Two daughters were carried off and afterwards sold to the Mohaves, among whom one died and the other was restored by purchase to freedom (1856) by Henry Grinnell, and was sent to her brother's home in Los Angeles.* Another characteristic example is related by Hobbs, lit the desert beyond Yuma, "we came upon the remains of an emigrant train, which a month previous had attempted to cross this desert in going from the United States to California.

While passing over the desert they had been met by a sand-storm and lost the road by the sand blowing over it, and had wandered off into the hills.

They had finally got back into the road; but by that time they were worn out, and they perished of fatigue and thirst." * For the full story see Capture of the Oatman Girls, by R.B.
Stratton.
They had passed the watering-place, a small pool, and as they had already been two or three days without water, the mistake was fatal.
They had lightened their loads by casting off goods, but it was useless.
A squad of soldiers was sent out from Fort Yuma to bury the bodies, of which eight were women and children and nine were men.

The desert has no compassion on the human intruder, and he who ventures there must count only on his own resources.
The crossing of Green River was also difficult, except at low water, on account of the depth and force of the current.

Sometimes the emigrants utilised a waggon-box as a boat, and the Mormons, who passed in 1847, established a ferry.