Digital History>eXplorations>Children and the Westward Movement>The Trail to California>Jesse Applegate

Jesse A. Applegate

Mother, myself, and the other children were in the little red wagon; it…was attached to the last end of the train. As we were just getting up the bank from the ford, our team broke loose and wagon and team backed into the river. Being swept below the ford, the team swam and the wagon sank down, and was drifting on the sand; and I remember the water came rushing into the wagon box to my waist, compelling me to scramble up on the top of a trunk…. But several men came swimming, held up the wagon, and soon assisted us to shore.

Source: Emmy E. Werner, Pioneer Children on the Journey West, 11

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