Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-28
A WO:.1ln's VenstaresO me Ride.

From the San Francisco Chronicle
There arrived in this city on Sunday night a
young woman from Seattle who has lust sue
cessfuliy completed tour ''across the plains
on horseback. The heroine of the ride Is Miss
Emma Larson. tWenty -four years old, American
by birth and of Scandinavian descent Her hair
is tlaEcn-cOlored. her eyes are gray, she is very
firmly built and presents an appearance oi
hcalth and strength. The following is the story
Of her travels, as detailed by her to Chronicle
reporter yesterday:
IL formerly resided in California. but some
years ago removed with my folks to Green Lake
county, Wis. My father presented me with a
marc-kitty is her name. She'll be eight years
old this spring, and | told my relatives on sev-
eral occasions that Kitty and | We're going to
take q trip to California, but they only au shed
at me. They thought that | would never at
tempt to cross the plains. but they were mis-
taken. for Kitty and | and yearling colt lett
Wisconsin on the 9th Of last April was ALWAYS
fond OF riding. | only took Kitty and the
colt. an oil coat. a small buffalo robe two saddle
blankets and small sum of money. When |
started out had regular Texas saddle with
two cinches on it, but it was too hard and heavy
SO at the first opportunity traded it off for a
Chicago saddle. For about 200 miles on one
par; OF the road-it was near Soda Springs in
ldaho--l did not see ranch, and for three DAYS
and nights | had nothing to live upon but
water. This was the worst part of the trip.
There may have been ranches some distance
from the road. but never left the trail 1 fol-
lowed the railroad line to Rollins, and then to
Green River: thence to Soda Springs, and from
there to Boise City; from Boise City to Baker
City. and thence to John Days bridge, across
John Days river into Idaho; then / crossed
Snake river and rode On to Pendleton. and from
there / arrived at Portland about October 10th
would have ridden from Portland here but for
the lateness OF the season and the scarcity Of
food on the road"
what was your method Of traveling?'
81 generally started at daylight and rode until
II o'clock and then rested until OF o'clock in
the afternoon. At this time it was cooler and
| again started out and rode until would strike
some good feed for Kitty, or if | could not find
it | would ride until sunset. l averaged about
% miles day. but my biggest days journey was
% miles. and that was on the Laramie plains
No. | never met any more 1erOciOus animals than
deer OF antelope. The whole journey was pleasant
and most enjoyable one. | saw no Indians
to amount to anything, but one day ] rode with
band Of fifty from hi. Sandusky to the Green
river. never paid any toll aud my lodgings
were never expensive. Sometimes / stopped
at the ranches along the way but l preferred
TO sleep on the prairie or the mountain side.
with my robes drawn around me and no other
covering overhead but the blue yaulted sky and
ITS tWlnkilng stars | was content. The night
air was cool and invigOrating. and the silence
around was very solemn and impressive There
was nothing to disturb me us l lay there peace
fully slumbering. The BIRDS chirping and sing
ing in the trees and brush would wake me in
the morning and l could Immediately arise
and away on my journey. During the day all
was quiet. The only sound to break the still
ness was the birds. Occasionally startled
hare or rabbit would run across the path. and
perhaps that would be the last sign of moving
life you would see for hours. The heat some
times was almost oppressive but more es-
pecially on the plains, where no shade was to
be found"
Ibid you not find the continual riding in the
saddle WearisOme!"
mo. The Chicago saddle got in the trade
was made Tor man. SO generally used it in
the manner it was intended for. When l was
travelling on the prairie or in the forest, or in
fact any place outside of town or city, l strad-
died the saddle man fashion. Of course it vas
inconvenient to some extent to ride this way
with dress on, for wore nothing but dress
during the whole trip. When l neared set
Element changed my style and rode as if on a
slde-saddle, Once again away from life and
civilization changed my manner of riding and
thus l Overcame, to some extent, the weari-
sOmeness of the ride"