CA-GOLDRUSH-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] Covered Wagons,. Pack Trains &c. - Part 2
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 14:18:21 EDT

Howdy,
I recollect that in Part 1 we to decided to travel to Caliornia by
covered-wagon. But we still had the question of whether to haul with horses,
mules or oxen.
Sorry, I vote against using horses. They have to be a lot more
expensive. Also, while they may be faster than an ox and stronger than a mule,
they are not tough enough for an every day, long haul to Californiee. Also,
they are not good trail foragers. I suspect that people later on will figure
out a way to utilize these fine animals for long hauling.
Let's listen to George STEWART in "The California Trail" on mules or
oxen:
"As between mule and ox there was endless argument around the campfires,
punctuated by tobacco juice spit into the embers:
' Mules move faster'.
'Yes, but oxen pull more'.
'Oxen don't stampede so easy'.
'But when they do, they run worse'.
'Mules bog down worse in mud.'
'But they can live on cottonwood bark'.
'The Sioux steal mules, but don't want oxen'.
'Oxen get sore feet when mules don't.'
"Individual emigrants, fortunate enough to have a good team, became greatly
attached to their animals, of either kind. One of them wrote enthusiastically
of his MULES:
'It was a noble sight to see those small, tough, earnest, honest Spanish
mules, every nerve strained to the upmost, examples of obedience, and of duty
performed under trying circumstances.
Stewart tells of another man wrote that he found the oxen 'greatly
superior" and:
"The ox is a most noble animal, patient, thrifty, durable, gentle and
easily driven, and does not run off. Those who come to this country will be in
love with their oxen by the time they reach here."
Probably the mule vs.oxen debate was never completely settled. I suspect
with good luck and good handling, either was highly satisfactory. Vice versa,
with bad luck and bad handling, either could cause trouble, or even disaster.
So far as I know, no scientific study was made to determine which animal was
better.
But as to the animals used, the numerical vedict strongly favor the ox.
Also, another deciding factor was cost. One price list during the goldrush
era, valued the mule at $75 and an ox at $25. Thus, in time, Ox-Team
Emigrant, became a generic term.(Mostly from George Stewart's The California
Trail,NY: McGraw-Hill Book Co, 1962)

Maybe a Part 3 on "&c." tomorrow:-)),
Bob Norris in Dallas
<BNorris166aol.com>

This thread:

• [CA-GOLDRUSH-L] Covered Wagons,. Pack Trains &c. - Part 2 by <>