 feet wide and from 4 to 6 foot high [ ] there are many martins rest at the entrance and on observing them close can be seen myriads of small bed bugs [ ] it is supposed from appearances that there is some property cached in the cave [ ] soon after we camped we had a light shower accompanied by thunder [ ] this country evidently lacks rain even the grass appears parched up"
Andrew Rockwood was very sick and at one point his fever was so high that he retreated to this cave where it was cooler.
