Days on the Road: Crossing the Plains in 1865Herndon, Sarah Raymond
History
Days on the Road: Crossing the Plains in 1865
Herndon, Sarah Raymond
Overland journeys to the Pacific; West (U.S.) -- Description and travel
We have passed through some very narrow cañons to-day, where there was
barely room for one wagon to pass. Great rocks were hanging overhead
on one side, with a rushing stream beside and just below the road on
the other. There are beautiful waterfalls in the cañons. I was standing
watching one of the highest, waiting for the wagons to pass. The last
one had gone when Mr. Morrison came and peremptorily commanded me to
“Come on, Miss Sallie. The I-I-I-Indians will c-c-c-carry you off some
of these days,” he stuttered. Of course I went.
The captain’s orders are, “Do not leave camp this evening.” We were
only just corralled when I saw Lyde Walker climbing a near-by
mountain. It is the first time I have known her to leave camp since we
came into the Black Hills; she is very much afraid of Indians. When she
came back I asked, “Why, Lyde, did you not hear the captain’s order
that we were not to leave camp this evening?”
“Oh, there is no danger when the men are on guard and watching. It
is when they feel secure and are not looking out for them that I am
afraid. Indians do not molest people when they are expecting them.”
LARAMIE PLAINS.
Tuesday, July 11.
The sounding of the bugle and the echo that reverberated through the
mountain gorges this morning was enchantingly sweet, and must have
driven slumber from every eyelid. We left the hills at noon and are
camping on Laramie Plains. We came over some very steep, rocky roads
before we reached the plains. I watched the wagons anxiously as they
descended the steep, rocky mountain-side, bounding and bumping against
the big rocks, expecting and dreading an upset, but all landed safely
on level ground at last, and I gave a sigh of relief and thanksgiving.
We have not had an uncomfortably warm night all Summer, but while we
have been coming through the hills the nights have been really cold, so
that we have slept under blankets and comforts, like Winter-time. There
is no sickness in camp at all; it is marvelous how very well we are. I
hope it will continue so.
* * * * *
Wednesday, July 12.
We crossed the Big Laramie River just before noon. Had a good crossing;
the water is clear, the bed of the river is covered with gravel, the
banks are low, and the water is not very deep. I rode across on Dick;
the water just came to my stirrup. We will stay here until to-morrow,
as there is no water for fifteen or twenty miles, and we cannot go so
far in half a day. We young people planned a fishing expedition for
this evening, but the mosquitoes are so thick on the bank of the river
we had to give it up. Some of the boys went seining; Brother Winthrop
was among them, so we will have fish for breakfast to-morrow morning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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