Pioneer Day Countdown: July 11th, 1847 (Sunday)

On the Sabbath Day, the Saints didn't push ahead. Instead, they rested for the day. They were camping near present-day Sulphur Creek Reservoir in Wyoming.

The valley ahead, in the picture, is close to where they camped. The water in the
picture is present-day Sulphur Creek Reservoir. You can see the mountains looming in the distance.

Finding Oil:

Some decided to do a little exploring, and discovered oil.

What a bubbling, oil spring looks like.

The oil was found by John Norton, who "found a spring with a [thick] black substance bubbling out of the ground."  According to William Clayton, "it resembles tar and is very oily." Thomas Bullock discovered it was flammable, and stated "it burned bright like [whale] oil."
By this time, the camp had come to the decision that they had found an earth oil spring, and called it "a fountain of petroleum."

Norton Jacob

Oil wasn't particularly important during those days. However, they found ways to put it to use. They used the thick liquid to lubricate their gunstocks, shoes, and wagon wheels. Norton Jacob said the oil "came very opportunely for we were entirely out of tar [grease] for the wagons."

Surveying:

Brigham Young, William Clayton, and Heber C. Kimball climbed a mountain to examine their surroundings. They found a sulphur spring flowing from the rocks, and "giving off a strong smell."

It was unusual to the Saints to find a sulphur spring, an oil spring, and a clear water spring all within a mile of each other. Thomas Bullock commented, "it appears as if nature had separated the different productions for the special use of the persecuted saints on their journey."

Miles Goodyear, the trapper/settler, returned to the camp to bring the Saints a map he had drawn of the area surrounding the Great Salt Lake. "He gives a very favorable account of the country and has a garden planted with all kinds of vegetables."
Goodyear took Porter Rockwell and Jesse Little to scout the trail he requested they come by, however, the two returned with a negative report on the trail, saying it "leads too far out of our course to be tempted to try it."

Jesse C. Little

Porter Rockwell

Foreboding Mountains:

The saints were beginning to see the mountainous region become more rugged, and in the distance, the high mountains loomed on the horizon. There was a lot of "murmuring about the face of the country."
William Clayton heard some in the camp "getting discouraged by the look of the country, but thinking minds are not much disappointed.  We have no doubt of finding a place where the saints can live, which is all we ought to ask or expect."

There were two possible paths ahead of the pioneers.  The company was called together in the evening to discuss which route should be taken. It was voted to take the northern road, despite the private feelings of the apostles that the southern would be better. "But such matters are left to the choice of the entire camp so that none may have room to murmur at the Twelve hereafter," Clayton explained.

They ended the evening meeting with a rousing hymn to bolster their confidence.




Source: Knight and Kimball. 111 Days to Zion. Deseret News. Salt Lake City, 1978