The Oregon Trail-
What dangers did the settlers face?

Oregon Trail travel was so dangerous that one out of every ten pioneers died along the way.  Children fell out of wagons and were crushed under the heavy wheels.  Settlers set out too late in the year and were trapped by snow.  Some lakes and ponds contained poisonous alkaline water, which could kill humans or oxen.  Wagons broke down, oxen died from exhaustion, and guns accidentally misfired.  Rivers flooded, hunting parties got lost and couldn’t find their wagon trains, and settlers occasionally ran out of supplies and were forced to drink their own wastes and boil buffalo hides for food.
 

This gravestone on Scott Creek, Kansas reads: "Here lies an early traveler who lost his life in quest of riches in the West."  Makeshift gravestones like this one are common along the Oregon Trail. 
Photo courtesy of Anne Kelleher.

However, the greatest killer on the Oregon Trail was disease.  Emigrants suffered from measles, smallpox, mumps, mountain fever (Mountain fever is now believed to be caused by ticks), and, worst of all, cholera.  Cholera epidemics raged along the Trail in the late 1840’s and early 1850’s.  This disease, which caused terrible vomiting and diarrhea, was believed to be contagious and therefore the settlers were afraid to stop and help others who were sick. 
 

Settlers had to watch out for other settlers, too.  Mary Ann and Willis Boatman wrote about a group of emigrants who tried to steal their cattle in Kanesville, Iowa. (Today the town of Kanesville is called Council Bluffs.)  Emigrants also reported that some Native American tribes were known for being excellent horse thieves in an attempt to discourage settlers from crossing their tribal lands.

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