[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 27th O. P. Rockwell & others went again in search of the Horses & were gone all day. We continued our Journey [A?] South course to try to get on the platt river. We came on to some beautiful green grass & saw a great quantity of Buffalo sign but found no wood or water. Travled 12 miles & bated our Horses in a green valley.
Just as we were starting in the Afternoon we rose a small Bluff & saw two Antelope before us in the valley. Brs Young Kimball & myself were together. Br Brown & another Brother was on another side of the Hill & saw him also. Br Brown first fired upon him. Another man & myself fired also. We all Hit him with our Balls but He did not fall. We rode up to him & cut his Throat to Bleed him & He run about 10 rods & fell. This was the first Antelope we have Killed. He was dressed & put on board of the waggons & we continued on.
In a short time we saw 3 more at the top of a mound looking at us. Br Brown & myself went after them But they went onto the flats & we could not get to them so we left them. Turned about 10 degrees east of South went to a Creek & camped. Our cattle & Horses were vary dry not finding any water through the day.
We had A Heavy Storm of thunder lightning wind & some little rain which lasted about an hour. A rifle went off in Br Brown waggon by accident. The Ball went through a bag of cloths (set it on fire through the waggon) & Broke A leg of a fine Horse which broke up one team.
In the edge of the evening O P Rockwell & the Brethren with him returned & reported that the Indians Had stolen the two Horses & they were attacked by 15 Indians who were in Ambush in the grass. They came upon them determined to take their Horses from them. They kept them off by their Rifles & Pistles. The Indians were armed with guns & Bows & when they found they could not skare the Brethren they then professed friendship to get to them. But the Brethren were resolute & determined not to move but to fight first though ownly 14 to 15 men.
The Indians finally rushed upon them to ketch the Horses by the bit & the Brethren drew their pistols upon them determined to fire & do their best & the Indians seeing their determination broke & ran but fired their guns upon the Brethren & the Balls whistled around them but no one injured. They did not fire upon the Indians not wishing to kill them if they could Help it.
Distance of the day 20 m. 16 miles sw from our last stations. About half way between the loop fork & Platt rivers. The meridian Alt of the sun gave for the Lat 41°9 26 0 h 30 m. Bar stood at 28.053. Attached Ther 87°. Detached Ther 88°. S.S.W. wind fair.
[Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]
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