Sunday, July 2.
It is wonderful, wonderful to behold how this town of tents and wagons
has sprung up since yesterday morning when there was no sign of life on
this north bank of the South Platte, and now there are more than one
thousand men, women and children, and I cannot guess how many wagons
and tents. The wagons have been crossing all day, the last one has just
been driven into corral at sunset.
I was sitting on the bank of the river watching with anxiety the wagons
as they ploughed through the deep waters--for the ford has washed out
and the wagons go in much deeper than when we crossed yesterday--when a
gentleman came and introduced himself as Dr. Howard, physician for the
McMahan train. He said, “Miss Raymond, I have known you by sight since
we camped at Kearney, and now as I have an errand for an excuse I hope
to become better acquainted.”
I could not imagine what his errand could be, for he talked of other
matters for fifteen minutes or more, then said, “Miss Raymond, I have
been directed to your wagons for the best and most wholesome bread that
is baked on this road. Captain McMahan’s nephew, Robert Southerland,
has been very sick but is now convalescing and needs nutritious and
wholesome food to help him gain strength. I came to ask you for a piece
of good bread.”
Of course I gave him a loaf, and said, “Come get more when that is
gone.” He thanked me profusely.
There has been no serious accident nor any lives lost, although
thousands of cattle, hundreds of horses, and more than a thousand human
beings have crossed the river since yesterday morning.
Oh, for the pen of a Dickens to describe this wonderful scene, which
no one ever has or ever will see again, just as it is. The moon is at
the full and shining brightly as there is not a cloud in the sky, the
camp-fires do not glow as they do dark nights. The men are building a
great bonfire in the middle of our extemporaneous town.