Accident, illness claimed thousands on trail

GREEN RIVER STATION -Morris Carter today leads his Historic Trails wagon train to Name Rock, which lies east of Fort Bridger.

Illness and death were common on the Oregon Trail with large numbers of people dying of Asiatic cholera and other illnesses. Some 30,000 people had died along the trail by 1859.

But most trail deaths occurred in accidents, many involving firearms, wagons, or livestock. Only about 400 people lost their lives at the hands of Indians, and few of them before the 1860s, when the tribes finally took up arms against what they considered an invasion.

Hamilton Scott in his 1862 diary, refers once again to the woman for whom his train delayed its start at Independence Rock.

July 27. We remained in camp all day. thomas Paul's Wife died about nine a 'clock this mornlng. She died in childhirth. She has left behind an infant. She has been very poorly for some time. We buried her this evening under a large pine tree and put a post and paling fence around her grave.

August 2. Between eleven and twelve a'clock, our cattle scared at some loose horses belonging to another train. About twenty~five teams ran away, upsetting and breaking wagons, running over men, women and children. Mrs. Townsend from Monroe, Iowa was dangerously wounded. Wilson Scott had a broken leg. Mrs. Hoover's head was bruised ...

August 3. Thomas Paul's child died last night and Mrs. Townsend, who was so seriously hurt in the stampede, died about twelve a 'clock today. We buried them this·evening.

Source: Wyoming,Archives.