Blazing the Way; Or, True Stories, Songs and Sketches of Puget SoundDenny, Emily Inez
History
Blazing the Way; Or, True Stories, Songs and Sketches of Puget Sound
Denny, Emily Inez
Indians of North America -- Northwestern States; Oregon Territory -- History; Washington (State) -- History
the world floating away before our eyes and not any habitation
within many hundred miles of us; for a while we did indeed feel
as though the end had come this time sure. We could not retrace
our footsteps, or go forward without provisions; each one in the
train had only enough for their own consumption and dare not
divide with their best friend; however, while they were debating
what was best to do, our wagon had landed on a sandbar and the
men waded out and pulled it ashore. It is needless for me to say
there was great rejoicing in the camp that day; of course, nearly
everything in the wagon was wet, but while in camp they were
dried out. Fortunately the flour was sealed up in tin cans; the
corn meal became sour before it got dry, but it had to be used
just the same. In a few days we were in our usual spirits, but
wondering what new trials awaited us, and it came all too soon;
the poor cattle all got poisoned from drinking alkali water; at
first they did not know what to do for them, but finally someone
suggested giving them fat bacon, which brought them out all right
in a day or two. Then their feet became very sore from constant
traveling and thorns from the cactus points, and we would be
obliged to remain in camp several days for them to recruit.
"As we proceeded farther on our way we began to fear the Indians,
and occasionally met strolling bands of them all decked out with
bows and arrows, their faces hideous with paint and long feathers
sticking in their top-knots, they looked very fierce and savage;
they made us understand we could not travel through their country
unless we paid them. So the men gave them some tobacco, beads and
other trinkets, but would not give them any ammunition; they went
away angry and acted as though they would give us trouble.
"Some of the men stood guard every night to protect the camp as
well as the horses and cattle, as they would drive them off in
the night and frequently kill them.
"Thus we traveled from day to day, ever anxious and on the
lookout for a surprise from some ambush by the wayside, they were
so treacherous, but kind Providence protected us and we escaped
the fate of the unfortunate emigrants who preceded us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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