National Republican., 1883-08-02
EMMA LARsoN,s rR1P.
A Girls Long Horseback Ride to CSIiforn

A Girls Long Horseback Ride To California.
Cheyenne Lcddor.
Hello how far is IL to the next town.
These words greeted the ears Of w. w.
Davis aud family as they sat at supper at
their residence, Sixteenth and ONeill streets,
Mr.. Davis looked out of the open door of
his dining room upon Sixteenth street. He
saw there an unusual picture. A fino. large
sorrcl mare, with ycarling colt at her side,
was standing by tho sidewalk. Upon tho
mares back sat young woman sidewise in
mans saddle. She had on u mans broad
brimmcd hat, close-ftting blue-and-whito-
checked calico dress, rough lace shoes, and on
ono foot was mans stirrup yellow rub
Der coat was tied up behind the saddle. Tho
young woman was sunburnt and travel
stained, but sat erect and looked as If she was
able to take care of herself She was "a girl of
about 20 or % years of age, having an intelli-
gent incc, with comcly features Her hair,
which was brown, was cut somewhat short
and banged. Her complexion was of tho hue
that wind and sun puts on u man or woman,
and her lips were chapped from the same
cause. She had bright, gay eyes and
straight handsome nose.
What town do you wantY
'The next town, whatever it is,"
where are you travelling tot"
ITO California"
"Alone2n
eyes, alone and camping out. Where can L
find good grass 2"
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis, like good, hospitable.
people, invited the young lady to dismount
and partake of some supper. She washed her
hands and face, sat down to the table, and
talked about the trip she was making.
my home is at Kingston, Green Lake
county, Wis, she said, "where l live with my
father. l once spent some time visiting in
4
ago. l have for several years thought of
starting in the spring and making the jour-
ney on horseback, and this year / made up
my mind that i would try il. | have been
eight weeks on the road. From my home to
the Mississippi river the distance is $50
miles; it is $50 across the state of Iowa, as 1
travelled and then 500 and more to Cheyenne.
So | have come over thousand miles on
horseback and alone"
Have you good horseP"
Indeed | have. They wanted mo to give
up my trip at Kenrney. Why some folks
there grew real angry with me because | per-
sisted in going on. They wanted me to sell
my mare and colt and take the money to pay
my passage. But do not need money, and
I'll never part with that mare. She's good
animal, has speed as q trotter, and she weighs
as much to pound as when l started with
her. To-day | have ridden twenty-eight
miles, but that is more than l generally make.
/ travel mornings and evenings and | stop q
long while at noon. | started with side
saddle, but it made the mares back sore, so
traded it Off for mans saddle. At night l
picket the marc and lie close to tho picket
She can't move but know it. She got away
twice, though. Once / followed her afoot
more than ten miles and caught her in a herd
of thirty horses"
What bedding have you in camping outP'
Nothing but that yellow slicker and the
saddle-blanket. l haven't suffered from the
cold, but its gets awful lonely sometimes at
night, when the coyotes are bowling"
Have you been annoyed by tramps"
mot a great deal. go back from the rail-
way at least two miles and avoid them. Once
a tramp came upon me in a lonely place when
| had the saddle off my mare, and began talk
ing / directed his attention to some emf
grants of at distance, and slipped on the
saddle, buckled the foresinch, and galloped
danger and carry no firearms"
How do You manage about eating?"
"There l have trouble. If l don't strike
station at meal time I get nothing to
eat. Why I've gone all day often without
eating-two days sometimes. 1t was hard at
| first, but 1 got used to it, 1 don't want to
travel with emigrants; there's no glory in
that. ] have set out to do this trip alone. i
have been the last day or two travelling at
about the Same rate with some emigrants ia
Washington territory. Sometimes they're
ahead sometimes l am. But don't camp
| with them"
would you mind telling me your nameF
Emma LARSON"
Miss EmmaY
"Yes sirnNN lolsi'Nl