Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-12-21
EMMA L4RSONS RIDE,
The Wisconsin Girl Who Started
Across the Plains on Horseback
Reaches San Francfsco
San francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Chronicle
There arrived in this city on Sunday
nlghta young woman from Seattle who
has just successfully completed tour
across the plains on horseback The
heroine of the ride is Miss Emma Lar
son, "a years old, American by birth,
and of Scandinavian decent. Her
hair Is tiaXen -colored. her ewes are
gray, she is very firmly built. and
presents an appearance of health and
strength. The following is the story of
her travels as detailed by her to a
Chronicle reporter:
I formerly resided ii California,
but some years ago removed with my
folks to Green Lake County. Wis
Ny father presented me with mare
kitty is her name She'll be 5 years
old this spring, and | told my relatives
on several occasions that Kitty and !
We're going to take 4 trip to California,
but they only laughed at me. They
thought that [ would never attempt to
cross the plains. but they were mis-
taken, for Kitty and | and a yearling
colt left Wisconsin or the 24th of last
April. | was always fond of riding.
only took Kitty and the colt, an oil
coat, a small buffalo robe, two saddle
blankets, aud a small SUM Of money.
When l started out | had a regular
Texas saddle, with two cinches on it,
but it vas TOO hard and heavy, 50 at
the first opportunity traded it off for
u Chicago saddle For about 200 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
Inns was the worst part of the trip
There may have been ranches some
distance from the road, but I never
left the trail. ! followed the railroad
line to Rollins and then to Green
River, thence to Soda Springs, aud
from there to Boise City, from Boise
City to Baker City and thence to John
Days Bridge, across John DAYS
River, into Idaho; then l crossed
Snake River and rode on to Pendleton,
ana from there | arrived at Portland
about Oct. 10. | would have ridden
from Portland here but for the late
ness of the season and the scarcity of
food on the road p"
What was your method of travel
ing"
i generally started at daylight and
rode until 1 o'clock. and then rested
until | or ? o'clock in the afternoon.
At this time it was cooler and again
started out and rode until would find
good feed for Kitty, or if | could not
find it | would ride until sunset. [
averaged about twenty FIVE miles
day, but my biggest days journey was
siNty-threc miles, and that was on the
Laramie Plains. No, | never met
any alore ferOciouS animals than deer
or antelope. The whole journey was
pleasant and most enjoyable one. |
saw no indians to amount to ANYTHING.
but one day rode with a band of fifty
from Big Sandusby To the Green Riv-
err. [ never paid any toll, and my
lodgings were never expensive Some
times l stopped at the ranches along
the way, but | preferred to sleep on
the prairie or the mountain side.
W It'll my robes drawn arOand me, and
no other covering overhead but the
blue vauIted sky and its twinkling
stars, | was content The night air
was cool and invigoratiug, and the
silence around was very solemn and
impressive There was nothing to
disturb me as | lay there peacefully
slunberlug. The birds chipping and
singing in the trees and brush would
awake me III the morning. and would
Immediately arise and away on my
journey. During the day all was
quiet. The only sound to 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 wearisomeI'
NO. The Chicago saddle | got in the
trade was made for man. so | gener-
ally used it in the manner it was in
tended 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 1t was announcement to some ex-
tent to ride this way with a dress on.
for | wore nothing but dress during
the whole trip. When | nearea a set
Element | changed my style and rode
as if on sida-saddle. Once again
away from life and civilization |
changed my manner of riding, and
thus | 0vercame. to some extent, the
Wearlsomeness of the ride"