"warm & clear [ ] traveled 7 1/4 miles to where there was a fording but as the river was up we went on 4 miles to another place where we camped for Sunday [ ] had prayer meeting in the morning at 9 after which Heber & Brigham gave us advice and were followed by Orson Pratt [ ] yesterday some of our company that had come on ahead were engaged in crossing a company of emigrants consisting of 22 wagons for $33.00 to be paid in flour & bacon [ ] flour at $2.50 per hundred [ ] the weather today has been warm"
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Wilford Woodruff journal says:
"12th [ ] I started in the morning to go forward in company with Br A. P. Rockwood who was riding President Young Stud when suddenly he sprung upon my horse but instead of striking my horse he took my knee into his Jaw & bruised me considerable [ ] sunk one tooth to the bone through three thicknesses of clothing & one of them buck skin [ ] G A Smith & myself then rode on to the ferrying ground & found our detachment ferrying over the Missouri Company [ ] they Paid the Brethren $1.50 cts per each waggon & load & Paid in flour at $2.50 per cwt generally flour is considerd worth at the fort through this country at least $10 per cwt [ ] it was difficult getting over the river [ ] they carried the goods over in a boat & drew the waggons over by hand with ropes but when the curant struck them they would freequently rool [ ] several times over in the watter & smash their bows out [ ] they also came near drowning their Horses And one man would have been lost if the brethren had not picked him out with the boat we saw also on the road whare the Company had a run away of their teams [ ] A Horse came runing among them & frightened their oxen And they all started to run [ ] two run up onto A bank & turned both waggons over with women & children in & bruised them much smashed Jars crockery dishes boxes & sundrys to peaces [ ] one team run into the river & would probably have drowned & lost all had not A little boy Jumped out beside the off ox which frightend him & He out run the other hawed off & run onto a sand bar [ ] He However kicked the boy against the wheel & the wheel knocked (him) down into the water which hurt him but the scene ended without any loss of life [ ]the Blacksmiths had been to work for the Missouri Company [ ] got flour money &c. the company of 4 traiders had camped near the brethren [ ] our hunters had been busily engaged in getting game they had killed 5 fat buffalo 4 Bear one old she bear & 3 cubs & shot at 2 griselly bear but did not get them [ ] those killed were the black bear. [ ]Saw A plenty of Antiope deer Elk & Mountain Sheep [ ] the mountains near us Abound with Bear & other game [ ] I found some buffalo meet the Hunters were not agoing to save So I Cut out of the hump of A Buffalo about 40 lbs of good fat stake & spread it to dry [ ] Also tryed out about 8 lbs of good tallow [ ] I visited the traiders Camp [ ] they also was drying fine fat Buffalo one of the bears feet that was killed measured 7½ inches long 5 inch wide 2½ inch thick toe nails 2¾ inch long 3/4 inch wide [ ] Our Hunters brought into Camp 8 Antilope [ ] the camp came up & camped within one mile of the ferry ground in good feed [ ] had travled 11¼ miles 11¼ m "
From Joseph F. Smith...Ess. Church History:
"On June 12th they arrived at the Black Hills where the Oregon road crossed the Platte, a distance of 142 miles from Fort Laramie. It was here the brethern were employed in ferrying the Oregon emigrants across the swollen, turbulent river. Wilford Woodruff said 'It looked as much of a miracle to us to see our flour and meal bags replenished as it did to the Israelites fed with manna in the wilderness'.
The brethern had some satisfaction in ferrying their old enemies the group of Missourians. Brigham charged them to use the ferry. Once across, the Missourians continued on their way quarreling, cursing and fighting among themselves. The brethern camped to observe the Sabbath."
Click here for video of crossing.
