Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-19
A WISCONSIN GIRLS RIDE.
Emma LarsOn's Romantic "Trip from
Kingston to California.

Hello! how far is it to the next
town.
These words greeted the ears of Mr..
W. w. Davis and family as they sat
at supper yesterday evening at their
residence, Sixteenth and O'Neil streets
Mr. Davis looked out of the open
door Of his dining-roOm upon Six
teenth street He saw there an I'M
usual picture. A fine, large sorTeI
mare, with a yearling colt at her side,
was standing by the sidewalk. Upon
the mares back sat a young woman
sideways on a mans saddle. She had
on a broad brimmed mans hat, a
clOse-fitting blue and white calico
dress, rough laced shoes, and on one
foot was a mans stirrup. A yellow
rubber coat was tied up behind the
saddle. The young woman was sun
burnt and travel-stained, but sat erect,
and looked as if she We're able to take
care of herself
Mr.. Davis walked to the door
What town doyou want?" he said
THE next town, whatever it is"
We'll, there's a station on the
Union Pacific some miles on, but
you're not looking for it, [ suppose
Where are you travelling to-"
ITO CALIFORNIA"
'Alone?"
Yes, alone, and camping out.
Where can [ find good grass"
Mr.. and Mrs Davis, like good, hos
pitable people, invited the young lady
to dismount and partake of some sup
per. 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
I live with my father. [ once spent
some time visiting in Southern Cali
fornia, but it was some years ago. I
have for several years thought of
starting in the spring and making the
journey on horseback, and this year |
made up my mind that would do it.
| have been eight weeks on the road.
From my home to the Mississippi riv-
er, the distance is $50 miles; it is $50
across the State of Iowa, as [ travelled,
and 500 more to Cheyenne. Sol have
come over 1 900 miles on horseback,
and alone"
Have you a good horse?''
Indeed [ have. They wanted me
to give up my trip at Kearney. Why
some folks there grew real angry with
me because [ persisted 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 a good, has speed as trotter,
and she weighs as much to pound as
when [ started with her To-day [
have ridden twenty-eight miles, but
that is more than [ generally make. ,
SLICKER AND SADDLE BLANKET
| travel mornings and evenings, and
| stop long time at noon. [ started
with side saddle, but it made the
mares back sore, SO traded it off for
a mans saddle. At night picket the
mare and lie close to the picket She
can't move but I know it. She got
away twice, though Once I followed
her afoot more than ten miles, and
caught her in a herd of thirty horses. y
What bedding have you IN camp
ing out?''
Nothing but that yellow slicker
the saddle blanket. I haven't suffer
ed from the cold, but it gets awful
lonely sometimes at night, when the
coyotes are bowling
Have you been annoyed by
tramps?"
Not great deal. l 60 back from
the railroad at least two miles and
avoid them. Once a tramp came upon
me in lonely place when | had the
saddle off the mare and began talking
directed his attention to some emf
grants off at distance, and slipped
on the saddle, buckled the fore sinch