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diff --git a/27077-h/27077-h.htm b/27077-h/27077-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f451f1b --- /dev/null +++ b/27077-h/27077-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4165 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dangers of the Trail in 1865, by Charles E. Young. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + +span.dropcap {display: none;} /* this goes around the first letter of the first word */ + /* You need a unique span like this for each of your drop cap images */ +span.dropcap007 {float: left; + width: 200px; height: 199px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap007.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap043 {float: left; + width: 152px; height: 250px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap043.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap060 {float: left; + width: 155px; height: 187px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap060.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap077 {float: left; + width: 123px; height: 250px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap077.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap103 {float: left; + width: 193px; height: 200px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap103.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap109 {float: left; + width: 111px; height: 150px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap109.png") no-repeat top left;} + +span.dropcap129 {float: left; + width: 187px; height: 150px; /* adjust for your image */ + margin: 0 1em 0em 0; + background: url("images/dropcap129.png") no-repeat top left;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .author {text-align: right; margin-right: 5%; font-variant: small-caps;} + + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Dangers of the Trail in 1865, by Charles E Young + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dangers of the Trail in 1865 + A Narrative of Actual Events + +Author: Charles E Young + +Illustrator: H. DeF. Patterson + +Release Date: October 28, 2008 [EBook #27077] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGERS OF THE TRAIL IN 1865 *** + + + + +Produced by Diane Monico and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image001.jpg" width="600" height="431" alt="DANGERS OF THE TRAIL—1865" title="DANGERS OF THE TRAIL—1865" /> +<span class="caption">DANGERS OF THE TRAIL—1865</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h1>DANGERS OF THE TRAIL<br /> + +IN 1865</h1> + +<h2>A Narrative of Actual Events<br /><br /></h2> + +<h2>By CHARLES E. YOUNG<br /><br /><br /></h2> + +<h4>GENEVA, N. Y.</h4> +<h5>1912</h5> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + +<p class="center"><small>COPYRIGHT, 1912</small><br /> +<small>BY CHARLES E. YOUNG</small><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +Press of W. F. Humphrey, Geneva, N. Y.<br /> +H. DeF. Patterson, Illustrator, Geneva, N. Y.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE</h2> + + +<p>I present this narrative of actual events +on a trip across the plains to Denver, +Colorado, in 1865 and of life in the Far West +in the later sixties.</p> + +<p>An interesting and valuable feature is a +map of the country, made in 1865, by +Henry Bowles of Boston, showing the old +Platte River and Smoky Hill Trails of that +day before there was a railroad west of +the Missouri River.</p> + +<p>Everything is told in a plain but truthful +manner, and this little volume is submitted +to the reader for approval or criticism.</p> + +<p class="author">Chas. E. Young<br /></p> +<p><span style="margin-left: 2em;">July, 1912<br /></span> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="toc"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Chapter I</a></span>—Young Man, Go West</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Chapter II</a></span>—Arrival at Fort Carney</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Chapter III</a></span>—An Attack by the Indians</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">Chapter IV</a></span>—Denver in 1865</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">Chapter V</a></span>—A Proof of Marksmanship</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">Chapter VI</a></span>—On to Leavenworth</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">Chapter VII</a></span>—A Plucky German</td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/image007.png" width="400" height="86" alt="" title="" /> +</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h2>"YOUNG MAN, GO WEST"</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap007"><span class="dropcap">E</span></span>arly in 1859 gold was discovered in +Colorado, and Horace Greeley, the +well known writer and a power +throughout the country both +before and during the Civil +War, made, in the interest of +the <i>New York Tribune</i>, of +which he was editor, an overland trip to +Denver by the first stage line run in that +day. He started from Leavenworth, Kansas, +and with the exception of Mr. Richardson, +of the <i>Boston Journal</i>, was the only +passenger in the coach. The trip was not all +that could be desired, for they met with +numerous hardships and many narrow escapes, +as did hundreds of others who had preceded +them over that dangerous trail, many never +reaching their destination—having met death +at the hands of the cruel Indians of the plains.