The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-19
OREGON PIONEERS.
pRIVATlONS WHICH ACCOMPANIED
THE TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS.

THE TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS.
How Judge Tolman and Wife Took
Bridal Tour of 2,OcO 31iles-EyinS with
the Cholera-Borcowing Span OF
Mules-lIeetins the NoGocs.
While seated before cheerful fire, IN the
house of Judge Tollnan, the other evening, 1
said to Mrs Tolman WHO was seated near
with some light work in her hand:
I'm what year did YOU come to Oregon"
We had been talking about the early days,
and the Indians getting ready for the ceie-
brated Rogue River war;
I'VE came here in the summer OF -.
"You have several times mentioned incl
dents connected with Your journey across
the country, and should en- soy hearing you
tell the whole story" So the brave woman
told it to me, and this is alout what she
said:
Our company. numbering sixty five per-
sons and SIXTEEN wagons, lett OS"aiooSI,
Iowa. on the 18th of April, Mr.. Tolnlan and
having been married but TWO days pravl-
ously. So the journey was my wedding
trip. The company was mainly organized
ut Ottumwa, fifteen miles distant, where
Mr. Toman had resided. BY common con-
sent be was chosen to act as its leader Or
captain.
No sooner were our backs turned to the
Missouri than begau the usual annoying at
tentions from the Pawn q and Omaha In
Gians, though they showed US no hostility.
The Pawnees were q nation OF lncorrlSlbe
beggars, and at night they swarn!ed about
our tent as thick as mus iuitoes III the hope
of obtaining the things they so terventjy
coveted. After considerable such maneu-
verins on their part, Mr.. Tolman saga
ciously hired their cliei to escort us beyond
the bounds of the tribe
We were now in q region where water to
,oueuch our thirst could seldom be procured
except from the turbId Iiat,e aad where
dry weeds, grass and buEa!o chips We're tho
only fuel / he heat was intense. There
was no such thing as shade
COUPLE OS CHARACTERISTIC INCIDENTS
"One day we came upon wagon drawn
out upon the roadside. From IL man
voice in. ,uired ii there were a physician III
our company.
"'Hes,' was the answer.
"NSill he not stop and see woman who
is ILL he asked.
The doctor alighted and found patient
in the last stages OF cholera, the company to
which the parties belonged had passed on
and left tn M to fare us best they could.
Further on we observed a freshly made
grave which the rapaciouS coyotes had in
yaded. A number Of human bones were
scattered about, and on a narrow bit Of
board near | read the name OF an intimate
friend of mine, who had preceded us but
lew days.
Our train was well out from Fort Lara
mie when there dashed up beside our car
riage tall, well-bulit, broa :.shouldered
man with jct-biack eyes, a Spanish COM
plexion, and the air de5perado. He was
mounted upon a small MeAican burro, out
of all proportion to his own size, and alto
gether cut most lud;crous figure. Adj
dressing my husband abruptly, he said:
LOOK here, stranger, see You have two
mules following this train which you are
lot using. Now, want you to help Inc
take them to draw my wagon, which you
saw LACK here by the roadside, to Ireka,
Cal, where [ understand you are going.
AMI more than that, l want to travel with
Your train. And whel we get through,
my woman and will just vacate the wagon,
and you viii be welcome to it, mules and
all
".Wel, that sounds we'll, in man I
never saw Cefore,' replied Mr Tolman
looking up much amused. Il doubt if these
mules will prove very good purpose.
They have never been broken. But
low do you happen to find yourself in
sucl a fix
Well, you see,' said the fellow, Il had
two good mules when l left Texas. Or,
rather, another man and started with two
teams and the one heavy wagon, but one
night he TOOK the best team and lit out in
the darkness, leaving me two little speci-
mems like this, and they are not strong
enough to pull US through. But I can
break your mules if you'll just let Inc
have them. haven't any money and can't
pay you for them, but you shall have my
wagon
"'Take them,' said Mr. Tolman The fell
low did, and upon our arrival in Ireka
delivered lup bis wagon, saying he had no
further use for it
AN ESCAPE FROM THE MoDocs
"Toward the last of June we entered the
famous valley Of the Sweetwater river and
We're greeted with fine view of that his
toric object, Independence rock Cur pro-
gress up the stream was between two lofty
mountain ranges with majestic scenery all
around. "tron that time on nothing eEcit-
ing Happened until we invaded the realms
of the Modoc Indians, who were now in q
particularly hostile frame OF mind A
train preceding us having been attacked
and some of the party murdered by the saw
ages, the people Of Shasta county. Califor-
MIA, quickly ra ;sed and sent out to meet US
a company OF mounted volunteers, who
formed our escort for two days before
reaching the Modoc territory. At the i'm
mediate entrance to Modoc lake the usual
roads winds past locality called Bloody
Point. Here the band lay in wait for us,
concealed among the tules, and watching
our descent Of rocky Lluf, but a little dis
tant
'Fortunately for US, however, our guides
having discovered short "cut Off, leading
around tho lake opposite their lurking place,
conducted our train through that, and
brou2 bit US out into q sweet vallty,
stretching away from the lake, ere the Ill
dlans discovered that they were outwitted
But now they started in pursuit SO we
halte,l, drew our wagons up in compact
order, and awaited call from the warriors
They were much chagrined at our good gen.
eralship, but protested to tue soldiers that
they simply wanted to learn where we were
going.
I'VE entered Yreka August q, without
y H. L. r1n