Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-10
On the Plains.

Many queer outfits are seen IN Greeley,
making long journeys over the plains, or
who come hither from distance to trade
We have first the man and his family in a
two-horse spring wagon, having come
through from the Missouri, or from Mon
tana, or Oregon, seeking some new loca
ton, or they are simply travelling to see
the country or to visit their friends. They
are light loaded and generally there are
but few children. There are always bed
clothes, pillows, trunk and a box for
holding provisions, often couple of chairs
and sometimes rocking chair. They are
worn with travel, dusty, sun burned and
generally dilapidated, and women and
children look out from under the wagon
curtains with a curious gaze. Sometimes
better class will come under some trees
along the river, wash up, and put on their
good clothes then they will come into
town with the wagon curtains up, feeling
full as good as anybody. The men wear
nice clothes, though considerably wrinkled
and the women have black silk dresses
Just trife out of fashion, or nice calico,
ironed under a tree. In all their Journey
ing they have slept in the wagon, have
cooked their own provision ard picketed
their horses on grass, though grain is al
ways fed. Some of these outfits belong
to invalids, more or less wealthy, who are
in for a long trip along the base Of the
mountains, extending from the Platte to
the Rio Grande, or even into Old Mexico,
which country they mean to reach by WIN
ter. They have tents which they pitch
near town, and there they sleep and cook
and after looking around as long as any
thing pleases them, they are up and off
The regular movers outfit consists Of
several wagons, well-loaded, with plenty
of dogs behind, and lots of children with
in. Some are genuine Mlssourians belong
: ing to what is called the catfish aristocra.
cy. They don't know about this bur err
rygatlon it looks like it was a heap o
trouble. May be they'll stay, but they
allow push on to the Arkansaw, where
they can make corn and keep gang Of
hogs" So they roll out with their dirty
wagons and few hoot-creaking COWS.
The outfit of the Texas drover is sci.
entifc affair. There is seldom a cover tc
the wagon; it is too much trouble, anc
the whole load is exposed to the public
gaze. There are kegs of molasses and
jugs of vinegar, and of something else
BOXES Of bacon, of flour, sugar and va
riety of other provisions. Some things
are strapped to the sides in helter-skel,
ter, but perfectly secure, manner and
sometimes there are bundles of kindlng
wood tied to the hind axle. These outfits
are seen almost every day of the season
standing in front Of the stores, while
everything needed for long journey tt
Utah, Montana, or Idaho is careiull,
brought together. Meanwhile, their i'm
nense droves are vending their way VI
the divide, south of the town, or aroun'
the colony fence on the north, and at las
they too take up the long line of trave
across the plains.
Then we have the supply teams fo
some timber camp or herder's ranch in tn
mountains, coming in by three, four o
: more days journey, after -four, bacon, veg
etables and groceries. When asked VIII.
) they do not trade at the towns at the bas
of the mountains, the reply is that the
cannot get all they want there, and that
they could, they can buy everythin
> enough cheaper in Greeley to pay for max
ing the journey. Another reason VIII
/ many come hither is because they want t
see friends; possibly the young men wan
to see some girls Of their acquaintance
S and most of them get their letters an
S papers here. Invalids, all kiuds of trav
. elers, explorers, business men and tourist
y look for letters here.
{ Beside the railroad teams that tax
supplies down the Platte, are scientif
= parties, who have wagon and . few ridin
r mules, and here they get their -four, baco
); and groceries before they issue into th
solitude, to be gone for weeks and eve
: months. Then we have our own peopl
e some of whom are all the time on tt
y move. either down the Platte or up to th
u mountains. The Platte characters mea