Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-24
On the PInins.
T.. wHITmORE,
Publisher and proprietor.

MANY queer outfits are seen in Greeley,
making long journeys over the plains, or
who come hither from a distance to
trade. We have first the man and his
family in two-horse spring wagon, hav-
ing come through from the Missouri, or
from Montana, or Oregon, seeking some
new location, or they are simply travel
ing to see the country or to visit their
friends. They are light-loaded and gem
erally there are but few children. There
are always bed-clothes, pillows, q trunk
and box for holding provisions, often a
couple of chairs and sometimes a rock
ing chair. They are worn with travel,
dusty, sun.burned and generally dilap-
idated. and women and children look out
from under the. wagon curtains with
curious gaze. Sometimes a 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 fully
as good as anybody. The men wear
nice clothes, though considerably wrin-
kled. and the women have black silk
dresses, Just trihe out of fashion, or
nice calico, ironed under tree. In all
their journeying they have slept in the
wagon, have cooked their own provisions
and picketed their horses on grass,
though grain is always fed. Some OF
these outfits belong to invalids, more or
less wealthy, who are in for long trip
along the base of the mountains, extend
ing from the Platte to the Rio Grande,
or oven into Old Mexico, which country
thew mean to reach by winter. They
have tents which they pitch near town,
and there they sleep and cook, end alter
looking around as long as anything
pleases them, they are up and OH.
The regular movers outfit consists OF
several wagons, we'll loaded, With plenty
of dogs behind, and lots of children
within. Some are genuine Missourians,
belonging to what is called the catfish
aristecracy. They don't know about
this hur errygation; it looks like it was
a beap O. trouble. Maybe they Il stay,
hnt thew allow to push on to the Arkan-
saw, whers they can make corn and keep
a gang of hogs" So they roll out with
their dirty wagons Rrf 2 few moor
creaking COWS.
The outfit of the Texas drover is a
scientific affair. There is seldom a
cover to the wagon; it is too much
trouble. and 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 -four,
sugar and variety of other provisions.
Some things are strapped to the side In
a helter.skelter, but perfectly secure
manner, and sometimes there are bum
dies of kindling 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 to Utah. Mon
tana or Idaho is carefully brought to-
pether, Meanwhile, their immense
droves are vending their way up the
divide, south of the town, or around the
colony fence on the north, and at last
they take up the long line OF travel
across the plains.
Then we have the supply teams for
some timber camp or herder's ranch IN
the mountains, coming in by three, tour
or more days journey after tour, bacon,
vegetables and groceries. When asked
why they do not trade at the towns at
the base of the mountains, the reply is
that they caanot get all they want there,
and that if they could, they can buy
everything enough cheaper in Greeley to
pay for making the journey. Another
reason why so many such come hlther IS
because they want to see friends; poss
bly, the young men want to see some girls
of their acquaintance, and most of them
get their letters aud papers here. lnva-
lids, all kinds Of travellers, explorers,
business men and tourists look for letters
here.
Besides the railroad teams that take
supplies down the Platte are scientific
parties, who have a few riding mules,
and here they get their -four, bacon and
groceries before they issue into the soli-
tude, to be gone weeks and even months.
Then we have our own people, some Of
whom are all the time on the move,
either down the Platte, or up the noun
tains. The Platte characters mean
business; they no longer wear broad
cloth, but instead the toughest gear.
Some of them wear buckskin panta-
looms. with suitable fringe, and they al
ways wear slouched hats They are
having or herding, or something else,
and, II not too far away, they come back
with loads Of hay, on which they grace
fully recline. Sometimes they bring up
butter, and, in the season, buffalo meat
and robes. Those who make the noun
lain trip are pleasure bound, but have
an idea it is a little rough there. The
men wear old clothes; some OF the wo-
men bloomers, and away they 60 at what
they call bright and early, that IS
ten or eleven o'clock, and, BY hard
pushing. they camp within the
foot hills. Tho next day they climb and
climb. sometimes they get lost, but they
20 on fEo OF fhren more DAYS. according