[AT] OOOPS - Do as I say not as I do - now rambling off topic

[steve smith]

That was great Walt.
Share some more.
Thank You
Smitty

At 08:33 PM 7/28/05 -0400, you wrote:
>Roger this is from my 3rd Gt. Aunt Charlotte's  book about crossing on the
>Oregon Trail.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
>We  had followed the Platte River for a long ways before we came to a big
>cottonwood  grove, where we made our camp. Our guide, Capt. Gantt, told 
>us  that
>we must cross the river at  that place. We had been in the buffalo  country
>for several weeks and our hunters had saved the  green hides to be  ready for
>the crossing of the Platte, when we came to it. So the wagons  were  all 
>taken
>apart and the wet rawhides were drawn over the big wagon  boxes and nailed,
>then they  were placed in the sun till the hides were  drawn as tight as drum
>heads. Broken or thin places  were rubbed well with  pitch till the 
>improvised
>boats were adjudged fully "sea worthy" and were   launched to be loaded with
>our stuff and the running gear and wheels. The  cargoes were then  topped off
>with the women and children and the men who  could not swim.
>
>The Platte is a broad river, too broad to be  spanned by ropes in order that
>the rude boats  might be reeled in by men or  oxen on the opposite bank. So
>short ropes were attached to the  fronts and  the sides of the boats and 
>eight
>men, two in front and three at each side,  holding the  ropes in their teeth,
>swam and towed the wobbly, tilting  barges to the opposite bank. The men  on
>either side served to keep our  barges steady and on an "even keel." They 
>were
>to us what  outriggers are  to a surf boat. The two men in front probably
>supplied the greater part of the  motive power, so the going was very slow.
>
>When one boat had  crossed, the swimmers went back to help the next in turn.
>Back and  forth  they went. My Father and two of my brothers spent the 
>greater
>part of the two  weeks in the  water, for it took that long to ferry everyone
>  across.
>
>I remember sitting there all tucked up, very comfortable  and contented,
>watching the  ripples of the water watching it wash and  splash across my 
>Father's
>big broad shoulders. They  looked as white as  milk and his arms seemed so
>long and muscular as they drove him against   the strong current of the 
>Platte.
>Oh! but I was mighty proud of him.
>
>On the way across one of our swimmers fainted and would have gone  down, if
>Father had not  caught him and helped to put him in the boat. So  we made the
>trip with only seven helpers. Now  and then our boat would rock  and tilt as
>the strong currents caught and attempted to sport with  it.  Then Father 
>would
>steady it with one hand while he swam along side of us with  the other.
>
>Some of the men who had extra tender skins and had made  many trips across
>and back again,  were many a long day getting rid of the  blisters. My 
>brother
>Adam, was blistered so badly that he was quite sick and had  a high fever.
>Mother doctored him with flour and cream.
>
>We  crossed on the fourth day of July and Peter H. Burnett who was later the
>first  Governor of  California crossed a few minutes later. I remember that
>because aunt Rachel, who had gone  over some days before, had a big 
>dinner  all
>cooked and ready for us. Someone had killed a  buffalo and aunt had a  great
>pan of juicy steaks all broiled and piping hot. We were terribly   hungry and
>after the steaks were eaten, we found that they had been broiled 
>over  buffalo
>  "chips". Mrs. Burnett was not altogether happy about it. She even  said 
> that
>she would have  "starved before shewould have eaten anything  cooked on them
>if she had known it". I guess that was not altogether  true,  for a few
>mornings later, the Hon. Peter H. was surprised when he had gone 
>out  about daylight
>to gather a good supply before other people were up. The boys  said he was
>gathering  them in a big white table cloth.
>
>Dry fuel of any kind was very scarce, so even the finicky ones were compelled
>to  use  them, and after a time, used them in preference, when other fuel was
>  plentiful. They were good  tinder and made beautiful coals that held the
>heat for a long time.
>
>
>
>Walt Davies
>Cooper Hollow  Farm
>Monmouth, OR 97361
>503 623-0460
>
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