"very cold [ ] crossed a large stream where the bluff came to the river"
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They are very near today's Hershey, Nebraska now as you can see on the Google Earth image. You can see the large stream he mentions which is mentioned in other journals. Click on the image and you will be able to see the stream better and imagine the prairie as grassier and the land the pioneers went through in 1847.
Wilford Woodruff noted in his diary that when he dismounted his horse to look around in the bluffs, the horse started to leave. When William ran after him to bring it back, he ran into an abandoned Sioux camp remains with many lodges empty. He also found many buffalo robes and other items left by the Indian band. He finally got his horse back though it took the help of another pioneer to ride and catch him. The pioneers took time from their day to visit the Sioux camp of which they were in awe.
There were some hard feelings today between two men in the camp. Thomas Tanner had gotten angry at Aaron Farr for being noisy and obnoxious during the camp prayer. He put Aaron under arrest and under guard for the night. William Clayton noted in his journal that...
"perhaps Aaron was a little out of order in conversing loud after the horn blew for prayers, but I think Brother Tanner's angry spirit more blameable."
Many people today feel that as they were all going west with a common goal and common spirit of the Lord with them and that it was a trek of joy and companionship. Nothing could be further from the truth. The diary convinces me that, just like today, many contentions erupted and came about between the pioneers. People then were...and are...just like people today. We're all just plugging forward inch by inch.
