Humor on the Trail

Chimney Rock, Nebraska

Canadian pioneer Margaret Judd Clawson, who crossed the plains in 1849, stated in her journal that her brother was going to do what when their company reached Chimney Rock?

a.      Push Chimney Rock over

b.      Climb it and rename it Judd Peak

c.       Carve his name in it

d.      Set up camp on top of the rock

Yesterday’s answers:

1.      C.   Looking through Orson Pratt’s telescope

In May, Clayton notes that a band of Indians were discovered near the pioneer camp. Later in the evening the Sioux chief and his wife came into camp to spend the night: The brethren fixed up a tent for them to sleep under; Porter Rockwell made them some coffee, and they were furnished with some victuals. The old chief amused himself very much by looking at the moon through a telescope for as much as twenty minutes.

William Clayton Journal, 24 May 1847, LDS Church Archives

2.      C.   Sang for the Saints

In August 1852 the James Chaney Snow company passed Scotts Bluff. Company clerk Henry Robinson writes: “At this place we met a large party of [Sioux] Indians and they came to us in a peaceable manner. . . . We immediately opened our stores and supplied them with [flour, meal, coffee, and sugar]. They appeared well satisfied, . . . wishing us great prosperity, and sang songs of joy.”

Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel,  Their Faces Toward Zion (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996), 116.

3.      A.   Helped to push the handcarts

A Willie handcart company member in 1856 writes cheerfully that the first Indians she met “came to our carts and pushed them into camp for us. . . . They left camp and soon returned with fresh buffalo meat, which they traded for clothing and salt.”

Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel,  Their Faces Toward Zion (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996), 116.

4.      B.   Covered the sister’s heads with their hats

Danish emigrant Peder Nielsen records: “We have come across quite a few Indians who have been very kind to us. Yesterday, for example, we had a heavy hailstorm, and some of the sisters had gone ahead of the company, and when the storm rose, some Indians were near them and they took their hats made with tarpaulin off and held them over the heads of the sisters. We camped near their camp in the evening; they came over to us and got some bread and flour and port, and were very much satisfied.” 

Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel,  Their Faces Toward Zion (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996), 116.