The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-20
OLD OREGON TRAIL.
Pioneer Who Followed It TO Retrace
1t to Starting Point.

A few weeks ago the people of
Seattle were treated to a spectacle
which was novel to most of them. A
gray-bearded man and his family rode
into town in reproduction of one of
the old prairie schooners drawn by
pair of docile oxen. The company
camped for week in the centre of
the city, attracting much attention.
Then the anachronous outfit started
for Indianapolis.
The old man was Ezra Meeker, once
known as the HOP kin" of the North
west. In 1852 he journeyed from In
dianapolis to the extreme West over
the famous Oregon Trail in a prairie
schooner. AS one of the closing events
of his life he is carrying out an ambi-
ton to retrace his journey in the same
manner and mark the trail with posts
SO that its course will not be lost.
He expects to occupy eight months in
the journey, the length of time which
the outward journey took fifty-four
years ago. The schooner he has was
especially built for the trip, portions
of similar vehicles which were in use
in the SOS having been included
wherever possible. The body was
made watertight for use in crossing
streams. y
In journeying up the shore of the
Columbia and Snake rivers to the
headwaters of the latter, through the
South Pass and down the Sweetwater,
the North Platte and Platte rivers,
the route of the Oregon Trail, Mr..
Meekerwill find the scenery somewhat
He will meet with Indians, possibly,
but he will have less to fear from
them, for they have become thoroughly
acquainted with the white man. But
no bleaching bones of previous travel
lers will stare up at him suggestive
ly as he trundles down through the
beautiful Green river valley In Wyom-
Ing toward the South Pass. And he
Will not find 1t necessary ITO Stay
horses or dogs. or attempt to secure
soup from the soles of old moccasins,
as some of the earlier travellers over
this route were obliged to do in order
to sustain life. He will not meet with
the experiences which were the lot
of the party that discovered the trans
continental route which became known
as the. Oregon Trail.
( This party had a horrible time
while trying to find its way over the
continental divide to the headwaters
of some river which would carry 1t
to the Pacific. for starvation stared it
in the face.
The party was divided into two
groups. One under man named
Hunt. comprised thirty-four persons,
including squaw and two children,
aged two and four years, respectively. g
In the other were half dozen per-
sons. under man named Crooks. The
two were separated by a swift stream.
Both parties were hard pressed for
food The larger party had only two
horses which could be. used for food,
while the other had been reducer to
the extremity Of making soup from old
m0ccasins. S% &
One Of the horses was killed for
meat and to provide q hide with which
to make q boat to transport some II
the meat across to the party on the
other shore. Before any Of the meat
4 could be taken across the river, how
ever, Il was devoured by the famished
members Of the party. With the excep-
ton Of the spare horse, which had
been turned over to the squaw for the
transportation Of herself and children,
Z there was nownothing left to- eat.
except three beaver skins. The party
was on the point Of killing the second
animal also when Q few members
came upon an Indian camp. The