"Brigham had got better and we all started on together [ ] camped near a first rate spring in a narrow valley with high rocky bluffs on the right [ ] distance 4 1/2 miles"
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Orson Pratt is kind of 'in charge' now until Brigham gets well. The wagon train is separated into three groups now.... the lead party trying to clear a road, the second group behind them, and the rear wagons in which Brigham is very sick. Albert Rockwood was considered very ill for several days and not getting much better, Wilford Woodruff calling him....."the sickest man in the camp".
This illness is fascinating. I looked up Albert Rockwood's journal he describes it on each day since coming down with it on the 4th. I'm amazed that he wrote anything at all during this sick siege, but he did.... every day ... even if it was just a few words. You rock, Albert!
"Sunday July 4 [ ] Camp Feaver is verry prevalent [ ] I have the simtums [ ] four of our number return to meet the next camp and the detachmt from Purbalow (Pueblo) [ ] they meet 11 of the Purblow brothers at the river
Mondy 5th [ ] I am verry sick of the feaver [ ] traveld 20 miles
Tuesdy 6 [ ] my feaver has abated [ ] I am verry weak [ ] traveld 18 miles
Wendnesday 8th July [ ] I am recovery sloly from my feaver [ ] road horseback part of the day verry feable yet [ ] traveled 17¾ mils which bing us to Ft Bridger [ ] this place according to the rodeometer is 347 miles from F John
Thursday 8th July [ ]we lay by to recrute the sick [ ] sett tires &c
Friday 9 July [ ] renewed our journey my health as verry feable not able to keep a journal
Satuerday 10th July [ ] continued our journey over the ridge that leads to bear river vally this was a verry crooked road
Sundy 11 July [ ] lay in camp this day [ ] was visited by some mountaineers one of whom has commenced a settlent on salt Lake [ ] he directed us on our way as we are traveling almost with a trail [ ] this proved to be of some service
Munday 12 th July [ ] Continued our journe [ ] Br Schfield being sick I under took to drve his team[ ] this however provd quite to much for me in my feab state of health [ ] halted for noon [ ] Br B Young was taken verry sick wild & crasy [ ] the camp moved on with the Exseptions of Br Youngs Lorenzo Young E T Benson three of Br Kimbills and mine [ ] this Evening I was attacted with the relaps feaver verry sick all night
Tuesday 13 [ ] Br Young is verry sick and much deranged [ ] I had a hard feaver all day and night much deranged in my mind
Wendesdy 14 [ ] Br Young is a little better [ ] the feaver rages harder than Ever on me [ ] Br Lorenz Young and many others look upon me as dangereous ill [ ] I so considered myself and so told the brotheryn tht if no relieaf came in 24 hour they mght dig a hole to put me in [ ] Br L Young gave me a lobelin Emetick this morng and in the afternoon a cathartic [ ] each of which worked kind and well rested som this night
Thursday 15th [ ] Br Woodrough came back from the main camp whch was about seven miles ahead with his with a bed fixed very comfortable on which Br B Young and myself road to the man camp [ ] I was verry weak & low not able to set up in the carage yet [ ] I stood the journey verry well so did B Young [ ] in about 2 hours after we came up the whole camp that was at this placed [ ] moved on [ ] came in camp before nigh having traveld about 12 miles
Fridy 16 [ ] The whole camp moved on this morng but Br Young feaver raged so high that he could not travel so 13 wagons stoped [ ] the rest went on
Satuery 17 [ ] Br Youngs heath would not admit of his journey so we lay by intill mondy morng
Monday 20 th [ ] Br Young healh is better [ ] mine is also better yet I am verry weak
Tuesday 21 [ ] we lay in camp this day to recrute the sick having come up with 3 wagons that stoped from the main camp on account of sickness
Wendesdy Thursdy & Fridy [ ] traveld a part of the day [ ] my healh is so poor that I know but little of what pases
Satuerdy 25 [ ] my healh is much better [ ] I have rode horseback this day our travel is 10 miles [ ] at 10½ AM we came in site of the salt Lake and the wide Exspance of valley is before us [ ] the camp is in site about 4 miles from the mountan on river at the view of the vally [ ] the Saints shouted haleluah [ ] we arive in camp about 2 PM [ ] Br Young and mysef very much Exausted by the fatuog [fatigue] of the day"
I didn't mean to take him past this day's date (July 14), but his account of his and Brigham's sickness was just too interesting. If anybody deserves a medal at the end of this trip, it's Albert Rockwood. Traveling wagon and horseback over that terrain being as sick as he was, was something I couldn't have done. And I'm surprised with Brigham Young. I always knew he was sick the last few days, but I hadn't realized until doing this blog just how very sick he was. Amazing. So, what was that sickness? It varies. On the web it is mostly thought that it was Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever carried by mosquitoes. Probably an excellent diagnosis since they have been having so much trouble with mosquitoes.
The lead party is ahead now fording out a road through the mountains still following the faint trail of the Donner Party.
