Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-08-08

we made camp for the night close to
Creighton'S outfit. There we felt safe
Most Of our freight was hauled by
oxen, and for several reasons. Oxen
stood the journey better than horses,
and an OK train was less likely to be
attacked by Indians, who preferred
buffalo to OK meat, and had no other
use for oxen than to eat them. Horses
they always found desirable. These
they could steal and drive rapidly away.
The case was different with oxen, had
they cared to drive off a hundred or
SO. Oxen did not move fast for any
great length Of time.
The large canvas covered wagons in
which the freight was hauled in some
instances had sever yoke OF oxen at
tached, and it was no small task to
drive that number. Every train had a
Master" or "Wagon-Boss" on
whom rested the responsibility Of get
ting the train to its destination safely
and on time no matter what happened,
might serve as hindrances, if not
worse.
In order to do this, it was necessary
for the boss to keep his men from de-
sorting and the Xen in good condi-
ton. There was little danger of the
men DESERVING when once on the plains,
and away from the frontier towns.
They had too wholesome a fear OF
the Indians, and If they left the train,
they would be forced to go on foot.
The oxen and wagons needed to be
constantly looked after. Wagon tires
and wheels often came off and had to
be r~eadjusted, and the hoofs of the
oxen were frequently worn to the
quick, Then, order must be main
tanned among the men, and suitable
camping places planned for.
To drive the OK teams men were hired
ing the biographies Of Montana men.
found their way here as drivers in these
outfits. They chose this mode of travel
because lack Of money prevented them
from making the journey In any other
fashion, and at their destination, II
p%rovident, they would be assured OF
enough to live on for q time.
The drivers, termed "Bull-whackers
or Mule skinnerS," according to what
they drove, led a hard life. They did
not ride-they walked, day after day
in all sorts of weather, exposed to the
fierce rays Of the sun, to rain and hail
storms, or, what was worse, the clouds
OF dust from the wagons ahead, or
borne by the wind.
Their fare could not be called tempt
ing. On their daily menu bacon fig
ured principally, and bacon was not
thought to be q luxury in those days.
Fresh meat was unattainable except
at some small station en- route. For
the rest there were baking powder
biscuits and pancakes, coffee and tea,
and dried fruit by way Of desert. In
the words Of the old song, it could
truthfully be said of them, my lodg-
ing Is on the cold, cold ground; and
hard, very hard is my fare" But they
brought to their meals appetites whet-
ted by exercise, and the pure air OF
the plains when it was not tainted
by the carcasse Of dead animals by
the roadside. Many cattle died, and no
attempt was made to haul them out
Of sight. Fortunately, there was no
lack OF turkey buzzards, that soon dis
posed OF carriOn.
Like soldiers on the march, they
slept on the ground wrapped in blankets
or robes, often under the wagons that
protected them to q certain extent
They did their own laundry work and
tailoring. They might wear their
clothes without washing to the end
OF the journey, but clothes wore out
or we're torn by the sagebrush throueh
which their path led, and there was
patching n mending to be done.
sometimes the cattle stampeded. Il
took very little to bring about a STAN
pede, an unusual noise, or q violent
would put the * to flight