Chapter 11
July 17, 1847
I got up this morning and
saw that two of the wagons that had been next to mine had moved. When I went to
the main fire for our morning meeting there was a space around me, as if people
thought I was somehow suddenly different. I talked to several of the men there
and had some who answered in short sentences, inviting no further conversation,
while some people who had hardly spoken to me before gathered next to me.
When I spoke to
one of the people who would speak to me, he told me that I was now regarded as
a dangerous man, willing to kill someone for an insult. I was both outraged and
at the same time complimented by this. I was outraged that anyone would believe
that I would kill over something so small, but complimented since for the first
time the men regarded me with some respect. I quickly cut off this line of
thought and determined that I would treat everyone like before. I almost lost
this determination, when one of the single men asked if I loaned out my wives
since I must be a Mormon. I glared at him and his friends quickly dragged him
away, talking to him as they left. Surprisingly, this lowered the tension in
the main group as they saw I didn't react too strongly to the insult.
I saw my wives
getting out of the wagon to prepare breakfast and saw them get swarmed by a
group of women. I was afraid there was going to be trouble when I saw the
expression on Claire's face, then I heard Elizabeth laughing and saw one woman
stomping off with a sour look on her face. I saw Claire's face relax and soon
heard the women talking and laughing like normal. I relaxed then and waited for
the next shoe to drop. They later told me that they had been asked if I was a
Mormon. I do not understand the hatred towards the Mormons that these people
show.
As the morning
went by, the mood around the camp lightened. By noon, most of the men were
talking to me and I found myself thinking that the whole thing should blow over
soon. I still needed supplies and Louise still needed new dresses, so Louise
and I went to the trading post again. This time there was a space that remained
around us during the whole time. Some trappers came in but nobody approached
us. We paid for our purchases with some of the remaining gold pieces that
Claire had brought and returned to the wagon train with no problem. Frankly, I
was holding my breath most of the time thinking that something might happen.
The oxen had
been re-shod earlier and I wanted the blacksmith to see if he could re-rim one
wheel. Otherwise we were ready to continue our trip. Mr. Bridger came out to
see the wagon train today and I used the time he was here to pick his brain
about where the best land was in the Willamette Valley. He recommended that we
look around the Siuslaw or Umpqua Rivers for the best farmland. If we wanted to
ranch he recommended we look around the Klamath River and find a small valley
that we could fence in.
We made love
and this time didn't worry about either the noise nor who was making it..
July 18, 1847
We restarted
our journey to Oregon, refreshed by the break in the trip and the good water
and grass we had enjoyed for the last three days. After about an hour of travel
we left the oasis where Fort Bridger was located and returned to the dry tundra
of the Great Northern Desert. Soon afterwards we started to enter a landscape
that seemed out of a science fiction movie.
The land began
to change from scrubby growth to a land dotted by cones, craters, springs,
geysers, and waterfalls. The earth changed from soil to lava rock and we could
hear the oxen's hoofs tap as they hit the surface. We went by several ponds of
various colors, some hot and some cool. One boy tasted the water of one pond
and said it reminded him of the taste of beer. Many of the people were eager to
leave this unworldly area, but the wagon master told us the area would take at
least three days to get through. We finally stopped for the day near a
collection of mineral springs. One gusher made a high-pitched whistle when you
came near. One man said it reminded him of a steamboat whistle like the
riverboats on the Mississippi. Elizabeth, Claire and Louise found an out of the
way pond that was warm and demanded we all bathe.
Grabbing clean
clothes and towels, we started toward the pond. We decided that since we had
the time and hot water that we would wash some clothes as well. We arrived and
I placed my pistol under the dirty clothes next to the pond. Leaning back, I
relaxed and watched the lovely ladies begin to soap themselves and wash off. I
admired the differences between them. Claire, tall and slender with large
breasts, Elizabeth, short and also slender with a thin tomboyish figure, and
Louise with a full figure with large breasts and a nicely rounded rump.
As I looked at
them I felt my dick start to rise and by the time they had finished washing
each other, it felt like any stimulation would make me explode. Elizabeth
noticed this and poking Louise in the side directed her attention to the fact.
