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
I had been riding with the captain as he came ahead to find a camping
place when the train came. I rode to our wagon, got a cup and crossed
Bitter Creek to get a drink of nice, cold spring water. I took one
swallow. Oh, oh, oh; the horrid stuff. I was glad there was no one
with me to see the face I made. I think I never swallowed a more
disagreeable dose. It was the strongest sulphur-water I ever tasted.
In my haste and eagerness I did not notice that the atmosphere was
impregnated with sulphur, and the sulphur formations around the
springs, because they were covered with dust.
The wind is blowing as cold as Greenland. I expect we will have to
go to bed to keep from freezing. Mrs. Hardinbrooke is no better; her
symptoms are the same as Sim’s and Neelie’s were at first, and we fear
she is taking the fever. Dr. Fletcher thinks Neelie must be better, or
we would have heard, as Mr. Kerfoot said he would send back for him if
she got any worse.
DELAYED ANOTHER DAY.
Wednesday, August 2.
We had a very cold night; there was ice a quarter of an inch thick
this morning. Several head of Hardinbrooke’s and Walker’s cattle were
missing this morning; the men have been hunting them all day, they
were found this evening in a cañon four miles from camp; there were
the tracks of two horses, with shoes, that had driven them there. The
Indians do not shoe their horses, so there must be thieves besides
Indians in this country. And here we are another whole day’s drive
behind the other half of our train. Oh, I wonder if it will be possible
to overtake them now, before our roads separate entirely. They must be
at least two days ahead of us, if they have not been delayed.
* * * * *
Thursday, August 3.
The mountains in this region are very barren, composed of sand and
rock, principally. It comes nearer being desert than anywhere on the
road. We have traveled all day, and have come only thirteen miles. The
road has been very rough indeed. I rode in the wagon the greater part
of the day, so I could take care of little Annie Hardinbrooke; her
mother is very sick. I have thought so much about Neelie, whenever the
wheels would strike a rock, or jolt down into a rut; how she must have
suffered, if in pain or fever; how hard it must have been for her.
Lyde says Dr. Fletcher is very impatient and cross, because of the
delay; he threatened to take a horse and go horseback yesterday, when
he found the train would not move. She thinks he is very anxious about
Neelie, and very much in love.
* * * * *
Friday, August 4.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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