Then
The emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail were always aware of the risks they were taking. Disease, accidents, exhaustion, and rough terrain were just a few of the hardships that they would have to face during their trek west. The Missouri Republican in 1844 said it best: The poor devils who start for Oregon, generally spend all they have to scrape together a wagon, some cattle, and a small outfit of provisions. They will spend the summer in the severest of toil in getting there. How they will spend the winter is not known even to themselves; and know nothing whatever of the country they are going to… no man in his right mind would think of leaving such a country as this, to wander over a thousand miles of desert and five hundred of mountain" (As cited in Dary, 2004, p. 119).
One of the biggest problems that a wagon train would come across was the rivers. Sometimes the river waters would be very high, which would cause the wagons to tip over and their valuables to fall out. Also, the animals sometimes would panic in high water and cause their owners to fall off and they would get crushed (The National Oregon California Trail Center, Inc., 2006). There were also big descents and mountains they had to cross. The longest and steepest ridge they had to cross over was called “Big Hill.” Parrish, an emigrant traveling the trail in 1844 wrote in his journal about "Big Hill:" Tuesday, Oct. 8…"Our road was even worse than yesterday and we ascended the steepest hil I ever say teams cross. We had to double teams, and hard work at that. We crossed the creek a great many times and finally took a north fork and followed it out to the head, crossed a low gap in the ridge and struck a leading hollow and soon found grass and water sufficient to take us to Walley Walley, but our oxen are getting very weak and many have already given out. Pleasant this afternoon except a little too much wind and smoke" (The Oregon Department of Transportation and The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 2007). A few other causes of accidental deaths were snakebites, gunshots, and stampedes by the buffalos.
The emigrants who traveled the Oregon Trail were always aware of the risks they were taking. Disease, accidents, exhaustion, and rough terrain were just a few of the hardships that they would have to face during their trek west. The Missouri Republican in 1844 said it best: The poor devils who start for Oregon, generally spend all they have to scrape together a wagon, some cattle, and a small outfit of provisions. They will spend the summer in the severest of toil in getting there. How they will spend the winter is not known even to themselves; and know nothing whatever of the country they are going to… no man in his right mind would think of leaving such a country as this, to wander over a thousand miles of desert and five hundred of mountain" (As cited in Dary, 2004, p. 119).
One of the biggest problems that a wagon train would come across was the rivers. Sometimes the river waters would be very high, which would cause the wagons to tip over and their valuables to fall out. Also, the animals sometimes would panic in high water and cause their owners to fall off and they would get crushed (The National Oregon California Trail Center, Inc., 2006). There were also big descents and mountains they had to cross. The longest and steepest ridge they had to cross over was called “Big Hill.” Parrish, an emigrant traveling the trail in 1844 wrote in his journal about "Big Hill:" Tuesday, Oct. 8…"Our road was even worse than yesterday and we ascended the steepest hil I ever say teams cross. We had to double teams, and hard work at that. We crossed the creek a great many times and finally took a north fork and followed it out to the head, crossed a low gap in the ridge and struck a leading hollow and soon found grass and water sufficient to take us to Walley Walley, but our oxen are getting very weak and many have already given out. Pleasant this afternoon except a little too much wind and smoke" (The Oregon Department of Transportation and The U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 2007). A few other causes of accidental deaths were snakebites, gunshots, and stampedes by the buffalos.
The following is an excerpt from the journal of Margaret Frink. She traveled the trail in 1850, along with her husband. She talks about ascending the "Big Hill" and coming to Bear Lake Valley (The National Oregon California Trail Center, Inc., 2006).
Friday, July 5: “… From here we drove on to the banks of the Bear
River, some distance to the left, and took our noon lunch.
Then we traveled on to Thomas Fork… The thermometer at noon showed eighty degrees.”
Saturday, July 6: “We started at six o’ clock, forded Thomas
Fork, and, turning to the west, came to a high steep spur that extends to the
river. Over this high spur we were compelled to climb… Part of the way I rode
on horseback, the rest I walked. The decent was very long and steep. All the
wheels of the wagon were tied fast, and it slid along the ground. At one place
the men held it back with ropes, and let it down slowly. After coming to the
valley we drove to the river and rested some time for dinner. In the afternoon
we went seven miles further, down the valley, and encamped at sundown by a
beautiful stream…
Monday, July 8: It rained considerably during the night. Mr.
