EARLY DAY STORIES. 27 



crossing the Rawhide, a short distance east of the present 

 site of Fremont, when it became better again. 



There was a large village of Pawnee Indians at that 

 time just across on the south side of the Platte, and some 

 of them were with us nearly all the time ; they were friendly 

 and gave no trouble whatever, but we did not feel safe and 

 determined to unite with a larger company at the first 

 opportunity. That opportunity came very soon. We met 

 with a company of emigrants from Illinois, consisting of 

 about seventeen wagons, who were on their way to Califor- 

 nia. They had crossed the river, as I recollect it, at Kanes- 

 ville, now Council Bluffs, and had encamped exactly where 

 Omaha now stands. They were fully organized, having a 

 captain, a lieutenant, and an orderly and had adopted rules 

 and regulations for the journey. It was known as Capt. 

 Wells' train. We applied for permission to join the com- 

 pany, which was readily granted on our agreeing to con- 

 form to the rules and regulations. The company consisted 

 of twenty-one wagons, I think, after we had joined, forty- 

 two men, and about a dozen or fifteen women, and prob- 

 ably twenty or more children. The men were all armed, 

 generally with rifles, but some had single or double barrel- 

 ed shotguns, and quite a good many carried revolvers, or 

 single barreled pistols. We were well armed and equipped, 

 as these things were considered then, but all the fire arms 

 were muzzle loaders, as breech loading guns had not come 

 into use at that time. 



The captain selected the camping places, or sent his 

 lieutenant or orderly on ahead for that purpose. The stock 

 was turned loose to feed as soon as camp was made and a 

 temporary guard placed over it. As soon as supper was 

 over guards were mounted for the night, two to guard the 

 wagons which were placed in a circle with the tents inside, 

 and two to guard the cattle which were allowed to run 

 loose all night, but were not permitted to stray away. About 



