December 30, 2002

 

South Pierce County Historical Society News

Clouds of steam rise above South Pierce County Historical Society member Audrey Roley as she scoops piping hot water into a silver tea pot. Homemade cookies, brownies and  Black tea, with sweeteners and cream were served to visitors to the Society's English High Tea at the Van Eaton Cabin Sunday afternoon, Dec. 29, 2002. (Photo by Bob Walter)

Enjoying tea clockwise from the front are Audrey Roley, DiAnn Carney, June Carney (behind her daughter-in law), Donna Lindsay, Jackie Parnell, Ruby Bulger and Carol Cook. The group, along with several others over the course of the afternoon, savored the 1889 atmosphere inside the Van Eaton Cabin during their tea. The gingham curtains were made recently by Jackie Parnell who was assisted with the hemming by Lana Exley. Leigh and John Reisch, along with  Mayor Harold Parnell, also helped with preparations. As plans for the cabin unfold, temporary fixes such as propane heaters and plastic chairs will give way to true, historical ambience. (photo by Bob Walter)

DiAnn Carney, June Carney and Donna Lindsay listen as Ruby Bulger (in beret) takes her turn describing customs and pastimes of the early days, during Sunday's high tea. (photo by Bob Walter)

Weird Ways West

     A California-bound airline in 1849!? Don't laugh; it almost happened. Rufus Porter, founder of Scientific American, planned to fly 49ers west on propeller-driven balloons powered by steam engines. He went so far as to advertise the expedition, and 200 brave souls signed up for the trip. But the "airline" never got off the ground.
     Then there was the "wind wagon," sort of a cross between a sailboat and a wagon. It seemed like a good idea on paper; after all, it can be very windy in the West. A prototype was built and for a brief moment it barreled across the plains at the advertised 15 miles-per-hour. Then it went out of control and crashed. The inventor -- Wind-wagon Thomas -- kept trying for years, but never succeeded.
     Others took a more low-tech approach, making the trip with only a simple wheelbarrow. It's hard to imagine pushing a fully-loaded wheelbarrow for 2,000 miles, but several dozen attempted the trip. For a time, they could outpace everything on the Trail, but human endurance has its limits. No one is quite
sure if any of them made it all the way with their wheelbarrows. Why all the weird contraptions? Everyone was in a big hurry to get west -- to strike it rich.

        (From Mind Haven Website)

River Crossings


     River crossings were a constant source of distress for the pioneers.,,,, Hundreds drowned trying to cross the Kansas, North Platte and Columbia Rivers--among others.  In 1850 alone, 37 people drowned trying to cross one particularly difficult river--the Green.

                                                   

Emigrant John B. Hill:
"The ferryman allowed too many passengers to get in the boat, and the water came within two inches of the gunwale. He ordered every man to stand steady as the boat was liable to swamp. When we were nearly across the edge of the boat dipped; I thought the boat would be swamped instantly and drowned the last one of us."

Those who didn't drown were usually fleeced. The charge ranged up to 16 dollars; almost the price of an oxen. One ferry earned $65,000 in just one summer. The emigrants complained bitterly.

 

The Trek

"By the early 1850's leaders of the Church were considering economic ways to move thousands of European converts to Zion. Most were poor and lacked sufficient funds to purchase a wagon, team of oxen, and the required provisions for the long trip from Iowa to Salt Lake. In 1855 Brigham Young proposed the concept of handcarts. Each cart would carry only the necessary provisions needed for a family, which was no more than 17 pounds per person. Several families would share a tent. Since handcarts travel faster than slow oxen, it was felt that handcart companies could travel to Salt Lake with fewer provisions and at a faster pace than wagon trains." -- West Jordan Utah Stake Presidency (From the Mormon Trail)

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