Frink was on guard until two o’ clock, when he returned to camp bringing the
startling news, that for some unknown cause, the horses had stampeded. We had
no means of knowing whether it was the work of Indians or not, but it was
useless to look for them in the darkness… (the animals were found the next
morning) When we arose, we found the range of mountains covered in new-fallen
snow. This is a beautiful valley, and when under settlement and cultivation,
will be a delightful region… At half past ten we passed a village of Snake
River Indians (Shoshone)…”
Another risk would be disease. Certain diseases such as the flu, tuberculosis, and cholera would spread throughout a wagon train within days. Cholera would cause diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps which would cause dehydration and death (Dary, 2004). Burials for those who died along the trail would be in the middle of the train so the wagons would roll over it and erase the scent so that wild animals could not pick up the scent. After many years and many emigrants traveling the trail, the Oregon Trail averaged about ten graves per mile. “The mosquitoes are troublesome in the extreme: passed four graves” (Journal of Abigail Jane Scott, 1852).
Friday, July 5: “… From here we drove on to the banks of the Bear
River, some distance to the left, and took our noon lunch.
Then we traveled on to Thomas Fork… The thermometer at noon showed eighty degrees.”
Saturday, July 6: “We started at six o’ clock, forded Thomas
Fork, and, turning to the west, came to a high steep spur that extends to the
river. Over this high spur we were compelled to climb… Part of the way I rode
on horseback, the rest I walked. The decent was very long and steep. All the
wheels of the wagon were tied fast, and it slid along the ground. At one place
the men held it back with ropes, and let it down slowly. After coming to the
valley we drove to the river and rested some time for dinner. In the afternoon
we went seven miles further, down the valley, and encamped at sundown by a
beautiful stream…
Monday, July 8: It rained considerably during the night. Mr.
Frink was on guard until two o’ clock, when he returned to camp bringing the
startling news, that for some unknown cause, the horses had stampeded. We had
no means of knowing whether it was the work of Indians or not, but it was
useless to look for them in the darkness… (the animals were found the next
morning) When we arose, we found the range of mountains covered in new-fallen
snow. This is a beautiful valley, and when under settlement and cultivation,
will be a delightful region… At half past ten we passed a village of Snake
River Indians (Shoshone)…”
Another risk would be disease. Certain diseases such as the flu, tuberculosis, and cholera would spread throughout a wagon train within days. Cholera would cause diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps which would cause dehydration and death (Dary, 2004). Burials for those who died along the trail would be in the middle of the train so the wagons would roll over it and erase the scent so that wild animals could not pick up the scent. After many years and many emigrants traveling the trail, the Oregon Trail averaged about ten graves per mile. “The mosquitoes are troublesome in the extreme: passed four graves” (Journal of Abigail Jane Scott, 1852).
Now
To the average person today, it is unimaginable to think of all of the hardships an emigrant had to face while on the trail. Today it is so easy just to get in a car and start driving without even thinking about what we might run into. The diseases that ran rampant during the 1800’s are contained by vaccinations. The most a person would have to worry about would be catching the common cold. If a person would get sick during a trip, there are plenty of hospitals along the way that could treat them.
Another risk would be automobile or plane accidents. Car accidents are more likely to occur than a plane crash, but they are still less likely than the amount of accidents that occurred with the wagons. River crossings are covered by bridges, and roads have been paved through mountains. Of course, we do not have to worry about being stampeded by buffalos or attacked by Indians; just possibly being robbed by another.
To the average person today, it is unimaginable to think of all of the hardships an emigrant had to face while on the trail. Today it is so easy just to get in a car and start driving without even thinking about what we might run into. The diseases that ran rampant during the 1800’s are contained by vaccinations. The most a person would have to worry about would be catching the common cold. If a person would get sick during a trip, there are plenty of hospitals along the way that could treat them.
Another risk would be automobile or plane accidents. Car accidents are more likely to occur than a plane crash, but they are still less likely than the amount of accidents that occurred with the wagons. River crossings are covered by bridges, and roads have been paved through mountains. Of course, we do not have to worry about being stampeded by buffalos or attacked by Indians; just possibly being robbed by another.