18 EARLY DAY STORIES. 



freight was unloaded. These emigrants that got off at 

 Westport, whether going to Oregon or California, would 

 take the trail that run northwest from Westport, and would 

 strike Nebraska on the south line of what is now Jeffer- 

 son county, and the Platte a little west of Grand Island. 



At Westport while the boat was discharging freight 

 a lot of the young men arranged a match to see who could 

 jump the highest. The match was to be between the steer- 

 age and cabin passengers. Two older men were chosen to 

 hold a string at a certain height, gauged by notches cut in 

 a pole ; this was gradually raised a notch higher each time 

 until only my cousin Wesley was left to represent the steer- 

 age, and a nice looking young gentleman dressed in black 

 for the cabin passengers. The string had been gradually 

 raised to about five feet — both contestants stripped to their 

 shirts, pants and socks. Our friend from the cabin made 

 his jump and cleared the string, then Wesley did the same, 

 both apparently clearing it with ease. Wesley, however, 

 declared he had done his best, and was willing to call the 

 contest a draw. The other said he believed he could do 

 one notch better. He tried it, cleared the string and won 

 the game, but his black pants were split behind from the 

 suspenders down. Covering the exposed part of his per- 

 son with both hands, he hurried to the cabin without waiting 

 to listen to the plaudits of the audience. 



A day or two later we arrived at St. Joseph where we 

 unloaded our stuff, pitched our little tent and began to 

 prepare for the trip across the plains. I had been sick for 

 two or three days from what was supposed to be a bad cold, 

 but on coming to the tent one day from a trip up town, 

 my cousin found me nicely broken out with the measles. 

 I kept close to the tent, was careful not to take cold and 

 was soon all right again. 



St. Joseph at that time was perhaps as large a place 

 as Neligh is at the present time, but not nearly so compact- 



