Miracles in My Life - J. N. Loughborough

seats were first taken across. Then the wagon was
drawn astride a skiff with the wheels in the water.
One man got into the boat to keep the wagon
balanced. Another skiff with two men in it was
rowed out, one man holding onto the tongue of our
wagon and the other rowing with all his might up
the stream. Next, they swam the horses over one at
a time. Last, with some trembling, we entered the
skiff, and were soon on the other shore.
On August 8, I traveled by stage 35 miles over
very bad roads to Blairstown, where I found I must
remain till morning before I could take the train.
Here I had no place to stay but a small country
tavern nearly filled with drunken hog-drivers. They
caroused all night, and had three regular fist fights
before midnight. I got no rest to speak of that night.
The next morning I took the train 75 miles to
Nevada. Here I found no food fit for a human being
to eat, but did the best I could then started for Fort
Des Moines by stage, 35 miles. The roads were in
such a terrible state that it took five hours to cover
the first ten miles of the journey.
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