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>During his stay in Denver Mr. Greeley +wrote a number of letters to the <i>New York +Tribune</i>, confirming the finding of gold in the +territory and advising immigration. The +people in the East were skeptical in regard to +its discovery and awaited a written statement +from him to this effect.</p> + +<p>At the close of the war Mr. Greeley's advice +to young men, through the columns of his +paper, was to go West and grow up with the +country, and it became a byword throughout +the State of New York and the Nation, +"Young man, go West and grow up with the +country."</p> + +<p>Could Mr. Greeley have foreseen the number +of young lives that were to be sacrificed +through his advice, I think he would have +hesitated before giving it; yet, it was the most +valued utterance of any public man of that +day for the settlement of the then Far West.</p> + +<p>After reading a number of these letters in +the <i>New York Tribune</i>, I became very enthusiastic +over the opportunities that the West +offered for the young man. There was also a +loyal friend of mine who became as enthusiastic<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +over it as myself. Thus, while we were +still so young as to be called boys, we made up +our minds to follow Mr. Greeley's advice, +and "Go West and grow up with the +country."</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<a href="images/image009a.png"> +<img src="images/image009.png" width="600" height="442" alt="MAP OF TRAILS +LEADING FROM +MISSOURI RIVER +TO DENVER, COLORADO +1865" title="MAP OF TRAILS LEADING FROM MISSOURI RIVER TO DENVER, COLORADO +1865" /></a> +<span class="caption">MAP OF TRAILS LEADING FROM MISSOURI RIVER +TO DENVER, COLORADO<br /> +1865<br /> +<small>(Click on map for larger view.)</small></span> +</p> + + +<p>In making our purchases for the trip we were +obliged to make our plans known to an +acquaintance, who at once expressed a desire +to accompany us. After consultation, we +consented and at the appointed time, the fore +part of July, 1865, just at the close of the Civil +War, we boarded a New York Central train +at the depot in Geneva, N. Y., with no thought +of the hardships and dangers we would be +called upon to meet.</p> + +<p>The first night found us at the Falls of +Niagara—the most stupendous production of +nature that the country was known to possess +at that time. Our time was divided between +the American and Canadian sides, viewing the +grand spectacle at all hours, from the rising to +the setting of the sun; and, awed by the +marvelous masterpiece of grandeur, we were +held as if fascinated by its beauty, until we +were forced to leave for the want of food and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +to replenish our commissary. When we +boarded the cars to be whirled through the +then wilds of Lower Canada, we were liberally +supplied with the best the country produced.</p> + +<p>Upon the fifth day we rolled into Chicago, +the cosmopolitan city of the West. Two days +later we reached Quincy, Ill., where we made +connection with the old Hannibal & St. Joe +Railroad which was to take us through Missouri +to Atchison, Kansas. Missouri, after +the war, was not an ideal state for a law abiding +citizen, much less for inexperienced youths +of our age, and we quickly realized that fact. +Many stations had their quota of what was +termed the Missouri bushwhacker, or, more +plainly speaking, outlaws, who, during the +war and for some time after, pillaged the state +and surrounding country, leaving in their +wake death and destruction. They had belonged +to neither side at war, but were a set of +villians banded together to plunder, burn, +ravage and murder young and old alike; as +wicked a set of villians as the world has ever +known. At many stations they would nearly +fill the car, making it very unpleasant for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +passengers. Their language and insults +caused every one to be guarded in conversation. +The condition of the road, however, +often gave us relief, as we were obliged to +alight and walk, at times, when arriving at a +point where ties or rails had to be replaced. +Its entire length showed the carnage and +destruction of war, making travel slow and +dangerous as well as uncomfortable. On +reaching the state of bleeding Kansas and the +then village of Atchison we were about used +up. We at once called at the Ben Holiday +Stage Office and inquired the price of a ticket +to Denver, but finding it to be beyond our +means, we decided to go by ox conveyance.