The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-08-06
By Martha Edgerton Plassmann


to the West in covered wagons,
drawn by oxen, horses, or mules.
1t was primitive mode Of travel,
that is almost as obsolete in these
DAYS of automobiles, as the two
wheeled carts in which, we read, the
princesses of ancient Greece took
their outings, or with their maids,
went to the rivers to do their laun-
dry work.
The moving pictures have made
us familiar with the appearance of
these vehicles (as the producer
visioned thein)-so far as the ex-
terror appearance is concerned-but
the covered wagon" they depict
ed, differs in some respects from
those / learned to know so well
during a three months journey
across the Plains in 1868.
We QUILTED at Omaha, then a
wretched little hamlet set in the
mud on the bank of the Missouri
river. 1t had but one notable build
ling--the state house-situated on a
bluff some distance from the town.
On this bluff, my cousin Lucia
and | picked wild strawberries, by
way of passing time, while we
were awaiting the conclusion of the
necessary preparations for the
journey. In order to reach the
state house we had to follow the
broken board walks as far as they
extended and then take to the mud.
The man who kept the frame
hotel where we stopped, was
plunged into the depths OF melan-
choly. He had no faith in the fu-
ture Of the town, and was anxious
| to sell out before the river engulf-
ed the townsite. While we were at
Omaha, it rained nearly every day,
which did not tend to increase our
admiration of the place. We
heartily synpathized with our inn
keeper.
At length, with all things in
readiness, one dismal rainy even
ing, the women and children of our
party were driven out in carriages
few miles, where our small group
of covered wagons awaited us,
These we examined with consider
liable curiosity, both without and
within.
! Unlike the wagons Of the movies,
our wagons had the bows, over
which the canvas was stretched, of
equal height throughout the en-
tire length. There was no seat
perched up in front, except on
those which carried freight. In
driving oxen, one walks by their
Iside, guiding them by voice or by
lwhip, not using the reins; and OK
en- were to serve as our motive pow
err, as they were not so much COW
eted by the Indians, as horses OF
mules. New and green, with de
corative touches of red, the wag-
on boxes and wheels, might have
looked quite picturesque in tht
sunshine, with their snow-whitt
canvas coverings; but the sun die
mot shine; the rain kept up steady
drip, drip. drip, that was depress
ling to hear, and a general air Of
gloom overhung the scene.
The tent where my father, moth
err, and my two small brothers
were TO sleep, was already set up
awaiting our arrival. Lucia, my
six year old sister, and |, clambor
ed into our wagon. There W.
found two benches on either side
and a bed at the rear end. 1t be
ling both dangerous and revealing
to use a candle, we undressed b,
the dim light OF lantern without
Once in bed, there were but fey
inches between our faces and tn
canvas overhead.
This was my first experienc
in sleeping out Of doors, and ! wa
Young enough to enjoy it. Morn
ing came all too soon, bringin
. with it the unwelcome news tina
our cattle had disappeared, an
could not be found. 1t was sti
raining; but everyone was hungr
and breakfast must be cooked o
! the sheet-iron camp stove under
! protective covering. A disagree
! able task in fair weather, the raj
l increased the difficulties.
/ At the back of the Sanders w;
gon and of ours, we're mess box'