The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-11
1.-THE cred WING.

seek assistance, bidding all be of good
cheer, as relief would reach them in
| few hours, at farthest.
[ had followed the road leading to
Virginia almost to Silver City, when the
music of bells greeted my ears-bells
such as are worn by the big ten and
| twelve-mule teams.
Soon several big teams came into full
sight, over piece of rising ground.
AS soon as had made known to the
teamsters or ten in all-the con-
dition of the emlgrant family, there was
a regular strife among them about going
to their relief. All wanted to go, where
as but single team was required.
A fine strapping young fellow, about
% years of age, was driving the leading
team of the train; all the others were
much older and had about them the SUBJ
! jugated look of married men. So I
said:
GAS there is good-loolzing girl over
there, and as most of you appear to be
married men. suppose we say that this
young buck goes %
With shouts of laughter and many sly
jokes this was agreed to at once.
My man had a splendid ten-mule
team, each mule wearing bearskin hous-
ings and haY1ng above the names steel
bow filed with bells. His vehicle was
an immense ''prairie schooner" as
these great freight wagons are here call
ed, and every thing about team and
wagon was in the most perfect order.
On one side of the wagon was painted
in red a large wing, like the wing of
some sea-bird. In explanation of this
hieroglyph he said: ''You see, call her
the Red Wing"
[ told him that the folks out on the
desert would certainly look upon him
as an angel, Notwithstanding he had but
| one wing.
When we reached the forlorn family
and our huge craft rolled up alongside
their little vehicle, we looked like sew
enty-four-g gun ship bearing down upon a
canoe. The family had evidently never
dreamed of such wagon OF such an ar
ray of animals for team. Thomas rose
from his seat on the rock, rubbed his
eyes. and gazed upon the whole rig in
utter establishment; the old lady pushed
back her immense sun-bonnet and gig
gled aloud, while the boys stood and
stared with open-mouthed amazement.
Sticking his blacksnake whip under
the housings of his saddle mule, my
teamster, whose name was John Hender
son, as he told me coming along, jump
ed to the ground, and, teamster-ike,
went first of all to look at the old bald
faced horse.
rs he walked around him surveying
his many unusual 'spoints, his face wore
curious expression-half sheer and half
pity.
Going to where the dead mare lay he
gave her careless kick, which instantly
brought beseeching "Don't, Mister!"
from the younger Of the boys.
Smiling good-humoredly, Henderson
turned away and now for the first time
deigned to notice the human beings
present.
"Wen," said he, looking in the direc-
ton of Thomas, ST s'spose you folks
don't care how soon you get out O. here?
Ugh? with all these dead cattle about, the
whole place smells like a secondhand
funeral!'
Said Thomas: ST must tell you
plainly Mister, that we have no money.
We are
''Ohl Mumford! Oh! Mumford !"
cried the old lady; and squatting upon
the ground, she began rocking herself
to and fro.
els the old lady sick?'' kindly asked
John Hederson, my bold teamster boy.
'sNo," whispered I cts only way
she has. A little peculiar, that's all, "
and winked expressively.
go, SIR said Mary, sif you will take
us will do anything. I will work for
you; mean I will work for your father
your mother, sir-for we have no
money!
81 have neither father nor mother in
this country, Miss; but who is talking
about money or work2 Just you tell
me where you want to go.
go. sir, said Mary, eve want to go
to California;
''But to what part of California? Cal
Ifornia is abroad State.
Mary hesltated, look confused, and
finally answered; 81 don't know, sir;
we only started to go to California.
Thomas was asked and he said "DOnt