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 came through a deep, dark cañon this morning, and passed the grave
of a man that was robbed and murdered last week. It is the deepest and
darkest cañon we have traveled through. Ten men have been robbed and
murdered in it in the last two years. We were in no danger of being
molested. Only men who have their fortunes in gold about their person
are intercepted, robbed and killed. How awful it seems. Why will men be
so wicked?
In several places in the cañon the road has been widened with pick
and shovel, perhaps two or three days’ work done, and we had to pay
ten dollars toll for our two wagons passing over it. We stopped at
noon on Black Tail Deer Creek. Are camping on the Sweet Water, about
twenty-five miles from Virginia City. This is a beautiful place. There
are fine large trees along the creek, high mountains around a lovely
dale. It is just large enough for a fine farm. There is a deserted
cabin here, where some one commenced improving a farm, became homesick
and discouraged, and left it for some one else.
* * * * *
Sunday, September 4.
We are camping within seven miles of Virginia City, near a freight
train of about fifty wagons, with from seventy-five to one hundred
people all together, men, women and children, returning to the States.
To hear these people talk of the disadvantages and disagreeable things
with regard to life in Montana, would have a tendency to discourage
one, if it were not so palpable that they are homesick, and everyone
knows that when that disease is fairly developed, everything is
colored with a deep dark blue, and even pleasant things seem extremely
disagreeable to the afflicted person. The ladies seem to have the
disease in its worst form, and of course they make the gentlemen do as
they wish, which is to take them home to mother and other dear ones.
We have had a very pleasant day, about as pleasant as the day we
started on this journey, the first day of May. It is cheering that the
first and last days of our journeying should be so lovely. After four
months and four days of living outdoors we are all in the most robust
health. Yet we shall be glad to have a roof over our heads once more,
even if it is a dirt roof.
* * * * *
Monday, September 5.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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