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IN 1860, WITH PIKE’S PEAK GOLD FEVER RAMPANT, SAMUEL PEPPARD CONSTRUCTED A SAILING WAGON WITH THE HOPES OF REACHING THE COLORADO TERRITORY FASTER THAN A TRADITIONAL OX- OR MULE-PULLED WAGON. THE MAY 17TH, 1860 ISSUE OF INDEPENDENT, A NEWSPAPER FROM OSKALOOSA, KANSAS, DESCRIBED PEPPARD’S WAGON IN THE FOLLOWING WAY. “IT WAS AN ORDINARY LIGHT WAGON OF 350 POUNDS, 3 X 8 FEET X 6 INCHES DEEP. OVER THE CENTER OF THE FRONT AXLE WAS A RAISED MAST WITH A SAIL 9 X 11 FEET. THE STEERING APPARATUS RESEMBLED A BOAT TILLER REVERSED.” Continue reading →