Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-22
CROSSING TIE PLAINS.
ElTLROADiNG WITH OK TEAMS
In EARLY DAYS.
Interesting Account of Pioneer Jour
neyinS for Golden California
Incidents and Trials.

| shall never forget that question ana
look of surprise of Rev Mr.. Spaulding the
bookstore man Of Dubuque, Iowa-''And
have you got the California fever, too?
when he heard was about to cross the
plains in the spring of 1852 had Just re-
turned from Cleveland, Ohio, where had
finished my second and last course of med
ical lectures. If | could then have COM
manded twenty-five dollars in cash. or q
respectable partnership in the practice of
medicine, should have said, Il am not
going to California" But friend of mine
who could not spare me the above sum.
said if he were a young man he would try
his fortune in the land Of gold So took
ut once necessity's and wisdom's advice.
Here am.
Ny two neighbors and old acquaint-
ances were Just getting ready seven wag-
ons for the long and toilsome journey. /
applied to them for passage and they
saved me from all details as to terms by
informing me that the outfit was complete
III men and all other requirements, and
was too late. This, too, was finality to
passage. / rather think that these neigh
bors thought ! had been a school teacher
too long, and was rather too quiet and sed-
entary TO face the trials and labors of such
u1p, and 10 come up TO their idea of an
OK driver and camp laborer. And they
were not far wrong, for the
OVERLAND JOURNEY WITH AN OK TEAMIH
1852 was like the road over Jordan. Mighty
hard to travel" Ii was "long pull and
strong pull, and pull altogether" |
started over just decently clad, and on ar
irving AT Placerville | was shored up and
pinned up until, actually, | had not a
button on me. Let no one say" You could
have run out and got buttons and thread
and needle, and have made better entrance
than that into the land of gold" | say you
are another; for there were no stores on
the way-not one. 1t is true had met a
few men going back on pack mules, but
before could have said button, or thread.
or needle, these quick-stepping mules, who
always know just where to put their feet
down, and the rafting spurs of the rider
bore them past me and not a soul looked
back. Now, of course | was gently bred
and expected to say Good morning" before
Introducing the subject of needles, etc, but
not one made bow nor even spoke to me.
LEAVING THE STATES.
To return to the beginning of my story:
Johns and Moore brought their families
along. Each had quite family, and each
family had q neat two-horse wagon to ride
in. To save the hardships Of crossing Iowa
all the wagons were TO be sent across bv
land, and the families were to go by the
way of ST. Louis up the Missouri river on
steamboat. The outfit of provisions was to
be bought at st. Louis, and the wagons
were to cross Iowa without a load, and it
would be heavy hauling at that. But upon
counting noses and adding up the cost of
steamboat fare, it was found to be a heavier
draft upon their purses to go by steam than
npon their animals by land; and here was
the change in the kaleidoscope for me-
They needed trusty person to go by St
Louis to buy the outfit of provisions. And
now rejoice all We Western pedagogues /
was taken In as passenger intrusted with
three hundred dollars and had a first-class
steamboat ride to st. Louis, and then to
Council Bluffs, where | arrived in time
with the needed supplies. learned that
they would cross the Missouri from Coan-
Gil Bluffs in about three days; that our six
wagons were registered at the ferry. and
would cross when the wind lulled. and
new boat was launched The goods were
soon placed aboard our wagons in good
shape, and then we took gaze or two
westward, trying in imagination to see
across the continent
PREPARING FOR INDIANS.
got out my little brass pistol and pre-
pared for all dangers of the way by trying
what | could hit, for really / had never
given 1t trial since a st. Louis Jew cheated
me into buying it seven years before
now set my hat on the fence and took sew
eral shots at it. but could not hit it. and
concluded that ii was because was afraid
OF spelling the hat, and that a man would
be so much larger target that / would
surely hit one if / shot at him, and put
II up. thinking l might not have to use il
any way.
Meantime the new boat was finished and
ready to launch, the old one was ready to
be bailed out, and then our turn came
10 cross over. Moore had been elected
Captain of our teams, and we at once
Joined another company of fifty wagons
from Rock river, and felt safe and
strong. BY this time the whole country for
miles around was literally covered with
wagons, and il was a question how in the
world they should all be ferried over
IN two little boats, that could carry each
only two wagons at time.
TouI MILES OF WAGONS.
And now comes in what seemed to me
would be an inevitable tragedy. The
Hardy (Ben, Think train consisted Of
sixty wagons, and forty-eight had crossed
over before the crossing had been inter
rupted. BY some way few teams were
crossed over before the last twelve Of the
Hardy train, and it was believed they had
thereby lost their turn. The dispute was
between our train of fifty-six wagons and
the Hardy train of sixty Those of the
Hardy train who had crossed over came
back to help settle the natter When ev-
erythlng was ready for crossing the wac
ons, IN two columns, stood side by side at
the edge OF the water, the tongues crossing
each other. The other wagons were ar
ranged behind so close that the box of one
WAGON touched another, the tongue being
under the forward wagon. / was informed,
and think il was true, that the length of
TIE two trains which thus met at the ferry
landing, extended back into the country
four miles. When wagon was put
aboard the boat the next wagon was rolled
INTO Its place, and the next behind came
forward, until the whole four miles of
wagons we're moved forward. Those whose
turn was to come next, fell in when room
was made, four miles from the ferry. That
beats waiting at a city Postoffice
Lest this may stagger belief allow me to
say that II became necessary to bring up
steam ferry-boat from ST. Louis to enable
- - - NA4>st
the aid of this ferry many did not get across
until the season was sar advanced But we
left the wagons of the Rock riyey and Hardy
trains fronting the ferry landing, with the
tongues crossed, and the forces OF each train
at the wheels ready 30 put them on the
boats by main strength. When the boat
touched the bank our train forced its wag-
ons aboard, while a part helped TO hold the
other wagons from moving.
ALMOST A Ba-ri.E.
Need ] say that many a bulldog
showed his face, and many q knife gilt
tered in the air; coats were thrown of and
so.as breasts barred, with-"5 dare you to
strike Some kindly Providence brought
the peaeeIpaker to the front. wao, by pow
erful exeruoas, prevented bloody scene.
The ferryman decided that the twelve
wagons should cross first and then our
tram oil fifty-siE: and all was quiet Oh the
MISSOURI. As J have so far taker none OF
the honors TO myself, / hope you wall ex-
cuse me- If sayEhat was on hand with
my brass pistol
We got across the river about noon our
landing being aNou. where the town of
onaha ought 10 have been; but there was
no sign OF town, save one Indian trading
post. We had our dinaer in a tent. for the
women OF our train crossed over first and
mad the table set sn the ground
We haG as guest an Oms la Chief. YOUNG
an stately, With raven black hair, dressed