Chapter 9—(1879) From the Red River to Battle Creek

We have started on our journey to Colorado,” wrote James White from their camp to children William and Mary. They were midway between Denison and the Red River, which separated Texas from the Indian Territory (Oklahoma). It was Sabbath, April 26, and the campers had been reading the Review, Good Health, and the Youth's Instructor. The Review, which reported the General Conference session and the dedication of the Tabernacle, he commented, “is excellent.” In a Sabbath morning walk with John Corliss they came across ripe wild strawberries, and the quails around them were chirping, “Good-to-eat” or “Bobwhite.” White explained their encampment:3BIO 109.1

Rains have detained us in getting off, and now the river is so high that we have to wait here till Monday the twenty-seventh. Elder Corliss, Brother Bears and daughter, Dr. Hardin, M. A. [Marian] Davis, and your parents came out here last evening, and just before the Sabbath were pitched in two tents. We have four heavy mules on two wagons, and a fine span of smaller ones on our two-seated spring carriage.—JW to WCW, April 26, 1879.3BIO 109.2

Concerning the same camp Ellen White wrote in her diary: 3BIO 109.3

We remained until [Wednesday] April 30 in a waiting position, for the sick to be able to travel [W. H. Moore, from food poisoning, having eaten some partly decomposed bear meat, and James Cornell. Moore was desperately ill, and even when well enough to travel at all, did so for some days on a mattress in one of the covered wagons.] and the ferry so that we could cross. We then started on our way with eight covered wagons and one covered spring wagon with two seats. Thirty composed our party. About noon we crossed the ferry with special instruction to drive quickly as soon as off the boat because of danger through quicksands.—Manuscript 4, 1879.

The caravan pushed north into Indian Territory for five miles; as night came on, they made camp in the open prairie. Besides the covered wagons their equipment included three tents, two cookstoves, and a sheet-iron camp stove.3BIO 110.1