Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1891 — A Pioneer Palace Car. [ARTICLE]

A Pioneer Palace Car.

Century for July. Our wagons, or the Reed wagons, as they were called, were all made tc order, and I can say without fCar of contradiction that nothing like our family -wagow ever .started across the plains. , It was what might be called S two-story wagon or “Pioneer palace car” attached to a regular immi- ! grant train. The entrance was on | the side, like that of an old fashioned j stage coach, and one stepped into a small room, as it were, in the center of the wagon. At the right and left were spring seats with comfortable high backs, where one could sit and ride with as much ease ai on a Con coach. In this little room was placed a. tiny sheet-iron stove, whose pipe, running—through the top of tiie wagon, was prevented by a circle of tin from setting tire to the canvas cover. A board about a foot wide extended over the wheels on either side the full length of the wagon thus forming the foundation for r large and roomy second story, ir which were placed our beds. Under the spring seats were compartment in which were stored many articles useful for the journey, such as a wellrilled work basket and a full assort ment of medicines, with lint anc bandages for dressing wounds. Our clothing was packed—not in Sara toga trunks —but in strong canvas bags plainly marked. Some o: mamma's young friends added a look ing glass, hung directly opposite thr door, in order, as they said, that my mother might not forget to keep her good looks, and, strangeto say, when we had to leave the wagon standing like a moument on the Salt Lake desert, the glass was still unbroken. I have often thought how pleasec. the Indians must have been wher they found this mirror which gav< them back the picture of their owe dusky faces.