[William Clayton Journal] It has rained again the last night and continued to rain all day very heavy. The camp is very disagreeable and muddy. I spent the day reading. About 5 o'clock the clouds began to break and looks more likely for being fair. In the evening Elder Kimball came over and the band met opposite [J. F.] Hutchinsons Wagon and played some. After that the quadrille band met in my tent and played on the violins. All the time we were playing the lightning occasionally broke forth from the N[orth] W[est]. At 8 o'clock we dispersed just as the storm approached. Before I got to my tent the wind arrived and soon blew a perfect gale with heavy rain, hail, lightning and thunder. It continued for an hour and then abated some. All the tents in our company except mine and [John] Packs were blown down. The rain beat through the wagon covers and drenched the families and effects. It was the most severe storm we have experienced and with such wind it seems impossible to preserve our little clothing and provisions from being spoiled. But in the midst of it all, the camp seems cheerful and happy and there are but few sick.
[source: George D. Smith, An Intimate Chronicle; The Journals of William Clayton, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1995, http://amzn.to/william-clayton]
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