[or-roots] Aunt Charotte's book

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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  tinderand 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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