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
The wolves howled around our camp all last night and kept Cæsar--our
watch-dog--barking; so we could not sleep. Have made only a short
drive, and are camping at Rock Springs, where the road forks. The
men are not agreed as to which road to take; the upper--or right-hand
road--is the shortest, but the lower is best supplied with pasture and
water. If we take the upper road we cannot hope to see our friends
again, so Dr. Fletcher and I want to take the lower road, for we still
hope that we may overtake them.
Mrs. Hardinbrooke is very sick; I fear we are going to have another
case of serious sickness in our camp. I have taken care of Annie again
to-day, which seems to be the most efficient service I can render,
as Lyde and Mrs. Joe Walker take care of Mrs. Hardinbrooke when her
husband cannot be with her. He takes all the care of her at night, and
a most excellent nurse he seems to be. Sim is quite well, only pale and
weak.
* * * * *
Saturday, August 5.
The decision was made in favor of the lower road. As the train was
rolling out I had just mounted my pony, when Dr. Fletcher came and
asked me to ride with him. He has never seemed to care for my company,
nor I for his until since we have been so anxious about Neelie. Our
anxiety has been a bond of sympathy, and we have rather enjoyed each
other’s society. We had gone a short distance ahead of the train when
we saw someone coming horseback. I soon saw that it was Frank. We
hurried on to meet him. He shook hands without speaking. I asked, “How
is Neelie?”
“She is very low. I came after you, doctor. Our camp is about four
miles from here; we have waited two days for you, and thought you would
certainly come yesterday. When you did not come, we thought you must
have gone the upper road, and I was going back as far as the first
station to inquire if you had passed. I am glad, indeed, to meet you,
but greatly fear you will not be in time to save Neelie.”
The doctor asked two or three questions, excused himself and rode
away at a gallop, leaving Frank and I to follow, while I plied him
with questions, which he answered patiently. He then said, “Neelie was
much better for a day or two after we left you; we all thought she was
getting well; she spoke of you every time I saw her, and wondered why
you did not come. Since the fever came back I have not talked to her at
all. Part of the time she has been delirious, and when conscious she
was too weak to talk.”
Oh, dear. I do so want to see her and help take care of her.
A FATAL SHOOTING.
We rode a while in silence, then Frank said, “That is not all the bad
news I have to tell, Miss Sallie.”
I looked up quickly and asked, “What else has happened, Frank?”
“Frasier was shot and killed day before yesterday evening.”
“Oh, Frank; how did it happen?”
“Hosstetter did it, but I think he was not much to blame.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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