The Long Haul West: Life on the Oregon Trail By ... - Lourdes College

While on the trail, the emigrants found all different ways to entertain themselves. At
night, the Boatman party would all come around the Deacons fire and read the Bible and sing
hymns. <strong>The</strong>y were very religious and even tried to observe the Sabbath when at all possible. This
would become increasingly hard for the party to do later in the trip as there might not always be
an adequate place to camp on the Sabbath. It was mainly observed because it was not viewed as
healthy for the people or the stock to travel for such long periods of time without rest. Mary Ann
also considered them “wandering Israelites.” 23
John Hawkins Clark of Cincinnati recalled his own forms of entertainment from his time
on the Oregon Trail. ”<strong>The</strong>re are many musicians belonging to the different encampments
surrounding us, and after supper all commenced to practice the sweet tunes that were to enliven
us while sitting around the camp fire…this concert lasted until near midnight.” 24
<strong>The</strong> Boatman party reached the Missouri River around midday and there were already
hundreds of wagons waiting to ferry the river. After signing up to cross, the Boatmans, would
have to wait for over a week. At this time, the Boatman party got their first real look at the nature
of the people they were travelling with.
On the first day of waiting to ferry the river, the party met with some of their neighbors.
<strong>The</strong>se people told them that it would be alright to let their cattle graze freely out on the field.
Trustingly the Boatmans let their cattle go. While sleeping during that first night the men heard
the cattle bells stir. So they woke and went after their cattle. <strong>The</strong>y finally caught up with the
cattle five miles away in a swamp. It took a half day to free the cattle and bring them back. It was
clear to them that the neighbors they had trusted were deceitful with them. After that they
decided to move camp away from these neighbors. On their tenth day, they were finally able to
ferry across the Missouri River. It was the 20 th day of May. 25
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