Ellen G. White: The Progressive Years: 1862-1876 (vol. 2)

The Caravan Starts Out

James White describes the start of the long-anticipated trip. 2BIO 350.1

It was on Monday, 11:00 A.M., September 2, 1872, when we mounted our horses and ponies for the trip over the Snowy Range, into Middle Park.... Our course lay along through Rollinsville, Boulder Park, up the mountains through Boulder Pass.—The Health Reformer, January, 1873. 2BIO 350.2

By midafternoon a heavy storm came up and they took refuge in an empty log shanty, where they built a fire in a big stone fireplace. By the time the storm was over, night had almost fallen; as they had brought all their gear in with them, they decided to spend the night there. Bearing in mind that many of the readers of the Reformer lived in the New England States and New York, James described the traveling party: 2BIO 350.3

We wish to state that our guide and benefactor, W. B. Walling, is a Vermonter, Mrs. White, Mrs. Walling, and her sister, Miss M. L. Clough, and the writer were born in Maine, and Mrs. L. M. Abbey Hall and Willie C. White are Yorkers. 2BIO 350.4

The four ladies were on ponies. Mr. Walling had the principal part of the baggage in a wagon drawn by two powerful horses, while Willie and his father were each on a good horse, ready to help in packing baggage up the sharpest ascents, or to assist the ladies in the most dangerous places. 2BIO 350.5

But the babe was an object of curiosity with most we met on the route. Some pitied the little traveler, which we shall here call Peregrine, as up to the time of that pilgrimage he had no name, because his parents, brothers, and sisters could not find one good enough.... Rover, one of the largest, bravest, most intelligent, and most beautiful Newfoundlanders, who shall hereafter be called Lion ...[was] as happy as a dog could be and live.—Ibid. 2BIO 350.6

Tuesday was a beautiful day. As their path was along a narrow, twisting road by a rapid creek, they traveled “Indian file,” allowing a little distance between one another. Of the baby, White wrote: 2BIO 350.7

Miss Mary had her little nephew, Peregrine, in her arms, and as she galloped away on Bronco, we decided that it was well that the child was not cream, for in that case, he would turn to butter and buttermilk before noon. But he seemed to enjoy the “movements” as well as any of us.—Ibid. 2BIO 351.1

Passing through Boulder Park, with its beauties in wildflowers, carpet of green, and towering, guarding mountains, such exclamations were repeated as, “Delightful! Magnificent! Sublime! Glorious!”—Ibid. 2BIO 351.2