The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-12
A Girls Long Ride.

Hello! how far is 1t 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, Six
tenth and 0'Neil streets.
Mr.. Davis locke out of the open door of
his dining room upon Sixteenth street. He
saw there an unusual picture A fine, large
sorrel mare, with yearling colt at her side,
was standing by the sidewalk. Upon the
mares back sat a young woman sideways on
mans saddle. She had Oh a broad
brimmed mans hat, olose-ftting 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 tray
el-stained, but sat erect, and looked as II
she were able to take care of herself.
u Mr. Davis walked to the door.
"What town do You want?' he said.
"The next town, whatever 1t Ii"
well, there's station on the Union Pa
cific some miles on, but you're not looking
for It, suppose. Where are you travel
ing?"
ITO California"
''Alone?"
Eyes, alone, and camping out. Where
can | find good grass9"
MIR. and Mrs. Davis, like good, hospltabe
people, invited the young woman to dis
mount and partake of some supper. She
washed her hands and face, sat down to the
table and talked about the trip she was max
ing.
MY home is at Kingston, Green Lake
County, Wisconsin" she said, where live
with my father. / once spent some time
visiting in Southern California, bat 1t was
some years ago. have for several years
thought of starting in the spring and max
ing 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 river the dis
tance is $50 miles; it is $50 across the State
OF Iowa, as travelled, aud 500 and more to
Cheyenne. So have come over 1000 miles
on horseback and alone.''
Have you good horse?n
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 aud take the money
to pay my passage. But do not need mon
ey, and I'll never part with that mare. She's
a good ANIMAL has speed as a 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. travel mornings and ev-
enings, and | stop long time at noon |
started with side saddle, but il 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 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. | havn't suffered from the
cold, but it gets awful lonely sometimes at
night, when the coyotes are howlng."
Have you been annoyed by tramps?i
Not great deal. go back from the
railroad at least two miles and avoid them.
Once tramp came upon me in a lonely
place when had the saddle off the mare
and began talking. l directed his attention
to some emigrants off at a distance, and
slipped on the saddle, buckled the fore sineh
and galloped off, But Pm not afraid. /
never think OF danger, and carry no fire
arms"
How do you manage about eatinggi
There | have trouble. If don't strike
station at meal time get nothing to eat.
Why, I've gone all day often without eating
two days sometimes. 1t was hard at first,
but got used to it,
1t was suggested that she might fall in
with some emigrants and travel in their
train.
Il don't want to travel with emigrants.
There's no glory in that. have set out 10
90 this trip alone. have been the last day
or two-tSayeling at about the sameyrate with
some emigrants 10 Washington Territory.
Sometimes | am. But l don't camp with
them.n
Would you mind telling me your namep''
Emma Larson
miss Emma?'
Eyes, sir"