The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-18
ACROSS THE PLAINS.
A wom.n,s lionel, HOrsebael RIds.

There arrived in San Francisco last
Sunday night a young woman from Sea
tile who has Just successfully completed
a tour ''acroSs the plains" ON horseback.
The heroine of the ride Is Miss Emma
Larson, "a years old, American by birth
and of scandinavian descent. Her hair
is haxen-colored, her eyes are gray,
she is very firmly built and presents an
appearance of health and strength.
The following is a story Of her travels,
rs detailed by her TO Chronicle re-
porter:
81 formerly resided in California. but
some years ago removed with my folks
to Green Lake county, Wis / always
had desire 10 revisit this state and once
more inhale the refreshing air of the
golden west. Nv father presented me
with a mare-Kitty is her name. She'll
be eight wears old this spring, and / told
nv relatives on several occasions that
Kitty and l We're going to take trip to
California, but they only laughed at me.
They thought that / would never at
tempt 10 cross the plains, but they were
mistaken. for Kitty and / and a year
ling colt left Wisconsin on the 2ith of
last April. was always fond of riding
-'Wha; outfit did you take with you.
asked the reporter.
"Well, / only took Kitty and the colt,
an oil-coat, small buffalo robe, two sad
die blankets and small sum Of money.
When / started out had regular Texas
saddle. with two cinches on IL. but IL was
too hard and heavy, SO at the first Oppor-
tunity L traded il off for n Chicago
saddle
What WAS your idea in setting out on
the expeditionF
''The novelty and romance Of the trip
and desire TO see the country" replied
the transcontinental equestrienne.
Did the trip meet all your eXpecta-
iionsy'
well, If more than met them in one
way"
How was thatY''
In starvation and hardship. For
about two hundred miles on one part of
the road-it was near Soda Springs In
Idaho-I 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 l never left the trail"
But how did You find your wayY' ask
ed the reporter; ''were you not afraid of
getting lostY'
mo. asked the road from station to
station. 1 followed 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 Pen
dletOn, and from there l arrived at Port
land 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 travelingS"
II generally started at daylight and
rode until IL o'clock and then rested un-
til or o'clock in the afternoon. At
this time il was cooler and again started
ont and rode until L would strike good
feed for Kitty, or if / could not find 1t l
would ride until sunset. / averaged
about twenty-five miles a day, but my
biggest DAVIS Journey was siXty-three
miles. and that was on the Laramie
plains. No, never met any more fero-
cious animals than deer or antelope. The
whole journey was pleasant and most
ENJOYABLE one. / saw no Indians to
amount to anything, but one day L rode
with a band of fifty from the Big San
dusly 10 the Green river"
But how about the cowboys-did You
meet many of themf"
Yes. / met plenty Of cowboys. They
had their sport with me, but were always
kind. On one occasion they prOtiered to
help me into the saddle. They would lift
me up on one side and let me drop off on
the other. They only wanted to have
little fun with me-
| Ibid YOU carry much money with your
mo. never had more than so or $l5
at a time. My sister forwarded the
money 10 me at various points along the
road. never paid any toll and my lodg-
lngs We're never eXI ensiye. Sometimes l
stopped at the ranches along the way,
bat 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
| twinkling stars. i was content. The
night air was cool and inyigorating. and
the silence around was very solemn and
| impressive. There was nothing TO dis
| turb me as / lay there peacefully SUM
bering. The birds chirping and singing
in the trees and brush would awake me
in the morning, and would Immediately
arise and away on my journey. During
the day all was quiet. The only sound
| 10 break the stiffness was the
birds Occasionally a 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 sometimes was almost oppressive.
but more especially on the plains, where
no shade was TO be found"
Did you not find the continual riding
in the saddle wearisomeF'
No. The Chicago saddle got in the
trade was made for a man, SO / generally
used it IN the manner il was intended for.
When / was travelling on the prairie or in
the forest, or in fact any place outside Of
town or city, / straddled the saddle
man-fashion. OF course. il was incon-
venient TO some extent TO ride this way
with a dress on, for j wore nothing but a
dress during the whole trip. When /
neared q settlement / changed my style,
and rode as if on side-saddle. Once
again away from life and civilization /
changed my manner of riding, and thus
oyercame to some extent. the weari-
someness of the ride
How did your mare stand the jour
neyY'
kitty stood the trip first-rate, and she
is now recruiting and romping IN the
clover in Washington Territory, as she
deserves it. Yes, my father is living and
approyed of the expedikion."