The May 7, 1959, issue of The Superior Express reported a contrast of times. Two nearly new boats collided and were demolished on Lovewell Lake, the Webber community was hit by a tornado, soaking rains since Saturday afternoon had measured 5.36 inches and a wagon train had crossed Nuckolls County that week. The wagon train story follows: (see related discussion of this event in the Editor’s Notebook).
Eighteen days on trail, a half-dozen Indian raids and no casualties so far for the Oregon-bound caravan of the Oregon Centennial wagon train.
The train crossed Nuckolls County Tuesday and Wednesday, coming in from Hebron and camping along southeast of Nora Tuesday night,
Wednesday morning they pulled into Nelson where they were greeted by a large crowd and the high school band. It was a beautiful day and the wagon train group was happy for they had seen enough rain the previous few days to last them for the entire trip, according to Gordon Serpa, wagon master.
Its the surprises and the hundreds of persons who turn out to see the wagon train along the way that keeps the travelers happy and smiling. In every town the six women with their bonnets, the 14 men with beards, and three children in western costumes are sought out for autographs, interviews and photographs. These folk, all from Oregon, who volunteered for the 2,020 mile, 119-day trek to the west have become celebrities.
A typical day starts around five o’clock when two women begin preparing a breafast of eggs, ham or bacon, coffee and bread. The men feed hay to the 12 horses and 10 mules and water them. Breakfast is followed by hitching the teams. The travelers are usually on the trail by 8 o’clock.
About noon, the animals have some oats and water. The pioneers get sack lunches and everyone has about an hour to rest. Travelling down the highway, the men and women take turns at the reins. Even the children are learning to drive. Two of the men are Seventh Day Adventists and have asked that someone drive for them on Saturdays, since they consider the task unsuited for their Sabbath.
On reaching the night corral, the wagons are drawn up into the traditional circle and the animals unhitched, watered and fed the last of the daily ration of five bales of hay and a sack of oats.
Showers, if there is place available, supper cooked over a portable range and preparations for bedding down under the wagons or in them follow. The crowds, getting larger as this caravan continues west, sometimes join the pioneers for a few songs around the campfire.
The caravan had planned to drive past the Oak Grove Indian Raid monument, three miles east of Oak, but the soaking rains kept them on the hard surfaced roads.
Wednesday night the group camped near the Little Blue River along Highway 14.
The Ruskin Leader reported the group had camped near the home of Lida Henby, a true pioneer. Members of the Nelson Saddle Club rode with them as they left Nelson.
From other accounts it is reported seven wagons left Independence, Missouri.
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