Wagon Trains were composed of up to 200 wagons, though more common were trains of 30 or less wagons. Wagon Trains had large numbers of livestock accompany them. Upwards of 2,000 cattle and 10,000 sheep joined the pioneers in their westward trek.
Then, What was one of the most deadly illnesses the pioneers faced?
Diseases and serious illnesses caused the deaths of nine out of ten pioneers. Such diseases as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. Cholera was the main scourge of the trail.
Are wagon train stories true? The series, inspired by the 1950 John Ford film “Wagon Master,” detailed the travails of people aboard a wagon train journeying from Missouri to California after the Civil War. … Horton was Ward Bond, who played the grizzled wagon master, Maj. Seth Adams.
Keeping this in consideration, Why didn’t most pioneers ride in their wagons?
Teams of oxen or mules pulled the wagons along the dusty trail. People didn’t ride in the wagons often, because they didn’t want to wear out their animals. Instead they walked alongside them, getting just as dusty as the animals. The long journey was hard on both people and animals.
Why is cholera called the Blue death?
Cholera has been nicknamed the “blue death” because a person’s skin may turn bluish-gray from extreme loss of fluids [4].
Was Kitty Albright a real person?
Kitty C Albright (1888-1944) – Find A Grave Memorial.
Why did Duke leave Wagon Train?
According to author James Rosin in his book Naked City: The Television Series, McIntire grew dissatisfied with the rigors of a weekly television series based in New York while his family was out west and asked out of his contract, but according to a 1961 TV Guide interview, McIntire said, “I really did not care for …
Is anyone still alive from Wagon Train?
Only two are alive today. One of these survivors is Michael Burns who ‘evolved’ into a regular after appearing in an early episode as a boy stricken speechless by the murder of his father.
Why did settlers circle their wagons at night?
At night, wagon trains were often formed into a circle or square for shelter from wind or weather, and to corral the emigrants’ animals in the center to prevent them from running away or being stolen by Native Americans.
How much did wagons cost in the 1800s?
It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at about $100. Usually four or six animals had to pull the wagon.
What did pioneers sleep on?
Some pioneers did sleep in their wagons. Some did camp on the ground—either in the open or sheltered under the wagon. But many used canvas tents. Despite the romantic depictions of the covered wagon in movies and on television, it would not have been very comfortable to travel in or sleep in the wagon.
Is cholera killed by boiling water?
MINTZ: Well, boiling water is a very effective way to disinfect the water. And it will not only kill Vibrio cholerae, the bacteria that causes cholera, but it’s a right way to make sure your water is free of any pathogen, any living organism that could cause infection or illness.
Is cholera still around today?
Cholera causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people. Modern sewage and water treatment have virtually eliminated cholera in industrialized countries. But cholera still exists in Africa, Southeast Asia and Haiti.
Who found the cure for cholera?
British doctor John Snow couldn’t convince other doctors and scientists that cholera, a deadly disease, was spread when people drank contaminated water until a mother washed her baby’s diaper in a town well in 1854 and touched off an epidemic that killed 616 people.
When did Frank McGrath die?
He died May 13, 1967 at the age of sixty-four of a heart attack in Beverly Hills, California, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
Who was Kitty Albright?
Kitty Allbright is a registered nurse whose stagecoach is attacked and destroyed. Flint agrees to let her use her new skill on the wagon train. She quickly becomes disturbed at the lack of hygiene and health in general around the train.
Why did Wagon Train change cast?
5. Bond died of a heart attack on the fourth season of ‘Wagon Train. … Bond shockingly passed on November 5, 1960. John McIntire was brought in to replace the actor, acting as a new wagon master.
Is Duke from Wagon Train still alive?
Denny Miller, who played scout Duke Shannon on the classic TV Western Wagon Train and was the first blond Tarzan on the big screen, has died. He was 80. … Miller appeared over three seasons in more than 100 episodes of Wagon Train, which aired on NBC and ABC from 1957 to 1965.
Is Scott Miller from Wagon Train still alive?
Denny Scott Miller (born Dennis Linn Miller; April 25, 1934 – September 9, 2014) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan’s Island and Charlie’s Angels, and his 1959 film role as Tarzan.
Why did they say Wagons ho?
Women built fires, and hung over them pots of water to warm the morning coffee. … Fires had to be made from dried buffalo dung, or “buffalo chips,” as settlers called them. The travelers usually ate a breakfast of sowbelly (bacon) and slam-johns (flapjacks). At seven each morning, Applegate gave the command, “Wagons ho!”
How much did it cost to join a Wagon Train?
The overland journey from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon or California meant a six-month trip across 2,000 miles of hard country. It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at about $100.
Why did Pioneers circle their wagons?
“To be on the safe side, the pioneers drew their wagons into a circle at night to create a makeshift stockade. If they feared Indians might raid their livestock—the Plains tribes valued the horses, though generally ignored the oxen—they would drive the animals into the enclosure.”
How much did it cost to join a wagon train?
The overland journey from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon or California meant a six-month trip across 2,000 miles of hard country. It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at about $100.
How much did a horse cost in 1860?
In the west US it was possible to buy a horse for as little as $10, but a decent riding equine cost around $150, with a range of $120 (1861) to $185 (1865). A pack horse for the Oregon Trail cost $25 in the US in 1850, but a riding horse would run you $75.
How much did a horse cost in 1870?
Wheat per bushel $1.02 Horse, average work horse $150 Flour per barrel $3.00 Horse, good saddle horse $200 Corn per bushel 40 cents .
How many horses were used to pull wagons?
A typical prairie schooner weighed about 1,300 pounds (590 kg) when empty, and the general goal was to keep the weight of the added cargo to no more than 2,000 pounds (900 kg). Teams of 10 to 12 horses or mules or six yoked oxen typically were used to pull one of these wagons, with mules and oxen generally preferred.