Roswell High School - Coyote Yearbook (Roswell, NM)

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N X , ia ,I lx x x Page Six HE pioneers of the early eighteenth century collected their great trains at Council Grove. Word would be sent out months ahead of time that a train was to move westward at a given date. Upon the day of the assembly the leaders of the train would be selected. There would be parleys with guides. Captains interviewed their mounted guides. Scouts were called together and given their instructions. Wagons were looked over. The girls made sure they had everything that they thought they would need for this great adventure westward. They had no books or magazines to guide them in selecting things to take. Little was known of the life on the trail. Meager and mostly false stories were all they had to go by. Many daughters of the southern planters had wagons as luxuriously furnished as their own boudoirs back home, even though crowded. Others, in the most rattle-trap of wagons. sat in smiling con- templation. wondering what the life at the end of the traill' would be and who would be their nearest neighbors when they had made their stake in the west. There was much talk on the last evening before departing. Many wagons from up-river arrived in the late evening. Word had been received that several wagons from the south were held up on account of heavy rains but would be along in a few days. At the last they arrived in groups of two's and ten's. The camp black- smiths were doing a last hour's rushing business. The day faded into dusk and fires were lighted. Many newcomers gathered around the fires and listened to the stories about the land of a thousand opportunities. More often than was necessary these stories were told only for the benefit of the tenderfoot and very rarely contained any truth. All the night the noise kept up. All was excitement! Slowly the eastern horizon turned purple and the stars began to blink out. Gradually light came to that over-anxious train. Then the blazing sphere of light came bounding up out of the earth. The iridescent ball stood out over the stream and lower arroyo where the early morning mist had risen. Fires were refueled and the last meal at Council Grove was prepared: after that the meals were those of the nomads, the travelers. Confusion reigned while the final orders were called and farewells were said. Then came the call, Westward Ho! Up and out of the valley and over the hill moved the train. Faces ever westward! Pioneers conquering the land that helped make the greatest of nations! Many days passed-days of sunshine. wind, rain, and dust, days that were hotg days that were cold. The train moved ever on-sometimes eight, sometimes twelve miles a day, when the traveling was especially good. But ever westward went the pioneers. Fun, laughter, and song mixed with hardship, Indians, and death filled the days. Each day contained its share of dreams of what the new life was to hold when they reached their destination. Some were afraid and uncertain, others be- lieved that the future would take care of itself. After crossing plain, mountain, and mesa they came to the end of the trail and to the beginning of a new life. Here the knowledge gained along the trail was of unlimited value. Here the plow-share was unloaded, crops were planted and houses arose almost over night. Homes were made and the foundation to the greatest land of all was layed in the solid rock of the blood of the pioneers. - - 'NXR x 3 fe. fm, i 5 5- M Xx:..:'f'X All A lf 'e-frsf,-..-, X' . 1. f ' ' f .' fr' le A A ' rr .1 so V- ' K-' A. r l l, if 1 T4 ' ' f 7 . Y ' l ' -- , . I 1 4ffi 'f,f , ' ,X ,V W gl., 'J' 4 2535 1 V. I, , .X Z I U K W- my L-. L ji gil - V' rv Q' -,Y Z4 Q ' 3 f-.37-If i 1 , 1 f-rv ' .V ,r .ft 'A W ,ft ed-, ji I .- ' J 1-E 'ff' ikfq ft? ,T f - , ,- z i -. X 1--1'-' f N., 5-' N - . , , 1 --Qs . .. .. g pg x., Ji , .Tye--A-gy.f ri. ,Y fj Q, r 'f c 55 Q f ' 'liz A' 'gf , ,- VNV 1 ' y 4-...vip ual,-5'-4 ' , ' if 4 3- w 1 ' ir -'Wi' ' Q itll-ftdiv'-X A' ftwflt' .-Vi ft ' haf'-.1'3:f ' r vwfW'l 'f

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