</p> + + +<h3>COMMANCHE BILL</h3> + +<p>We were not long in finding what, in those +days, was called a tavern, located in the outskirts +of the town. Having been chosen +spokesman, I stepped up to the rough board +counter and registered. We were soon confronted +by the toughest individual we had +yet seen. I pleasantly bade him good morning +but received no immediate recognition,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +save a wild stare from two horrible, bloodshot +eyes. I quickly came to the conclusion that +we were up against the real Western article, +nor was I mistaken. He didn't keep up waiting +long, for he soon roared out an oath and +wanted to know where we were from. After +telling him as near as I possibly could, under +the circumstances, he again became silent. +His look and brace of revolvers were not +reassuring, to say the least. He soon came +out of his trance and did not keep us long in +suspense, for his next act was to pull out both +of his life-takers, and, not in very choice +language, introduce himself as Commanche Bill +from Arkansas, emphasizing the Arkansas by +letting the contents of both of his instruments +of death pierce the ceiling of his story and a +half shack. I have wondered many times +since that I am alive. We had been told by a +fellow passenger that Atchison was a little +short of Hades, and we were fast realizing that +our informer was not far out of the way; yet, +it was a haven in comparison to other places at +which we were yet to arrive. Commanche +William, or whatever his right name might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +have been, was a different person after his +forceful introduction.</p> + +<p>He began to question me. He asked me if +we had any money.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Any friends?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"Well, then you had better get straight back +to them, for if you remain in these parts long, +they will be unable to recognize you. Where +are you fellows headed for, anyway?"</p> + +<p>"Denver, Colorado."</p> + +<p>"By stage?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. By ox or mule conveyance."</p> + +<p>"You are too light weight. No freighter +will hire you."</p> + +<p>"They will or we'll walk."</p> + +<p>"You will not walk far for the Indians +along the Platte are ugly. By the way, do +you pards ever take anything?"</p> + +<p>Not wishing to offend such a character, I +gave my companions the wink and we followed +him into the bar-room with the full determination +of making a friend of him. After all had +done the sociable act—of course gentlemen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +only drink for sociability sake—I took him to +one side purposely to draw him into a little +private chat, and it was not long before his +self-conceit had the better of him. He +ordered grub—as all meals were called in the +West in those days—for four, stating he was +in need of a bite himself. Before the meal had +been finished, I became convinced that the old +fellow had a tender spot in his makeup, like all +tough outlaws, and, if one had tact enough to +discover it, he might have great influence over +him; otherwise, we would be obliged to sleep +with both eyes open and each with his right +hand on the butt of his revolver.</p> + + +<h3>THE AMERICAN INDIAN</h3> + +<p>The following day was passed in taking in +the town and Indian Reservation, which was +but a short distance from the place. There we +came, for the first time, face to face with the +American Indian, the sole owner of this vast +and fertile continent before the paleface +landed to dispute his right of ownership. +Foot by foot they had been driven from East, +North and South, until at that time they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +nearly all west of the great Missouri River, or +River of Mud, as the Indians called it. At +the suggestion of our landlord, we took with +us an interpreter, a few trinkets, and something +to moisten the old chief's lips. Upon +our arrival we were duly presented to the +chief, who invited us to sit on the ground upon +fur robes made from the pelts of different animals, +including the antelope and the buffalo, +or American bison, the monarch of the plains, +and each one of us in turn took a pull +at the pipe of peace. We then made a +tour of their lodges. When we returned, +the chief called his squaws to whom we +presented our gifts, which pleased them +greatly. To the old chief I handed a bottle +of Atchison's best. As he grasped it, a +smile stole over his ugly face, and with a +healthy grunt and a broad grin, he handed +me back the empty bottle. Indians love +liquor better than they do their squaws. +In return he gave me a buffalo robe which later +became of great service. After taking another +pull at the pipe of peace, we thanked him and +took our departure, having no desire to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +present when Atchison's invigorator commenced +to invigorate his Indian brain.</p> + +<p>The impression made by that visit to a +supposedly friendly tribe, who at that time +had a peace treaty with the government, was +not one of confidence. The noble red men, as +they were called by the Eastern philanthropist, +were as treacherous to the whites as an ocean +squall to the navigator. No pen or picture +has or can fully describe the cruelty of their +nature.