Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-02-21
Covered Wagon Travel
Offered Few Comforts
3 = MONTHS PRAIRIE SCHOONER
TRIP ACROSS PLAINS IN
1868 RECOUNTED

joining states made the journey over !
land 70 the west in covered wagons. (
drawn by oxen, horses, OF mules II
was a 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 4
ancient Greece took their outings. or
with their maids, went to the rivers
to do their laundry work.
An account of an overland journey
IN q prairie schooner. written years
ago BY Martha Edgerton Plassman, /
daughter Of Sidney Edgerton, first ter T
ritorial governor Of Montana. gives I
intimate insight into the problems /
which beset those who travelled in such 4
a conveyance. The article, which deals (
with a three months journey across (
the plains in 1863. follows:
we outfitted at Omaha, then a
wretched little hamlet set in the mud
on the bank Of the Missouri river. It /
had but one notable building-the /
tatehouse-situated on a bluff some 1
distance from the town. On this bluff.
my cousin, Lucia, and I picked wild I
strawberries, by way Of passing time,
while we were awaiting the conclusion +
of the necessary preparations for the
Journey
AT length, with all things in readi-
ness. one dismal rainy evening, the
women and children Of our party were
driven out in carriages a few miles
where our small group of covered
wagons awaited us. These we examined /
with considerable curiosity, both with
out and within
Unlike the wagons of the movies,
our wagons had the bows. over which
the canvas was stretched, of equal
height throughout the entire length.
There was no seat perched up In front,
except on those which carried freight.
In driving oxen, one walks by their
side, guiding them by voice or by
whip. not using the reins; and oxen
were to serve as our motive power,
as they were not so much coveted by
the Indians, as horses or mules. New
and green, with decorative touches OF
red. the wagon boxes and wheels might
have looked quite picturesque in the
sunshine, with their snow-white canvas
coverings; but the sun did not shine;
the rain kept up steady drip, drip.
drip. that was depressing to hear, and
q general air Of gloom overhung the
scene.
Crowded Sleeping
'aThe tent where my father, mother
and my two small brothers were 70
sleep. was already set up, awaiting our
arrival. Lucia, my 6-year-old sister and
clambored into our wagon. There we
found two benches on either side, and
a bed at the rear end. 1t being both
dangerous and revealing to use a
candle. we undressed by the dim light
of a lantern without. Once in bed,
there we're but a few inches between
our faces and the canvas overhead.
This was my first experience In
sleeping out Of doors, and was young
enough to enjoy 1t. Morning came all
too soon, bringing with 1t the I'M
welcome news that our cattle had dis
appeared, and could not be found. It
was still raining, but everyone was
hungry and breakfast must be cooked
on the sheet iron camp stove under
a protective covering. A disagreeable
task in fair weather, the rain in
creased the difficulties.
AT the back Of the Sanders wagon
and Of ours, were mess boxes with
hinged covers. In one Of these dishes
tin cups. plates, etc-were stored,
and In the other provisions for the
day. A table was improvised by re-
moving the upper front end boards
from two OF the wagon boxes. and In
serting them under the strip of board
to which the mess box was attached.
"A white cloth covered the table on
ordinary occasions, and on this was
an array of half-pint cups, pile OF
plates and numerous spoons all OF tin.
Each in his or her turn received a
filled plate, and a cup Of coffee, which
was partaken standing generally, or
sitting on the ground. or on a wagon
tongue. The fare varied little from day
TO day. The delicacies now provided
for the camper or tourist, were then
unknown. Timed meats, vegetables
and fruits were not on the market In
1858, although in 1864 large cans Of
roast or boiled beef could sometimes
be purchased.
Game was Scarce
Fresh meats we're unobtainable eX-
cept from the few military posts along
the way. Game was. very scarce, as
might have been expected near road
traversed during the summer by an
endless line Of covered wagons. Two
or three times a deer or an antelope
was killed, and then we Toasted.
THE few cows we took with US fur
nished milk for the younger children.
but barely enough for coffee. Some
dried apples, and a half dozen cans
Of Ohio peaches, constituted our fruit
supply, until we reached the Laramie
and found wild currants
enough for one dessert Of currant pie.
mot being natives Of the south. we
soon tired Of soda biscuits, and bread
was made, not Of the sourdough kind
put raised with yeast cakes Mrs. San
ders had brought with her. 1t was set
10 rise In a tub, and carried in the
Sanders wagon covered with white
,loth. When It rose too high Mrs. San
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