Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-01-24
EN- MA LARSON.
Her Horseback Ride Across the Con-
tinent

Her Horseback Ride Across the Con.
tinent
San Francisco Chronicle.
There arrived in this city on Sunday
night a young woman from Seattle who
had just successfully completed tour
"across the plains" on horseback. The
heroine of the ride is Miss Emma Larson,
"a years old, American by birth and of
Scandinavian descent. Her hair is tiaxen
colored, her eyes 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 yesterday:
II formerly resided in California, but
some years ago removed with my folks to
Green Lake county, Wisconsin. My father
presented me with mare-"Kitty" is her
name She'll be 5 years old this spring
and l told my relatives on several occasions
that Kitty and were going to take trip
to California; but they only laughed at
me. They thought that l would never
attempt to cross the plains; but
they were mistaken, for Kitty" and
l and a yearling colt left Wisconsin on the
oath of last April. | was always fond OF
riding. | only took Kitty and the colt,
an oil-cOat a small buffalo robe, two saddle
blankets and a small sum of money.
When | started out l had a regular Texas
saddle, with two cinches on it, but it was
too hard and heavy, and so at the first Op-
pOrtunity traded it off for a Chicago sad
die. 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 l 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 / never
left the trail. followed the railroad line
to Rollins and then to Green river, thence
to Soda Springs, and from thence to Boise
City; from Boise City to Baker City, and
thence to John Days bridge; across John
Days river into Idaho; and then crossed
Snake river and rode on to PendletOn, and
from there l arrived at Portland about
October 10th. l would have ridden from
Portland here, but for the lateness of the
season and the scarcity of food on he
road.
what was your method of traveling?"
II generally started at daylight and rode
until II o'clock, and then rested until or
2 o'clock in the afternoon. At this time it
was cooler and l again started out and rode
until / would strike good feed for Kitty, or
if could not find it would ride until
sunset Iaveraged about twenty-five miles
a day, but my biggest days journey was
sixty-three miles, and that was on the Lara
mie plains. No. | never met any more
ferocious animals than deer or antelope.
The whole journey was pleasant and a
most enjoyable one. l saw no Indians to
amount to anything, but one day rode
with band of fifty from Big Sandusky to
the Green river. 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 With my robes
overhead but the blue vaulted sky and its
twinkling stars, was content. The night
air was cool and invigOrating and the
silence around was very solemn and op-
pressive. There was nothing to disturb
me as l lay there peacefully slumbering.
The birds chirping and singing in the trees
and brush would wake me in the morn
ing, 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 OF rabbit
would run across the path and perhaps
that would be the last sign OF moving life
YOU would see for hours. The heat some
times 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 wearisome?
No The Chicago saddle got in tie
trade was made for a 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
a town or city, straddled the saddle man
fashion. OF course. it was movement to
some extent to ride this way with a dress
on, for / wore nothing but dress during
the whole trip. When l neared settle
ment changed my style and rode as if on
a side-saddle. Once again away from life
and civilization changed my manner of
riding, and thus overcame, to some extent,