Louise came over and slowly sat down on my lap in the water. Trading kisses, we
began to caress each other's chests and necks. As we became more intimate, I
glanced over and saw Claire and Elizabeth getting into a 69 position. Returning
my attention to Louise I gradually started licking her nipples until they
became hard and the aurora covered half her breast. Picking her up I laid her
down on the clothes and began kissing her feet. Sucking on every toe as I came
to it, I began licking her inner thighs while gently rubbing her hips and
stomach. Ending up at her mons, I paused and suddenly lifting and separating
her legs pulled her outer lips apart and admired the view. The pink inside
against the brown skin looked like some sort of flower with the distended
clitoris as the stamen. Leaning forward, I smelled her sharp but musky odor and
using my tongue began to lap. I pushed my tongue into her tunnel and using her
juices coated my fingers. I reached forward and began to gently rub her clit.
She began to shake and with a loud keen she climaxed.
Letting her
come down all the way was not in my plans however. I switched my mouth from her
tunnel to suck in her clit and stuck two fingers into her cunt. Curling my
fingers I reached toward the pubic bone and felt for her G-spot. Touching it I
felt her have another climax and felt her ejaculate fluid. Giving her clit a
last lick I began kissing her stomach and ended up at her breasts again.
Lifting myself up on my arms, I slid into her bottoming out. As our pelvic
bones bumped against each other, I felt myself beginning to swell and began to
ejaculate. As Louise felt this she had another climax even greater than before
and began to shake. As we came down I felt two bodies pressed up against us
patting our backs.
We got back in
the pond and soaked afterwards as we talked about where we wanted to go in
Oregon. We never did get around to washing those clothes though.
July 19-20, 1847
Not much to
write about for the last two days. We have continued to go through the lava
lands headed toward the Snake River. We have begun hearing a low roar from the
direction of the river. The guide has said this is a great fall that resembles
Niagara Falls. We are not going to be able to cross here but we will be able to
see it if we want to as we pass. We are going to be passing over the Snake
River at a place where there are two islands to help us get across the
treacherous water and a direct route after that to Fort Boise. The wagon master
said he expects it to take at least three to four days to reach there. Until then
we will be following the Snake River so we should have fresh water available if
necessary. The people on the wagon train have become friendlier as we have
traveled from Fort Bridger. Some of those who avoided us after the trial have
started talking to us again. The oxen are holding up but I hope we get to the
crossing without delay, as there is little vegetation on this side for the
cattle.
July 21, 1847
We had another
death yesterday. One of the younger children were sightseeing on the cliff at
the falls and got too close. He fell and must have died instantly. We were
unable to recover the body. After discussing whether to leave a marker, I was
detailed to carve this inscription; "Here
was lost Michael Thorenson, age 13 who fell from the cliff. May God rest his
soul." on the side of the trail
going up to the falls.
We have been
warned that this river is one of the most dangerous we will be crossing. I can
believe it. The power of the falls is amazing. To me it looks even bigger than
Niagara Falls. We are unable to reach the river due to the steep walls of the
valley it is flowing through. It is frustrating to us to see the lands on the
other side and have no way to get there.
We must
continue through this landscape from Hell until we are able to cross. I hope
the oxen are able to last.
July 22-23, 1847
Nothing to
write about. Still traveling through this hellish landscape. The oxen are
beginning to drop. I have seen several piles of bones where others have fallen.
The landscape is beginning to flatten at last and we are able to reach the
Snake River for water. Still no large amount of vegetation available for
fodder. The wagon master has told us we need to hurry to get over the crossing
before the water rises. Otherwise we will have at least 5 more days of travel
through the barren landscape.
July 24, 1847
We have arrived
at Three Island Crossing today. The water is running about a foot and a half
deep, but the current is extremely strong. I placed my hand in the water and
felt it go downstream from the force of the current. The wagon master has
warned us that any missteps could wash away either the wagon or the people. At
least it is crystal clear here so I can see if anything is coming at me
underwater. I was worried about the crossing but not as much as my wives. I
thought that Elizabeth and Claire were going to have a fit when I told them I
was leading the team across the river.
We have been
picking up items thrown out by previous wagon trains and now have much of the
larger farming tools we needed and other items necessary to set up a household.
