Reminiscences of a Pioneer | Page 3

the same fortitude as their stronger brothers.
At Fort Laramie we crossed the Platte river by fording. The stream, as I
remember it, was near a mile wide, but not waist deep. Thirty and forty
oxen were hitched to one wagon, to effect the crossing. But woe to the
hapless team that stalled in the treacherous quicksands. They must be

kept going, as it required but a short stop for the treacherous sands to
engulf team and wagon alike. Men wading on either side of the string
of oxen kept them moving, and soon all were safely on the north side of
the Platte river.
We soon began to see great herds of buffalo. In fact, at times the hills
were black with the heaving, rolling, bellowing mass, and no meal was
served for many days without fresh buffalo. As we wended our way up
the valley of the Platte one could look back for miles and miles on a
line of wagons, the sinuous line with vari-colored wagon covers
resembling a great serpent crawling and wriggling up the valley.
Fortunately for "our train" we were well in advance and thus escaped
the sickness that later dotted the valley of the Platte with graves.
On and on. Independence Rock, Sweet Water, and Devil's Gate were
passed. Members of our train had observed two men who traveled with
us, yet held themselves aloof. They appeared to prefer their own
company, and while they traveled along with us, probably for
protection, they always camped by themselves. Some said they were
Mormons, while others asserted they were merely a selfish pair. One
day one of the men was missing. The other on being questioned gave
evasive and very unsatisfactory replies. His actions excited the
suspicions of our men. He appeared anxious to get ahead and left us,
making a long night drive. It was then determined to make an
investigation. Two of our party mounted good horses and started back
on the trail. Each camp was carefully examined until they were
rewarded by finding the body of a murdered man beneath the ashes of a
camp fire, buried in a shallow grave. By riding all night they overtook
the train, before starting back burying the body of the unfortunate
traveler. The news spread rapidly and a party followed the murderer.
He was soon overtaken and halted at the muzzles of rifles. When the
train came up a council was held. Probably a hundred wagons were
halted. It was determined to give the man a trial. The evidence was
conclusive, and after conviction the miserable wretch confessed all, but
begged for mercy. He said the murdered man had picked him up out of
pity and was taking him through for his company and his help. There
being no trees, three wagons were run together, the wagon tongues
being raised to form a tripod and to answer for a gallows. To the center
of the tripod a rope was attached with the other end around the neck of

the trembling, writhing, begging wretch. But he had committed a cruel,
cold-blooded murder and his crime could not be condoned. He was
stood on the back of a horse, and a sharp cut being given the animal the
wretch was swung into eternity. A grave had been dug and into this the
body of the murderer was placed. The property of the murdered man
was taken through to the settlements. His relatives were communicated
with, the property sold and the proceeds sent to the proper owners.
Such was the swift but terrible justice administered on the plains.
Without law or officers of the law, there was no other course to pursue
consistent with safety to the living.
July 4th, 1852, we reached Green river. Traders had established six
ferry boats at the crossing. In order to keep down competition, five of
the boats were tied up and the sum of $18 was demanded for each and
every wagon ferried over the stream. They had formed a kind of "trust,"
as it were, even in that day. The rate was pronounced exorbitant, unfair,
outrageous, and beyond the ability of many to pay. Train after train had
been blocked until a city of tents had been formed. On the morning of
the 4th a meeting of immigrants was called to discuss the situation. A
few counseled moderation, compromise, anything to prevent a clash
with the traders, who boasted that they could turn the Indians loose on
us. The great majority defied both traders and Indians and boldly
announced that they would fight before they would submit to being
robbed. Many fiery speeches were made, and about 10 o'clock a long
line of men, with shouldered rifles flashing in the sun, marched down
and took possession of the ferry boats. The traders