Page 57 - 2005 DT 12 Issues

I n T h i s I s s u e

Featured Article
Go West, Young Man!......................1

Special
Western Wear...................................7

Departments
News & Notes..................................2
August 2005 Programs & Hikes...........................4
Desk Schedule................................6
Bulletin Board................................8

Go West, Young Man!

by H. Dan Wray

his was probably easier said “assailed by Indians or assailing the kets, sheet, coverlets and pillows.
than done. The early emi- buffalo.” He hastened to play down He advised against taking feather
Tgrants had to face a variety of the former and stress the latter. beds and, as to luxuries, he advised
vicissitudes in their passage West. “You will find pistols of the great- against these all together as it had
Not surprisingly, there soon est importance; for you may gallop been found by experience that “when
sprang up a strong commercial inter- your horse, side by side, with them, on this type of expedition they are not
est in encouraging people to move and having pistols, shoot them down desired, even by the most devoted
West. It was no advantage to those at your pleasure.” Note the emphasis epicurean.”
merchants and entrepreneurs to stress on pleasure. Having a rifle afforded A comprehensive survey is made
the dangers and difficulties. Their “ample protection” should one come of the merits and demerits of horses,
interests were best served by painting into mortal conflict with the former. mules, cattle and oxen as draft ani-
Evidently mortality mals. Hastings comes down on the
was one-sided. side of oxen on the basis that he does
Food was rel- not know of an incident when oxen
egated to second have had to be left by the wayside.
priority. Flour, In his experience, they continue to
meal, bacon, cof- thrive during the entire journey. An
fee, sugar and salt added advantage, in his view, is that
were all needed, they are less likely to be stolen by
but it had to be Indians as they move so slowly that
as rosy a picture as possible. Conse- noted that twice as much would be they cannot be driven far, and so,
quently, a large number of books and needed as at home because of the are easily recoverable. In any case,
pamphlets were published which did “continued and regular exercise the only use the Indians would have
just that. which gives additional vigor and for them is as food and they would
Lanford Hastings, in his Emigrants strength which greatly improves the hardly be interested on this count
Guide to Oregon and California, re- health.” Perhaps this healthy envi- since “the country abounds with
ferred to difficulties, but played them ronment is the reason why only brief buffalo and other game, the meat of
down. He emphasized, first of all, the reference is made to the need to carry which they much prefer.”
need to carry arms. A good gun, five “a small amount of medicine.” In short, given adequate plan-
pounds of powder and twenty pounds Very few utensils were required, ning, preparation and servicing of
of lead were essential. “A holster as these only served to increase the
of pistols” would be very useful if load. Bedding should consist of blan- Go West, continued on p. 7