</p> + +<p>It was dusk when we reached our tavern, +and we found it filled with a lawless band of +degenerates, as repulsive as any that ever +invested Western plains or canyons of the +Rockies. We were at once surrounded and +by a display of their shooting irons, forced to +join in their beastly carnival. It was not for +long, however, for a sign from the landlord +brought me to his side. He whispered, "When +I let my guns loose you fellows pike for the +loft." There were no stairs. No sooner had +he pulled his life-takers than all the others +followed his example. Bullets flew in every +direction. Clouds of smoke filled the room,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +but we had ducked and scaled the ladder to +the loft and safety. Sleep was out of the +question until the early hours of the morning, +for the night was made hideous by blasphemous +language, howls of pain and the ring of +revolvers. The first call for grub found us +ready and much in need of a nerve quieter, +which the old sinner laughingly supplied; but +no word from him of the night's bloody work. +Taking me to one side, he said, "Take no +offence, but repeat nothing you hear or see in +these parts, and strictly mind your own +business and a fellow like you will get into no +trouble." I thanked him and followed his +advice to the letter during my entire Western +life.</p> + + +<h3>THE FIRST CAMP</h3> + +<p>After that night's experience, we decided to +pay our bill and become acclimated to camp +life. We had taken with us a tent, blankets +and three toy pistols, the latter entirely useless +in that country, which proved how ignorant +we were of Western ways. We were not long +in finding a suitable camping spot a mile from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +the town and the same distance from the many +corrals of the great Western freighters and pilgrims, +as the immigrants were called. For +miles we could see those immense, white +covered prairie schooners in corral formation. +Hundreds of oxen and mules were quietly +grazing under the watchful eyes of their +herders in saddle. It was certainly a novel +sight to the tenderfoot.</p> + +<p>We soon had our tent up and leaving one of +our number in charge the other two went to +town for the necessary camp utensils and grub. +Immediately on our return supper was prepared +and the novelty enjoyed. After a three +days' rest I started out to make the rounds of +the corrals in search of a driver's berth. All +freighters had a wagon boss and an assistant +who rightfully had the reputation of being +tyrants when on the trail, using tact and discretion +when in camp. A revolver settled all +disputes. On approaching them they treated +me as well as their rough natures would permit; +but I did not take kindly to any of them. +They all told me that I was undersized, and +too young to stand the dangers and hardships<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +of a trip. I returned to camp much disappointed +but not discouraged.</p> + +<p>The following morning we proceeded to +the large warehouses on the river front, +where all Western freighters were to be found. +In those days all emigrants and oxen and +mule trains with freight going to the far +Western Territories would start from either +Council Bluffs, Iowa, Leavenworth, Kansas, +Atchison or St. Joe, Missouri; Atchison +being the nearest point, a large majority +embarked from there. The freight was +brought up the Missouri River in flat-bottom +steam-boats, propelled by a large +wheel at the stern, and unloaded on the +bank of the river. The perishable goods +were placed in the large warehouses but +the unperishable were covered with tarpaulin +and left where unloaded. They were +then transferred to large white covered +prairie schooners and shipped to their +different points of destination in trains of +from twenty-five to one hundred wagons. +The rate for freighting depended on the +condition of the Indians and ran from ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +cents per pound up to enormous charges in +some cases.</p> + + +<h3>SECURING PASSAGE</h3> + +<p>After making application to several of +the freighters and receiving the same reply +as from the wagon bosses, we went a short +distance down the river to the last of the +warehouses. On our approach we discovered +a genuine bullwhacker—as all ox drivers were +called in that day—in conversation with a +short, stout-built fellow with red hair and +whiskers to match. The moment he became +disengaged I inquired if he was a +freighter. He said that he was and that +he wanted more men. His name was Whitehead, +just the opposite to the color of his +hair, and as I stepped up to him I wondered +what kind of a disposition the combination +made—whitehead, redhead. I at once made +application for a position for the three of us. +In rather a disagreeable voice, he asked me +if I could drive. I replied that I could.</p> + +<p>"Can you handle a gun and revolver?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How many trips have you made?"</p> + +<p>"None."</p> + +<p>"Then how the devil do you know you can +drive?"</p> + +<p>"For the simple reason I am more than +anxious to learn, and so are my friends." +Then I made a clean breast of the position +we were in and urged him to give us a chance.</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "You seem to be a determined +little cuss; are the rest of the same +timber?"</p> + +<p>I told him they were of the same wood +but not of the same tree.