Howdy GoldRushListers, This may be a summer re-run:-)))? My freaky, leaky archives show that I first posted this on 6/30/97 - before GoldRush List. But I think that's wrong - way too early. So, if you have already seen this, sorry. Anyway, in thinking of a neat Labor Day posting, the 4th of July is the only trail holiday that I recall -maybe the others escape me. As a substitute, here is one of my favorite postings, Twenty-Four Hours on the Emigrant Trail.- a 2 parter. Not only did I enjoy these accounts, but I learned a lot.. Sorry, if my edits muddle a mite, but I think you'll figure it out:-)) Here we go: A day's beginning on the travel was always filled with mystery, adventure and excitement that never palled. Preparing for the day's march was filled with activity and confusion. "Catching up" as the yoking and hitching oxen was called, was particularly boisterous. When everything was ready, the order "Catch Up! Catch Up!" sounded from the captain's tent. The cry was repeated throughout the scattered groups in the encampment. Often accompanying, were the gleeful yells from the teamsters who had a friendly rivalry to be the soonest ready, and the first to cry" All's Set.". An uproarious bustle followed: hallooing of men in pursuit of animals;wrathful drivers hurling expletives and picturesque profanity on the unruly brutes; the crash of the ox-goad, the resounding"Whoa - Haws", the oxen leaping, plunging, and running about to avoid the yoke, and the loose stock bellowing - all added to the tumult and confusion. Add the clatter of bells, the rattle of harness, chains and yokes, the "Gee- Up", "Gee-Haw", and "Who-Haws", the incessant crack of whips - like pistol shots from every direction, and you have the bedlam that accompanied breaking camp and getting on the road. If they had pack animals, the animation and bedlam only increased - primarily because most of the mules were wild and unbroken. One mule-wise goldseeker said that it took as many men to pack a mule as could stand around it. He voluntered that they were "obliged to choke many of them before they could get the pack-saddle upon their backs. They would kick, bite, and strike with their fore-feet, making it dangerous to go about them." He noted that several of his company were so badly injured while working with them that they couldn't assist in packing. Finally from a teamster is heard "All's Set". Then "All's Set" is heard from every quarter. Immediately the captain yells "Stretch Out"; and the "Heps!" of drivers, the cracking whips, the trampling of feet, the creaking wheels, and the groan and rumble of the wagons created a new confusion. With the call from headquarters of "Fall In", the wagons string out along the road - and the company is again on the go. As the elephantine procession slowly passes, a driver - and sometimes his wife - could be seen peering from a white oval of a covered wagon, with perhaps smaller faces peering over their shoulders. The driver, with two or three lines in hand, directed the horses in front. Following was another wagon and team, another,and many others - until the scene changed with the appearance of three, four or five pair of oxen plodding along - with the driver, "bull-whacker" walking behind and occasionally popping a long whip over their backs. Behind, rumbled and rattled a heavy wagon with its cargo of camping equipment and hopeful emigrants, and their flour, bacon, beans, sugar, coffee, whiskey, cooking utensils - many soon to be thrown away to lighten the load. And on the wagons came. Finally, almost as comic relief, came four or six mules hauling similar wagons, with the "muleteer" astride the lead mule to keep his animals on the trail. Emigrants walked when they tired of riding, as it was easy to keep up with the slow-moving teams, and there was perchance a need to urge a cow tied behind a wagon - when she rebelled; to watch for a tire that threatens to roll off ; or to drive a wedge under or strike the felly {iron rim?] occasionally. Men and boys with shouldered guns wandered off. And were seen in the distance paralleling the caravan, bagging prairie chicken, quail or deer - to gladden the evening camp. Sometimes, mounted and afoot, herdsmen [cowboys :-)?] drove beef cattle with whooping and yelling to keep their charges from wandering off after greener grasses. Men and women on horseback moved freely between the wagons or passed up and down the line, exchanging greetings and gossip with their friends in the wagons. Sometimes they galloped ahead to escape the clouds of choking dust and loitered at some shady nook beside a stream or spring. Some even rode with the captain to select a place for the evening's encampment. And then the inevitable family pet, the dog, who made side excursions after deer, rabbit or any wild thing that he thought challenged him. But as the day grew older, he tired and was content to walk along in the shade under the wagons, as they lurched over rock, root, and depression. Ah, here comes in single file a train of pack horses or mules - almost hidden with their huge loads of equipment and goods. The caravan halts while a council is held to consider a rule infraction by one of the party. A stop is made for a noon meal. And the oxen are released from their yokes. FOLKS: What's good for the oxen is good for you too :-) TO BE CONTINUED. Part 2 finale in a little bit:-). Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>