The Diary of a Donkey

Before the Trail

February 1849: Word just came in by telegraph that Gold was found in California. This excited a lot of people in our home town, just south of Independence, Kansas. There were a lot of people that were talking about moving west to try and make some money of the recent gold discovery. Everyone talked about it but most decided not to because they had good jobs and nice families. But my owner, Mike McDonally, an Irish immigrant, had other plans. He decided that moving west was a risk he was willing to take.

March 1849: Mr. McDonally had just finished packing our newly purchased, Conestoga. He packed for the entire family which included himself, his wife, Donna, his 10 year old son, Timmy, and his 7 year old daughter, Mary. He packed:

500 lbs. of flour

80 lbs. of corn meal

200 lbs. of bacon

150 lbs. of sugar

50 lbs. of dried fruit

20 lbs. of salt

6 lbs. of tea

20 lbs. of rice

50 lbs. of beans

25 lbs. of soap

5 sets of clothes/ person

A washboard

4 pillows

2 fold up mattresses

A tent

Rope

Saddles

Bridles

Tar

A Trail Guide

Writing quills

Books

3 pairs of boots/ person

Knives

1 Gun

Other Miscellaneous Items

The Journey

April 1849: DAY 1 – We set out today, our spirits are high, and we are all healthy. I didn’t expect the wagon to be this heavy, even with the help of the two other donkeys. Maybe this trip won’t be so bad after all.

DAY 5 – We are five days into the journey, everyone is still happy, and we are a little ahead of schedule. We have already covered 78 miles of trail. Just over 15 miles per day.

DAY 15 – It has been 10 days since I last wrote. We are all still healthy and moving well. We have covered nearly 230 miles. Mary has been complaining and it is starting to get annoying.

May 1849:

DAY 35 – It seems like it has been a long time since I last wrote. We are all getting a little tired. We recently traded with another group of settlers. We have traveled 425 miles since we started. Mary won’t shut up. I would kick her in the leg but that would be more weight I would have to carry.

DAY 50 – We are all pretty tired now but still moving strong. Mike’s wife sprained her ankle so I have to carry her too. But she hasn’t been complaining, unlike another little girl on this trip. We have been traveling along the rivers so there has been plenty of grass to eat and water to drink. We have traveled 575 miles so far.