Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-30

AZ the annual meeting Of the Ne
bmsm Historical society Mr. Henry r.
CLARKE OF Omaha. one Of the pioneers Of
Nebraska ais well as one OF the fore
most men In the state delivered the
following interesting address relating
to HE i'm the West over forty years
ago:
III with pleasure that respond to
the request for some word "a to the
early Frc.ehung' as | realize that
few are left to tell the story Of those
times,
But little frelghtlng was done north
Of the Platte river until the opening OF
the Pixies Peak gold excitement. about
1859 The route from Bellevue, where we
out6tted and freghted from, and from
Omaha, was westerly, crossing the Elk
horn river by ferry. or ford near Elk
horn city nearly west from Omaha,
entering the ElkhOrn and Platte valleys
az that point. and thence up the Platte
valley Some crossed the Platte 20 the
south eide at Shinn's ferry. owned by
Elder Shinn, few miles southwest Of
the present town Of Schuyler. ColfaX
county others continuing up the Platte
on the north side 20 a point near old
Fort Kearney and Dobyt0wn, crossing by
fordns the river TO the south side Of the
Platte there and continuing on the
south side OF the Platte and Of the
South Platte 10 Pixies Peak or Cherry
Creek. now the beautiful city Of Denver.
Many Of the CaIfornIans and Nor
mons going to Salt Lake city and Cal
ifornia kept on the north side Of the
Platte and up the north fork by old land
marks, Court house and Shlmney rocks
(the former eight miles southeast and
ths latter seven miles west Of Camp
Clark, and on west.
The roads were usually very fine and
the grass good were It not so, II would
have been hard to supply the mining
population.
A train usually consisted Of from
twenty-five or twenty-s teams. five
yoke OF cattle 70 a team, and two wag-
ons loaded with 1000 pounds on the
front and 5000 pounds on the trailer or
rear wagon, with a short pole. There
were also two-hOrse cook wagons Us
ually wagon boss, or manager, and
assistant, had charge, and whose pay
varied from y75 to $50 a month, and
teamsters, at from SS5 TO $50 per month.
Men usually slept under wagons; some-
times trains carried and used tents, and
at times the men crawled under wagon
covers.
In going into camp the teams would
form a corral, swinging TO the right and
left until they came together and fol-
lowing In this way the first wheels OF the
rear wagon, and when all were In form
Ing a complete corral, oval IN shape,
leaving only room for the cattle 10 pass
out. The opening was closed tS chains
when the cattle were In andfhe whssls
OF the wagons we're all chained together
so that in yoklng wild cattle the corral
would be able TO hold them. and in case
OF attack by Indians, we would be able
to protect ourselve behind the wagons.
The cattle were then unyoked and driv-
IN out 20 water and feed, we keeping
two or more men with them so that
they would not stray or stampede
When ready TO bring In the cattle to
yoke they were all driven within the
corral each man getting HIS own teams
The usual drive was fifteen 10 eigh-
teen miles a day, one team trailing on
after the others. Many OF the wagon
bosses and men could take the time Of
night by the position Of the big dipper
to the north star when the sky was
clear. Usually we would start the teams
IN the spring as soon as grass was up,
50 as to make good feed. and, with ac-
tive work make two trips TO Denver
1900 mlles) and return in a season. II
spring and grass were backward, at
lines we had TO drive back late In the
Tall to reach the Missouri river. or
would grass" cattle in the sand hills
u Western Nebraska, where the buff
'alO grass was plenty, until spring,
FROM TIE MUDDY TO DENVER.
The prices paid for OK team freight
were usually from 4 to z cents per
pound from the Missouri river to Den
yer, Oxen would have no feed but
grass. and men We're in camp from
spring until the season was through
The cooking was usually done on sheet
Iron or cast iron stoves, or pots and
bakeovens In absence OF stoves. The
bill OF fare usually was Of dry salt side
pork, bacon, corn meal, -four beans
dried apples. coffee. tea and sugar, US
Ing buffalo chips" for fuel
When in camp in dry weather the
men would be looking to the setting OF
tires Of the wagons, and IL any were
loose, not having machinery to reset
or upset, or shorten the tire. the wag-
on felloe would be increased with one
or two thicknesses Of heavy cotton
duck tackled on. Then this would be
met and the wagon tire placed on the
ground surrounded by buffalo chips"
and set on FIRE. When red hot and
fully expanded It would be lifted on to
the wheel and as soon as In place, wa
ter poured ON 80 az not 10 burn tho