The Portland daily press., 1883-12-17
A woman's Exploit in the Saddle.


There arrived in this city on Sunday night
young woman from Seattle, who had just
successfully completed tour "aeross the
plains" on horseback. The heroine of the
ride is Miss Emma Larson, "a years old,
American by birth and of Scandinavian de-
scent. Her hair Is haxen-colored, her eyes
are gray, she is very irmlyIbuilt and pre-
sents an appearance of health and strength.
The following is the story of her travels, az
detailed by her to Chronicle reporter yes
terday:
81 formerly resided in California, but
some years ago removed with my folks to
Green Lake county, Wisconsin. My father
presented me with a mare-'Kitty' is her
name. She'll be eight years old this spring,
and l told my relatives on several occasions
that Kitty and were going to take a trip
to California; but they only laughed at me.
They thought that would never attempt to
cross the plains; but they were mistaken,
for Kitty and l and yearling colt left
Wisconsin on the oath of last April. was
always fond of riding I only took Kitty
and the colt, an oil-coat, small buffalo
robe, two saddle blanksts and small sum
OF money. When started out had reg
ular Texas saddle, with two ciuches on it,
but it was too hard and heavy, so at the
first opportunity, traded it off for Chica-
go saddle. For about 200 miles on one part
of the road-I did not see ranch, and for
three days and night 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 I never
left the trail. l 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 Pendleton, and from
there arrived at Portland about October
10. l 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 or
O'Clock in the afternoon. At this time 1t
was cooler and again started out and rode
until l would strike good feed for Kitty
or if could not find il l would ride until
sunset. l averaged about 25 miles a day,
but nay biggest days journey was SO miles,
and that was on the Laramie plains No.
| never met any more 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 band of 80 from Big
Sandusky TO TIE Green river / never paid
any toll and my lodgings were never expen-
sive. Sometimes stopped at the ranches
along the way, but l preferred to sleep on
the prairie on the mountain side. With
my robes drawn around me and no other
covering overhead but the blue vaulted sky
and its twinklng stars, l was content. The
night air was cool and invigorating, and the
silence around was very solemn and inn
pressive. There was nothing to disturb me
as | lay there peacefully slumbering The
birds chirping and singing in the trees and
brush would wake me in 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 startled hare or
rabbit would run across the path, and per-
haps 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 soade was
to be f0und.''
"Did yon not find the continual riding in
the saddle wearisOmaP
mo. The Chicago saddle got in the
trade was made for man, so generally
used it in the manner it 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 it was inconvenient to
some extent to ride this way with dress
on, for wore nothing but dress during
the whole trip. When neared settlement
changed my style and rode as if on side
saddle. Once again away from life and civ
ilization 1 changed my manner of riding,
and thus overcame, to some extent, the
| wearisomeness of the rides