A Look at the Old West with Open Eyes

Myths Dispelled

Jacquie Rogers
Texty Ladies Columnist
Copyright © 2009 Jacquie Rogers

If you’re writing western historical romance, are you swayed by the myths promulgated by the movie business in the early 20th Century? I ask because many readers are convinced those myths are true.

Question: should you write the myth? or the truth? Let’s take a look at a few of the things that make me crazy when I read a book where either the author hasn’t done her research, or the author has chosen to go along with the myth. (Myths sell better than facts, so keep that in mind.)

The Truth About Wagon Trains

Over 300,000 people traveled the Oregon Trail from 1840 to 1860, and of those, between 6% and 10% (depending on the source) died along the way. According to Oregon.com, the four most common causes of death were “cholera, wagon accidents, drownings during river crossings, and accidental gunshots.” Fewer than 350 of the 30,000 casualties died from Indian attacks. In fact, many never would have made it to Oregon without the assistance of Indians.

Frequently, deaths were caused by accidental shooting. Does this surprise you? Remember, most settlers weren’t country people. Most came from eastern cities, and were what today would be considered middle-income families. It was quite expensive to buy and outfit a wagon to emigrate west, taking about three year’s salary. Poor people couldn’t afford to go, and rural people already owned land so they didn’t need to go. These urban people were not a lot different from urban people today in that they’d never needed to learn to shoot a firearm, or kill and dress their own meat. So naturally accidents with firearms occurred, especially when you mixed in a little testosterone with the new gun.

Wagons didn’t travel single-file. Too dusty!!! Anyone who has ever driven on dirt roads, especially in the desert, would understand that traveling over prairie and plain in the dry summer would kick up lots of billowing dust and dirt, and frankly, a person just couldn’t breathe very well, even with a mask. When possible, wagons traveled side-by-side. The oxen were led; therefore, the driver walked. No reins, you see. Besides, the ride was too bumpy.

Pickles were the health food of the day. The emigrants ate lots and lots of pickles, their only source of vitamin C.

You wouldn’t have seen a horse-drawn Conestoga wagon. Not anywhere. Horses couldn’t survive on the prairie grasses and sage, and Conestoga wagons where too heavy and cumbersome. Instead, the travelers bought oxen or mules. While mules traveled faster, oxen had better dispositions so were generally preferred. Emigrants often used farm wagons covered with canvas tarps, but Studebaker made a smaller version of the Conestoga that was quite popular, albeit a bit pricey.

The Truth About Cowboys

First of all, cowboys weren’t called “cowboys.” Still aren’t in a lot of locales, although cowboy is the accepted term on the rodeo circuit. Men who worked with cattle were called cow punchers, cattle drovers, ranch hands, hired hands, and a few more terms–this was regional. If they handled horses primarily, they were called wranglers (in most areas). Ranch owners where I grew up were called “ranchmen.”

Only about a third of the cattle drovers were white. The rest were former slaves, Mexican vaqueros, or Indians. Indians were highly prized on a cattle drive because they could negotiate better deals with the local tribes when it came to crossing territories or helping with river fordings.

Drovers seldom packed iron. Every ounce counts when you’re riding a horse all day long, and firearms plus ammo weigh too much. Weapons were usually kept in the chuckwagon.

What About the Women?

Many women owned property or businesses all over the West and managed them without the aid of or ever having a husband or other man around. The largest horse sale in history was negotiated in 1898 by Kitty Wilkins, whose ranch wasn’t too far from where I grew up in Idaho. She built the most profitable horse ranch west of the Mississippi, and had a huge crew. A few weeks ago, I read a piece in the local paper where an author announced he was writing a book on this lady horse rancher. I can’t wait to read it.

Women in general were, by necessity, more independent than their sisters back East. Wyoming granted suffrage to women in 1869. Idaho did so in 1896, as did Utah. Utah actually tried to pass women’s suffrage sooner but it was struck down by Congress, who used it as an argument against polygamy. Many western states were community property states, and women have held city and county positions from the earliest days.

Goin’ and Comin’

A large percentage of emigrants couldn’t cut it in the West and booked passage back home. According to our family story (unconfirmed), this is how my g-g-grandfather made enough money to buy farms for all his children in Missouri–by bringing people back to the East from the California gold mines.

And for Fun?

Gambling was the main form of entertainment in the west. Everyone, and I mean everyone, gambled. There are two instances of preachers’ wives gambling away the church buildings. Kids, schoolteachers . . . everyone. And not little two-bit bets like you see on TV, either. They literally would bet the farm on how fast an ice statue would melt. Horseracing was extremely popular, and it is confirmed that my g-g-grandfather took race horses to the San Francisco area in the 1850s, held races, raked in the dough from bets, sold the horses for a fortune, and went back home a happy man.

Oh, I see John Wayne!

Gunfight duels: very, very rare. Hickok and Coe, yes. I can’t think of any others right now. There are only a few cases where the facts could be construed as a face-to-face draw at high noon, but even then, most weren’t. A quick draw was considered cool in some circles, though. Think boys and their toys. Even so, decision-making speed was often more imporant than how fast a man could clear leather. For a great resource on gunfighting and gunfighters, take a look at Triggernometry: A Gallery of Gunfighters : With Technical Notes on Leather Slapping As a Fine Art, Gathered from Many a Loose Holstered Expert over the Years

Little House on the Prairie

Sod houses didn’t have to be musty, wormy, dirty affairs. They could be extremely comfortable. My great-grandfather built one that was still in existance in the 1960s, and unless you were told, you’d never know it was a soddy. It’s as square and solid as any wood house. The walls were two feet thick–cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The house was quite large–living room, parlor, kitchen, den, and three bedrooms. Originally, it was whitewashed, but was painted when we were there. It had a double door, and the glass windows were all still intact.

I hope you enjoyed your mini-tour of the Old West today.

That’s about it for this Magical Monday.

I’ll be taking a few weeks off because my daughter is getting married so I’ll be out of state the first half of August. It’ll be a busy time because I’m going to my high school class reunion, too. Should be great fun!

Contests? Of course.

The biggest contest is at 1st Turning Point with fabulous prizes including a critque from Rowena Cherry, a Templar T-shirt from Gerri Russell, and a John Klawitter film short called Extinction. Besides those, Carol North is offering a way cool tote bag, Rebecca J. Vickery contributed her first release (ebook), and I’m throwing in Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues. So become a 1st Turning Point Parrot by subscribing, and you’re automatically entered in the drawing!

Want to wind a Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues T-shirt? All subscribers to Keely’s Contest and News Group are eligible to win!

Good news! Justin Saragueta’s CD is now released. You can buy it at the store on his site.

Have a great week!

Jacquie Rogers

Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
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