There are many other items we could have picked up. This is an area where
overloaded wagons must lighten their loads. This has increased the weight of
the wagon until we are at about the same weight as the others, and we have been
told that any more weight would not be wise.. Our own oxen remain in good shape
although this will not continue if we are unable to reach better grazing.
The guide has
crossed the river to check out the crossing and says it is crossable but just
barely. The wagon master is making at least half the wagons cross today and the
other half tomorrow if necessary. We are double yoking the wagons and hope to
have them over the river by tonight. The women and children have been told to
remain in the wagons and hang on when it moves.
July 25, 1847
We managed to
cross the Snake River yesterday, but there is no joy in us over the fact. The
wagon train has been very fortunate in not loosing too many people so far.
Yesterday, our luck ran out. The wagon belonging to Adam Erton was swept away
in the current and his wife Zoe and their five young children were lost in the
river. Adam was saved but he later committed suicide last night by cutting his
wrists. We have recovered the bodies of Zoe and two of her children and they
are to be buried today with their husband and father. We have lost both teams
and are trying to find enough oxen to allow the other wagon belonging to his
brother Jacob to continue on to Oregon. We have four oxen available for this but
do not know if he will be able to pull his wagon with everything he currently
has. If not, he will be forced to leave some of his items here.
The funeral was
well attended by everyone on the train and we listened to a sermon by the wagon
captain as we have no clergy with us. The eulogy brought many of the women and
not a few of the men to tears. We have been told to be ready to move after the
noon meal as we have little time to waste getting to Fort Boise.
We went to bed
and just held each other.
July 26, 1847
We traveled
over 15 miles today in much more pleasant surroundings. The grass is thicker
here and there is wood for fuel. The area is arid but I cannot call it true
desert myself. This is the territory of the Shoshone-Bannock Indian tribe. We
have been warned that the Bannock tribe is not friendly to travelers and we can
expect to be attacked if we are cut off from the wagon train. We are finally
past most of the desert areas and can expect to find more civilization, as we
get closer to the ocean. The British claimed this territory and the Hudson Bay
Company had the rights to it until it was ceded to the United States. Fort
Boise was established in 1834 as a fur trading post and it is now an important
stopping point for Oregon emigrants. We are hoping to re-supply after we reach
there, as many of the wagons are getting extremely low on flour and other
necessities. We also hope to replenish our oxen teams to allow for any losses.
The wagon
master told us it should take about 5 more days to get to Fort Boise, as most
of the trip is through an open valley. We have been directed to drive side by
side to avoid the dust. Everyone let out a cheer for that. Everyone wears
bandannas to keep out the dust when we are traveling. We have dust in everything
at the end of the day. We change positions so no one eats the trail end dust
every day. It's still unpleasant to be stuck in the last half of the wagon
train.
The Jensens
have offered to sell us their new milk heifer calf when we reach Oregon City. I
have accepted the price of 35 dollars that they want and I consider it a
bargain. I was worried that we would not be able to find any milk cows after we
reached Oregon for any price. After that several people have come up to us to
offer to sell some of their animals. They have all expressed fear that they
will not have enough money to buy supplies at Fort Boise or to pay for the
Mount Hood Toll Road. One man told me in disbelief that the road was charging 5
dollars per wagon and 10 cents per animal.
I talked to my
wives and we decided that we would buy as many cattle as we could. After
checking our coin we found we had 165 dollars. This would allow us to buy a
bull and four heifers. We would need to keep at least 40 dollars for
emergencies until we could reach Oregon City, so we would only be able to buy 3
heifers instead of 4. I was disappointed about not being able to buy more
cattle, but I agreed with my wives that showing raw gold would not be a wise
idea.
"Alex, I'm going to open that last
barrel of flour today. Would you like biscuits or bread tomorrow?" Louise asked me as she walked over to
the barrel with the ax.
"Biscuits, I think."
She struggled
trying to open the barrel top. Claire got up and went to help her take off the
top ring. They finally got the top off and started to dip out flour into the
flour bag. Claire reached in the cup and stopped after she got down about an
inch.
"Alex, there's something hard in here."
