Pioneer Days of Mrs. Matilda Frost
From notes furnished MRS. ELEANOR C. STEAVENSON
MY FAMILY and myself crossed the plains in the year of 1862. We were on the road six months. We went to California by the old Carson road. The train comprised eight wagons and fifteen men. A large train of 100 wagons and 300 men dropped in with us for a few days while we were on the Sweetwater in Wyoming. In this region there was danger from the Indians. From there we took the Carson route and the large train left us. The day we parted from them they were attacked by the Indians and fought for three days and nights without unhitching their animals. All that the emigrants ate during this time was a little flour and raw bacon. At the close of the third day this brave company overpowered the Indians. The train turned back over the same route and overtook us. The emigrants were overjoyed to find us alive. The Indians were stealing all the stock they could get and killing the people. Many of the small trains of emigrants were destroyed.
This large company traveled with us until we reached the Humboldt River. From there they went to Oregon. Our little train went on unmolested through the Carson desert, a journey of two days and nights. I had a funny little experience while on the desert. The second night the teams were very weary and nearly dead, so it was necessary to make some changes to get the animals through alive. My husband asked me if I could drive a yoke of steers, as my horses were needed to relieve another team. I said I would try. A long stick was given me to guide them with. I was told to say "gee" and "haw." I sat in the front of my wagon and, carrying out these directions, got along well till after midnight, when my "yoke of oxen began to bellow, and started on a run out over the rocks and sage brush with me yelling as loud as my womanly voice would admit. Whatever caused them to act so no one could tell. I drove my own team across the plains, and rather enjoyed it.
After many hardships we landed in the foothills near Red Bluffs, California. The next fall we went to Honey Lake Valley. But few people were living in this valley and the Indians were hostile. Myself and two little children were alone in this dreary valley much of the time. Every minute I expected to be killed. Shortly after we left a family of eight were massacred by the Indians.
In '64 we heard of the gold excitement in Idaho, and in May we set out for the Eldorado. Several days after starting we camped at an old stone building, at one time a station for soldiers. Five men had been living there. The Indians captured them, burned four at the stake and one in the house. The soldiers heard of it. They came and buried the ashes, all that remained of these poor men.
