Bret Harte Union High School - Sierra Vista Yearbook (Angels Camp, CA)

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cc cc cc C1-361165 of 618012372 and Tfdil The Old Freighter I was looking over old curios in a museum when I came upon an old freight wagon and, according to notations listed there, the wagon was made in Valley Springs by local blacksmiths. Some of the lumber was hauled from mountain sawmills, but the bulk of it was imported from without. The wagon traveled between West Point and Valley Springs, a distance of thirty-five miles, and, since the team averaged about two miles an hour, it took three days for a round trip. As I stood looking at the wagon my mind wandered back to the days when I was a 'young boy and often saw the freighters, snapping their blacksnakes to frighten the horses to greater speed, struggling along the rough, muddy roads. The two head horses or leaders picked the way: next were the pointers, with bells on them to warn approaching teams on dangerous mountain roadsg then came the wheelers, who were usually picked for their strength as all heavy tugging and pulling fell to them. How well I remember how perfectly those horses were trained to their positions, an example of which is illustrated when a sharp turn was encoun- tered in the road. Since the tongue of the wagon only went as far as the pointers, and a chain extended from there to the leaders, this was easily accomplished: one pointer started off in the right direction while the other jumped the chain, thus holding the wagon in the road. Too, the horses were quick to obey orders, the driver had only to shout gee or haw, and the horses went to the right or left respectively. In my musings my eyes returned to the wagon before which I was standingg they rested on the huge weight or chuck block hanging on the end of a chain at the rear of the wagon. I remembered that this block dragged along behind one of the rear wheels, and when the wagon was suddenly stopped on a hill, the wheels lodged against the block and the wagon was instantly stopped. Next I observed the leather boot swinging at the sideg this was used as a container for the castor oil can, the oil from which was used to grease the axles. As my glance wandered, I saw the jockey-box Where the driver kept all the necessary tools and a few of his personal effects. Just above the jockey-box I saw instead of ordinary reins only one line, or jerk-line, reaching from the driver's seat to the lead horses. When I thought of the hazardous mountain roads that had to be traversed, I marvelled at the skill of the driver who could handle his spirited team with one lone line. Thus ended my tour of the museum, and I left with a refreshed mem- ory, as I had just about forgotten that anything like a freight wagon had ever existed. VIVIAN LILLIE '34. -'El 40 life

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