Not sure what day it is!

We are traveling down Windlass hill near Ash Hollow. "It feels like we must be halfway to Oregon, but Tall Joe says, no, we've only gone five hundred miles." (Tall Joe is our guide) The hill is so steep that the wagons are unhitched and hand lowered with ropes. That's when the Anderson's wagon made the rope snap and it went tumbling down the hill. "No one was hurt." Ma thought the place was so beautiful she begged Pa to stay. Another family did that a couple of years ago. We camped at their for the night on their land.

I saw my first Indians tonight. About 20 "camped nearby." I had an awful time sleeping that night. The next day they were holding their hands out waiting for us to give them something. " I asked Tall Joe why the was begging. They ain't begging he said. Indians are hospitable people and if they was passing through our land they'd give us a gift. They are just asking for ours."

I enjoyed getting all cleaned up in the stream today. I am so tired of getting dirty from all the dust spurred up by the wagons. We did laundry today. There were clothes everywhere drying on bushes. Pepper and I swam down the bank and went up to our shoulders. This feeling will have to last because I am not sure when we will get to enjoy getting all cleaned up again.

Later that night a boy named Gideon asked Pepper to dance. Although I didn't tell Pepper I was kinda jealous. I wish some boy would ask me to dance.

The End

Hattie

Picture Source: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/images/histpres/nebraski/ash-hollow.jpg

The Worst Day of My Life!

Parsnips

Poison Hemlock

"Pepper and I followed a tiny stream out of camp to a marshy area. Growing nearby was a small crop of wild carrots and parsnips." We gathered them up along with some green apples and headed to the kettle where dinner was cooking. We chopped the carrots and parsnips up to put in the stew. Cassia one of the small children was sitting along side as we were cutting and I gave her a little treat of raw parsnips with out thinking much about it. A couple of the boys around camp also grabbed a couple. Pepper and I placed the rest in the stew. All of the sudden we heard people screaming. Pepper's brother Wade was convulsing and foaming at the mouth by a turned over bowl of raw vegetables. "Pa noticed the basket of vegetables had knocked over. He yelled No one eat anything!" Pa yelled asking who made the soup. "I was so frightened my insides were shivering, but I stepped forward. Pepper did, too." We explained that we made the soup. He ordered up to show what we put in the soup. That is when Pa told us that we mistakened Poison Hemlock for parsnips. Then the worst day of my life happened when I realized that I had given poor little Cassia those poison vegetables. So many people were upset thinking that the mistaking ate the hemlock the panicked and became paranoid. In all three people died and Wade hasn't woke up yet. I am so upset that I wish I was the one who ate the hemlock. I don't think I will ever get over this. I sobbed, "Only two bites" Cassia only ate two bites.

Later Pa explained that water hemlock is so poisonous that even the tops are deadly. "He showed us that when you cut a hemlock it drips with an oily yellow goo." Pa made sure that everyone in the wagon train knew the difference between parsnips and water hemlock that night.

The funeral was unbearable. "A lone fiddler played Amazing Grace as the men shoveled dirt onto the three children." The next week or so I walked along side the wagons like a zombie. "everyone says I'm not to blame, but still I feel dead inside."


Terribly upset the end!
Hattie

Picture Sources: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Pastinake-2.jpg/405px-Pastinake-2.jpg

http://students.ou.edu/T/Mitchel.L.Tucker-1/hemlock.jpg

Wagon Circle

May 1st 1847 (I think!)

Our large wagon train has "135 wagons" in it so at night we divide into circle of about 23 wagons. The animals that pull our wagons are let loose to eat in the grass fields and wagons are placed where the tongue of one rests by the rear of the one in front of it. This way parents can visit each other and children can play safely in the watchful eye of their parents, especially after what happened to the twins who went berry picking. I don't have to worry about my brothers anymore getting lost this way. The large fire in the middle warms the stew in kettles and a music is played for those who want to dance. "Thus far we ain't seen any Indians and I'm glad for that."

The End Hattie

Picture Source: http://www.harris-academy.com/departments/history/Oregon/RossB/circle.jpg

Big Blue River

April 2? I think?

