b'DID YOU KNOW, IN THE OLD WEST.By Lee Anderson, Old West Living Historian, Award Winning Author, and Old School HorsemanLee Anderson and his horse, Concho, are well known around the state doing presentations in schools, corporate events,and civic events. Learn more about them and his book on his website. historicaloldwest.orgA fter watching an Old Westand sub-zero temperatures. Too late and you couldMany of those on a wagon movie, have you ever thoughtend up freezing to death in the mountains at thetrain were city folks with little, whatother end of the trip. There wasif any, experience in proper a grand adventure it would haveonly, at most, a five-month windowmaintenance or repair of their been to be part of a wagon train onof opportunity to make those 2000equipment. A wagon breaking its westward journey? Well aftermiles at maybe 10 or 15 miles a day.down was common. That five reading this months column youNot one person in the East couldto six-month window didnt might want to reconsider.begin to imagine what was in store forallow for much of a layover for them getting a one or two-ton, ox-drawnwagon repair even if they had the parts, the tools, and the For one thing, the SPCA would never allow Hollywood towagon through the rugged Rocky Mountains. knowledge which wasnt often. Time being of the essence, portray animal life as it really was on a mid-1800s wagonany delay could very easily prove disastrous for everyone so, train. It was difficult at best but, more often than not,The closest thing to medicine on a wagon trainin the best interest of the most people, those whose wagon absolutely brutal to the point of fatal. Logic says there iswas usually laudanum, castor oil, or alcoholbroke down, which wasnt uncommon, were often simply left safety in numbers. However, it took a minimum of twoand there was precious little of any of it.in the middle of nowhere to make it or not as best they could. animals to pull each wagon, and keeping this powerAntibiotics and penicillin didnt exist. The source healthy enough to keep pulling the wagonsunsanitary conditions often caused whatEven the type of animals you chose to pull your wagon could required nourishment. It was impossible to carry enoughwould be a minor cut today, to becomebe the source of problems on the trail. Oxen were the least animal feed for the entire trip even if that was all thatinfected, turn into gangrene, and death.expensive but also the slowest. (The time factor, remember?) was being transported. The more animals there were theDysentery, whooping cough, measles,Horses were faster but horses dont do well on meager and less natural feed (grazing) there was per animal. Largepneumonia, smallpox, and cholera killedpoor quality feed, and few could stand up to the brutal work. FEED YOUR wagon trains usually broke up into smaller units for justtough women. many thousands more than the Native(There are still places in the west where you could be in this reason. Many thousands of horses, mules, and oxenAmericans. The trip was especially brutallife-threatening trouble if your horsepower is inadequate (as well as people) died due to the combination of brutalfor women and children. Women often diedor fails.) Mules were the best bet. They could (and would) conditions and malnutrition. giving birth during the trip. Babies that did survive birtheat almost anything and stay in relatively decent shape on it, often succumbed to unsanitary conditions. If a womansincluding leather harnesses which would, of course, create yet After reaching St. Joseph, Missouri, the timing of thehusband died, (which wasnt unusual) she was left with soleanother problem. departure for the remaining 2000 miles west was critical.responsibility for her family, her animals, her wagon, and Too soon in the spring meant no grass yet for grazing andwhatever possessions she might have. It took some prettyWhat has been related here has barely touched on what these PASSION could have you stranded on the Great Plains in a snowstormCONGRESS, AZ folks endured. Youve probably gathered, though, that it was a far cry from some sort of grand adventure. Arizona is a Lifestyle.MORRISTOWN, AZGrown for the Life We Love CONGRESS, AZBUY 1, SAVE $2.00on any bagged or compressed bale productHorse property bordering state land. 2.5 acres,All custom homes on larger parcels surroundedManufactured home on 2+ acre horse property. 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