As she said
that, I suddenly remembered the box I had found in the slaver's wagon. I had
put it in the barrel and completely forgot about it. I went to the barrel and
pulled the box out. Looking around I motioned my wives to come closer and told
them of finding the box.
Elizabeth
reached out to open the box. I handed it to her and said, "I think that it's only fair that the
ones who found it should be the ones who open it." With that Louise and Claire grabbed the box and all three women
sat down and hovered over the box like children over a box of chocolate. They
opened the box and all three squealed with excitement as they saw the money on
top. Claire began taking it out and stacking it, when suddenly Louise gasped
and reached in to pick up a silver pocket watch. Then she began to cry.
"This belonged to my brother, Lucas.
They took it from him when they enslaved us. I never thought I'd see it again." She sat in silence for about five
minutes staring into some other place full of pain. Then she began rocking back
and forth with tears pouring from her eyes. Claire reached out and held her
tightly around her shoulders. I reached out and took her hand while Elizabeth
began crying in sympathy.
She began
shaking and we laid her down on the bed, where we took turns holding her in our
arms. She held the watch like a magic talisman against the feelings of despair
that overwhelmed her. Finally she fell asleep and Claire, Elizabeth and I
climbed out of the wagon to let her sleep.
I spoke to my
wives, "She is going to need to
be watched for a few days because I'm worried that she will hurt herself. I
want one of us with her at all times."
"Yes", both answered. Elizabeth began to fix dinner and Claire headed
toward Corrie Morrett's wagon to ask her advice.
Soon Corrie, a
rather plain woman, 5 feet tall, weighing maybe 80 pounds soaking wet and with
an iron will came over to the wagon. "I
understand we have a problem."
she stated.
I began to tell
her that we would handle it when she interrupted me.
"No man can understand what she's going
through, so just keep out of the way while we handle it in our own fashion." With that she went to the wagon,
pulled out some blankets and told me I was sleeping over at her wagon. I
started to object when she grabbed my ear and pulled me over there. Some men
started to laugh at the sight, but the glares from the women quickly put a stop
to that. Corrie's husband came out of the wagon and greeted me.
"I see Corrie decided to take over
again."
I looked at him
and just nodded rubbing my ear.
"Might as well set up your bed. When
she gets like this you can't stop her without tying her down."
For the next
two days I was banished from our wagon. Elizabeth or Claire made the meals for
the Morrett family and cleaned the clothes every day but I never saw Louise or
Corrie. Any attempt at questioning either one about what was going on was met
with a look that stopped me dead in my tracks. We continued to move during this
time making good progress on the fairly flat valley floor. On the third day, I saw Corrie coming out of
our wagon looking drained. Concerned about her I approached.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
She gave me a
tired look. "You need to hold
your wife tonight and tell her you love her. I can't believe what that woman
has suffered." She gave me a hug
and headed back to her wagon. Her husband came out of the wagon and just took
her in his arms where she began softly crying.
I gathered my
blankets and headed toward our wagon. Looking in, I saw Louise sleeping, with
Elizabeth cuddling her in her sleep. I looked for Claire and saw her getting dinner
ready. I started to approach and she gave me a sad look. I opened my arms and
she came over for a hug. Claire spoke to me of Louise's experiences.
"Did you know that Louise's first
sexual experience was being raped by all three of the slavers?" she asked. "And after that she was passed on to the slaves to be used as a
reward for good behavior. Her brother was whipped to death in front of her
after their last escape attempt and she watched as the Indians killed all the
men in the wagon." She began to
cry in my arms.
"I wish you had left that box in the wagon or just took out the
money from it. No one should have to remember those sort of things." I kept silent and just held her until
she stopped crying.
29 July 1847
We all just huddled
together in a group last night. We continually told Louise it wasn't her fault
that the bad things happened and that we loved her. We held her until she went
to sleep and put her in the middle of a human sandwich, with Louise holding
Elizabeth, Claire holding her and me holding everyone I could reach.
The story must
have spread about her experiences. We have had women coming over all day
bringing small presents and talking to Louise. She seems to be coming out of
her depression and I hope to see her smile again. I am more and more determined
that slavery shall never take root in Oregon. I no longer care what will happen
to the future if, no when, I interfere to keep this from happening.
