Westward Experience (or Fun with Dung)

#1 What were early frisbees made of? Buffalo Dung

#2 Main use for Buffalo Chips? Fuel for fire

#3 Why such a hurry to abandon and bury the dead? Progress might be slowed Winter was quickly approaching

The weather could slow you down Pending Storm – El Paso, TX

Pending Storm – El Paso, TX

You have a long way to travel!

#4 Why were water/liquor high in price, but not bacon? Limited supply of water/liquor/etc. which drove the price higher Bacon was plentiful

#5 What supplies were taken and how were they transported? Bacon Coffee Sugar Salt Wagon used for transportation

#6 What types of wheels were best for hard/soft surfaces? Narrow wheels - hard surfaces Wide wheels - soft surfaces

#7 Why circle wagons up at night? To corral loose livestock

#8 Why did so many explorers get rid of many items as they traveled? To lighten their load and allow them to travel faster

#9 How did most of the travelers to the western lands get there? Most walked west (wagons were often overloaded) Some also pulled their own materials with them (Mormons)

Mormon Handcarts Brigham Young decided the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way for large numbers of converts to reach the Salt Lake Valley was to pull their belongings on handcarts.

#10 What were two types of accidents often resulting in death? Falling under the wheels of the wagons Accidental shootings – many people owning guns for the first time

#11 What was the single biggest disease? Cholera

What is Cholera? (per the CDC) Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but sometimes it can be severe. Approximately one in 20 infected persons has severe disease characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these persons, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours. How does a person get cholera? A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium. In an epidemic, the source of the contamination is usually the feces of an infected person. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.

#12 What were two problems crossing rivers? Fears of drowning Cost of ferry

#13 What was used for firewood and what two items were at all meals? Buffalo dung Bread and bacon

#14 What were relations like w/ Nat. Am. Initially and why did it change? Native Americans were friendly and sociable – often aided the travelers Travelers killed the buffalo (often unnecessarily)

#15 What animal was most important to the Nat. Am. and explorers? Buffalo/Bison – every part of the animal was used by the Native Americans Note: Bison is the proper name for this N. American animal

Bison/Buffalo

#16 Oxen v. Horses to pull wagons Oxen were strong, could live off grass/sage found along the way, and were less expensive to purchase

#16 cont., Mules v. Horses Advantage of mules over horses: faster/live off prairie grasses Disadvantage of mules over horses: cantankerous beasts

#17 Three conclusions about traveling West Opinion question... What do you think? One last thing... How would you like to live in this?

Mr. & Mrs. David Vincent and daughter, Martha, by their sod house near White River, South Dakota

Sod Tough layer of prairie sod. The turf is held together for a depth of about a foot. The durability of the sod layer prevents erosion from taking place at the same rate as on the deposits below it.

Sod Houses - Interior

Imagine the isolation felt by the homesteaders!