12th. We saw a good vein of coal to-day, about ten inches thick. It was
on the bank of the Platte river, where the water had washed the bank
away. I examined it, and found it of good quality. A camp near us lost
twenty-six horses and one mule last night, by a stampede. We have heard
to-day that they have found sixteen of the horses, and mule. Country
barren, and grass poor. Passed the Deer Creek to-day, which is a
beautiful stream, with cotton wood trees growing on its banks. Fuller
and Ingalls caught a mess of small fish out of it.