9th. The road this morning led up the valley of the creek about six
miles, then struck across to another creek eight miles; after leaving
the creek we found a spring of good water; five miles from this spring
we came to Horse Creek. Here were great numbers camped, being just
seventeen miles to the next water, with but little grass on the route.
The latter part of the day's drive has been rough and sandy. We passed
two men on the creek making pack saddles. They had given away their
wagons and thrown away their other property. Wagons, harness, stoves,
and all kinds of property we find strewn along the road now. We had a
tremendous hail storm this afternoon. The hail fell two inches deep,
some of the pieces of which were an inch in diameter. Many who were
exposed had their lips and cheeks cut through by the hail. The storm
beat our tents down, and we had to crawl under the wagons for shelter
from its fury. We got up our tents again after the storm passed over,
but had to sleep in three inches depth of mud through the night.