</p> + +<p>After thinking the matter over, he said, +"I'll tell you what I will do. I will hire the +big fellow for driver at one hundred and +twenty-five dollars per month, and the little +fellow for night herder at one hundred dollars +a month, and yourself for cook for one mess +of twenty-five men and for driver in case of +sickness or death, at one hundred and twenty-five +dollars a month."</p> + +<p>We then gave him our names, and, in return, +he gave us a note to Mr. Perry, his wagon +boss. We at once started for his corral,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +two miles distant, where we found the gentleman. +He asked where our traps were. We +told him, and also assured him that we would +report for duty the following morning.</p> + +<p>When we reached our camp we were completely +tired out, but passed the remainder +of the day in celebrating our success, and +feeling assured that if we escaped the scalping +knife of the Indians, we would reach Denver +in due time, and, when paid off have a nice +sum in dollars.</p> + +<p>The following morning we had an early +breakfast, broke camp, and reported at the +corral where each was presented with two +revolvers and a repeating carbine. I was +then taken over to the mess wagon which +was liberally supplied with bacon (in the +rough), flour, beans, cargum (or sour molasses), +coffee, salt, pepper, baking-powder +and dried apples; the latter we were allowed +three times a week for dessert. There was +also a skillet for baking bread, which +resembled a covered spider without a handle.</p> + +<p>When the assistant cook, with whom I +was favored, had started the fire and sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +coals had accumulated, he would rake them +out and place the skillet on them. As soon +as the dough was prepared, a chunk was +cut off and put in the skillet, the lid placed +and covered with coals; in fifteen minutes +we would have as nice a looking loaf of +bread as one could wish to see, browned +to a tempting color. When eaten warm, it +was very palatable, but when cold, only +bullwhackers could digest it. An old-fashioned +iron kettle in which to stew the +beans and boil the dried apples, or vice versa, +coffee pots, frying pans, tin plates, cups, +iron knives and forks, spoons and a combination +dish and bread-pan made up the remainder +of the cooking and eating utensils.</p> + + +<h3>EXPERIENCES AMONG THE BUSHWHACKERS</h3> + +<p>It seemed that my assistant was exempt +from bringing water, which often had to be +carried in kegs for two miles, so he fried +the meat and washed the dishes. I soon +caught on to the cooking, and doing my +best to please everyone, soon became aware +of the fact that I had many friends among<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +the toughest individuals on earth, the professional +bullwhackers, who, according to +their own minds, were very important personages. +Their good qualities were few, +and consisted of being a sure shot, and expert +at lariat and whip-throwing. They would +bet a tenderfoot a small sum that they could +at a distance of twelve feet, abstract a small +piece from his trousers without disturbing +the flesh. They could do this trick nine +times out of ten. The whips consisted of +a hickory stalk two feet long, a lash twelve +feet in length with buck or antelope skin +snapper nine inches in length. The stalk +was held in the left hand, the lash coiled +with the right hand and index finger of the +left. It was then whirled several times +around the head, letting it shoot straight out +and bringing it back with a quick jerk. It +would strike wherever aimed, raising a dead-head +ox nearly off its hind quarters and +cutting through the hide and into the flesh. +When thrown into space, it would make a +report nearly as loud as a revolver. A +lariat is a fifty foot line with a running noose<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +at one end and made from the hide of various +animals. It is coiled up and carried on the +pommel of the saddle. When used for capturing +animals or large game, it is whirled +several times around the head when the +horse is on a dead run and fired at the head +of the victim. A professional can place +the loop nearly every time.</p> + +<p>During the third day of corral life, the +steers arrived, and the hard work, mixed +with much fun, commenced. A corral is +about the shape of an egg, closed by the +wagons at one end, and left open to admit +the cattle at the other, then closed by chains.</p> + + +<h3>MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION</h3> + +<p>Our wheelers and leaders were docile, old +freighters, the others were long-horned, wild +Texas steers. All of the freighters had their +oxen branded for identification, using the +first letter of his last name for the purpose. +The brand was made from iron and was +about four inches in height, attached to a +rod three feet in length. A rope was placed +over the horns of the animal and his head<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +was drawn tight to the hub of a heavy laden +prairie schooner. A bullwhacker, tightly +grasping the tail of the beast, would twist +him to attention. The man with the branding +implement heated to a white heat would +quickly jab the ox on the hind quarter, +burning through hair and hide and into the +flesh. