Page 22 - Keays Diary with forward 1866 and Cover

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Last night we had our first rain on the Platte River, though

it threatens a storm every night. I think there are more clouds and

lightning than I ever saw in the same length of time. Last night the

sky was really terrible, from 9 till 11, and I was frightened, for we

had heard of such terrible storms on the Platter, but it ended in a hard

dash of rain with considerable wind but nothing worse; we have not had

as hard winds lately as we had when we first came on the Platte, and

cool nice weather for the horses.

There is a Gentleman wants to go up almost to Collins with us

so we will have some company if we can take him.

Saturday morning. We had quite an adventure yesterday, the

roads were very bad and we were out walking, the Coach came along to the

hill and let the passengers out to walk up the hill, when a Gentleman

walking by Will asked where he was from and finding he was acquainted

with me, came on up to speak with me; though not knowing him only
casually at home, yet meeting him here seemed like seeing an old friend.

We had time for but a few words when the Driver called, "All aboard" and

he went; he is taking goods out to Denver, to eat, either there or some

Point in the mountains.

This morning one of our Train killed an Antelope, the first

that has been so fortunate; he is quite the Lion of the crowd; he is

very generous dividing it among the rest; he sent us some for which we

were very grateful. Mr. Peterson thinks it an old one and very thin,

though not "sour grapes" by any means.

Saturday we passed Fort Wicked, a lace well fortified against

the Indians, a large Adobe enclosure for cattle, with port holes, and a

house and buildings, all enclosed with a wall and port holes, I guess