The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-10-08

N~a0oN VI AAC hAtAAts A1t bNN0oeR -
the persuasive and eloquent voice of
the speaker. In the end and at the
final wind-up of his discourse, he
solemnly declared that, IF Christ
be not risen, then there is no resur-
rection of the dead"
When in Kansas the emigrants
felt safe, as they we're rapidly gain
ing the outskirts Of civilization and
would soon pass into the wilds of
the so-called desert. And 1t was a
desert in those days. The only set
tiers after few days of travel con-
sisted of isolated farmers and stock
growers. Then the settlements
ceased altogether.
Sees First Indians.
At Fort Kearney were a few gov
eminent troops and some very dirty
and ragged Indians, the first we had
seen. From there on We followed
up the south side of the South Platte
river, muddy and sluggish stream
without any semblance of life along
its banks. No trees and no vegeta-
ton, but one continued vista of de-
sert and alkali water for drinking
purposes.
The water was found by digging a
small hole beneath the sod Of wire
grass, which soon filled. Generally
could not drink 1t until 1t had been
boiled. Prickly pears and sage brush
were everywhere ON the plains. The
sage was used for fuel, together with
buffalo chips, and it was a part of
the writer's duty to provide fuel.
Saw No Buffalo.
The brush was cut and carried to
camp and the chips we're gathered
up and put in sacks and taken to the
same destination. The old sluggish
and repellant stream was always
present and presented anything but
an inviting view. Wild fowl would
not stay on it and it had no fish in
its waters.
After what seemed an intermin-
able time In the hot sun and blow
ing sand the party reached the first
eminences. They we're called Chin
ney and Courthouse rocks. These
eminences rose abruptly from the
plain near the road and several of
the party and others assembled to
the top of the steepest of these.
Not single buffalo was seen on
the entire trip, but chameleons were
plentiful in places, and the varying
colors of them would change their
colors from yellow to blue while one
was looking at them. No game was
seen except few antelope.
Meets Relatives on Trail.
An agreeable surprise awaited our
party when travelling along the
Platte river. An older brother of
the writer and a married sister were
supposed to be living near Kansas
City, but one day a travelling outfit
was encountered that contained them
both, together with the sisters hus-
band. This encounter was regarded
as one of the most agreeable of the
entire trip. After that the two par
ties travelled together.
Nothing to impede progress was
reached a point on the Platte about
80 miles below Julesburg. There
some freight wagons were crossing
the river with long string of yoked
cattle to each wagon. They seemed
to be in a hurry to get over and were
taking chances in the treacherous
quicksands of the river, but they
made 1t alright and 1t was we'll they
did for the next morning the old
Platte was up to its banks and over
flowing. 1t was the June rise and
the SHOWS were melting freely in
the mountains of Colorado.
Crossing OF the Platte.
Next day a flat boat appeared
from somewhere, piloted by two men,
They were there for a purpose, and
that was to ferry the emigrants
across the river. The boat was just
large enough to hold single wagon
and it was propelled by oars. Five
dollars a trip was the price charged
and soon the ferrymen had all they
could do and more. They worked
from daylight until dark and still
there was no impression made upon
the number OF covered wagons pres
ent. The emigrants were told that
crossing could be made at Jules
burg, but they would not leave, as
they knew they could cross some
time, and. as to Julesburg, we'll that
was an unknown quantity. After
waiting for days the party to which
the writer belonged got across by
swimming their cattle.
Saves Son From Drowning.
While the cattle were being driv-
en- across and made to swim, the eld-
err brother of the writer, Henry c..
Wilkinson, who afterwards reach
ed Montana and taught the first
school in Adobetown, Alder gulch, in
the fall of 1864, got separated from
the cattle when In deep water. Had