Today we crossed the Big Blue River. It was so scary. Pa had to jump in to keep our oxen from swimming downstream. "When we began tipping over on our right side I screamed, terrified we sink." Eventually our wheel touched ground and we made all the way across. I hope we have no more river to cross although I know we will have to cross more.

Later

"This afternoon my little friends the twins wandered off to pick berries, but now it is near sunset and they've not returned." I know their parents are afraid of what has happened to them. I am afraid that Indians have captured them. The men in the wagon train are all out looking for them.

Next morning.

The bugle sounded that it is time to leave. I asked mama if they found the twins and she replied not yet. When Pa started hooking up the oxen I cried out, "We can't be leaving!" Pa and ma explained that two families where staying behind to help the parents of the lost twin but we had to keep going to make it over the mountains by winter. If I was ma and pa there is no way I would leave the next day. I would stay and help until the twins were found. As we are leaving I pull my brothers closer to me and sing a song.

I am walking to Oregon!

27 April 1847

I have decided that I am walking to Oregon and I don't care how far it is! The wagon is so crowded that it is impossible to get comfortable with all the bumping, jolting, and rattling. I picked up my skirt and jumped to the ground. I ran between the wagons and saw Pepper sitting up with her Pa. She leapt down and we walked together talking for hours. We made plans for once we reach Oregon. We want to have houses built by each other and share a garden. The dust and the tall grass burrs finally got to us and we climbed back into the shade of the wagon. Not much room for the two of us!

The End Hattie

Picture Source: http://emints4.purdy.k12.mo.us/images/pioneers.jpg

Alcove Springs, Kansas

April 22, 1847
"We are three days west of Independence, camped at Alcove Springs." What a beautiful site! "Water gushes down from the ledge, down ten feet into a pool where there are ferns and deep shade" It feels good to rinse off all the dust from traveling on the trail because the wagon kicks up so much dust that your eyes sting and you end up coughing all day. I must say this is the best water I have ever tasted.
The end. Hattie


Picture Source: http://www.cross2barphoto.com/uploaded_images/CRW_9579-710417.jpg

Emigrant Document

April 18, 1846

Pa came home with this document today. Boy, that is a long way to get to Oregon. Pa says we leave tomorrow. I told Pepper that I am terrified of Indians. She told me not to worry that there are most likely more good Indians than bad Indians. Aunt June also told me that Narcissa Whitman and her husband Dr. Marcus Whitman have founded a mission in Walla Walla to help the Cayuse Indians. Aunt June says that Narcissa hasn't had any trouble with them yet. I am excited to get started and reach our new home in Oregon.

The End

Hattie

Picture Source: http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/joomlaeotic/images/stories/History/mileage.gif

Still in Independence

April 14, 1847

Still in Independence Missouri. Pa says that will be most likely be able to leave any day now. I have met a new friend. Her name is Pepper and she is 14, just one year older than me. I know we will become the best of friends. Last week something real bad happened. A couple of boys were waving there rifles when, "one accidently shot a nine year old in the neck. He died real quick, right where he fell. His family was so brokenhearted they have packed up and headed home to St. Louis. I'm so sad for them."

The End Hattie

Picture Source: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-oldwest/WagonTrain-1870-DPL.jpg

Independence, Missoura

March 25, 1847 Independence, Missouri

"Pa said there must be 500 folks living here, and that don't count all the emigrants like us roaming the streets, buying last minute supplies, repairing wagons, and just plain getting ready. I am writing this on my lap by the campfire as I keep an eye on Ma's roasting chicken. It is on a low spit over the coals we're sharing with another family. Behind me are the houses, barns, stores, and street of Independence." I hate the fact that we have to stay here until the grass greens up. Pa says it is the jumping off point of the Oregon Trail. We have to wait until the grass is green so we can feed our animals along the trail. This place really stinks as there are no outhouses for those waiting to start the trail. I really miss my home in Boonville. I will most likely never see my grandparents again let alone my best friend Becky! How will I ever find another friend like her?

The end. Hattie

Picture Source: http://sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/MO/courthse.jpg