Corrie came by
this afternoon and told me that Louise might want to tell me about what
happened to her, but not to ask her any questions. She said that these things
would take time and to be patient until she became the way she was before. "I know that you love her and it's hard
for you to see her hurting so much, but you've got to give her time to heal", she said. I knew that she was a wise
woman and I also remembered that one of my sisters had volunteered at a Rape
Crisis Center and she had said basically the same thing.
She still seems
sad and walks around with a melancholy air, but the women on the train never
let her be alone. They come up to her, singly or in small groups, and either
talk to her quietly or just be with her and say nothing. This is leading to
friendships being formed between her and the other women, which I am glad to
see. She had been isolated before due to the manner in which she came to the
train as well as her race.
Louise just
wanted to be held by one of the other wives when me made love last night.
Claire had me mount her doggy fashion last night, the first time she has wanted
to be in any position other than the missionary. I think being pregnant has
increased her sex drive, as she seems more aggressive in her demands. Elizabeth
played with her breasts while we were having sex but Louise just laid next to
us. I miss her involvement in our life.
30 July 1847
We have arrived at Fort Boise. I am surprised at how much
traffic there is around here. This seems to be a bustling place. We have been
welcomed by the chief trade factor, John McLoughlin, who is an imposing man.
Six feet four inches tall, his abundant hair brilliantly white he offered to
treat any settlers who were suffering medical problems. He was surprised to
learn that I was treating the people on the wagon train and tried to engage me
in a medical discussion. I again repeated that I was not a doctor. We did talk
about how I was treating the people and I explained proper hygiene, frequent
hand washing and boiling all drinking water were the key to keeping people
well. He was surprisingly open to the concepts I spoke of, telling me that he
remembered reading about Ignaz Semmelweis'es demonstration that hand washing
prevented child birth fever and would recommend everything except
boiling drinking water to his own patients. We argued good-naturedly about
germs, but he could not believe that unseen things caused disease. We finally
agreed to disagree and he moved on to other subjects.
When I spoke of
how several of the people were concerned about not having enough money to buy
enough provisions for the rest of the trip, he offered to loan them the goods
on credit. I don't think I have ever met a more generous man. He is willing to
give aid to anyone who needs it. His kindness has had an effect on all of us.
Arriving here seems to have helped Louise; she seems happier and more animated.
I just hope this is a permanent effect.
I was so
impressed with this man, I took him into my confidence about the gold we had
found in Wyoming and asked his advice about it. He offered to take some of the
gold in exchange for British pounds or American gold coins, but told me that I
would get a better exchange rate in Oregon City. After talking to my wives, I
offered him 5 pounds of gold and received over a thousand dollars in return.
He told the
wagon train that the Provisional Government led by Governor Simpson was the
ruling authority in the Oregon Territory where we were headed and all land
claims needed to be confirmed by his office. We were surprised to learn that
each married couple would be able to claim 640 acres rather than the 164 we had
been told. When we told him of our intention of taking the Mount Hood Toll
Road, he warned us of a slope on the trail that was so steep that we would need
to use extra care to avoid disaster. He urged us to buy as much strong rope as
we could afford for this purpose.
I offered to
buy all the cattle that was offered for sale by the people in the wagon train
if they didn't want to purchase things on credit and ended up with two bulls
and twenty heifers of mixed beef and milk cattle. With the money from the
slaver's wagon we had $1390 left afterwards to buy provisions and other
supplies for the remainder of the trip. I hired one of the Morrett boys for $20
to drive the cattle until we got to Oregon City.
I have begun to
think about what I can do to stop the institution of slavery from becoming
established in Oregon. As the vast majority of slaves are used in farm work, I
have decided that I would concentrate on improving farming equipment to
eliminate the need of large numbers of farm workers. I decided that I would
first introduce the disc plow and a mechanical reaper. I have begun drawing up
the plans and will be looking for a blacksmith in Oregon City to make them
after we arrive.
This evening
Louise asked me to hold her after I made love to Elizabeth. She fell asleep in
my arms while being cuddled by Claire and myself. I whispered to Elizabeth
about being sorry not holding her after making love to her.
"Just be there for her like you would
for me." she replied, holding my
hand in a tight grip.