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Prairie Schooners (1031 words) |
 | Conestoga wagons were large, heavy, and had beds shaped somewhat like boats, with angled ends and a floor that sloped to the middle so barrels wouldn't roll out when the wagon was climbing or descending a hill. |
| The wagon box, or bed, was made of hardwoods to resist shrinking in the dry air of the plains and deserts the emigrants had to cross. |
| Nonetheless, many emigrants took to soaking their wagon wheels in rivers and springs overnight, as it was not unheard of for the dry air to shrink the wood so much that the iron tires would roll right off the wheels during the day. |
| The Covered Wagon (1487 words) |
| The wagons were filled with provisions for months of travel: A few precious articles of household equipment; spare parts for the repair of wagons and ox-yokes; arms and ammunition for hunting game and for defense from savage Indians; and the women with little children. |
| The wagon wheels were locked with chains, with trunks and branches of trees. |
| A vast herd was seen approaching, and the wagons were hastily formed into a circle with the oxen in the center to prevent a stampede. |
Feeds |
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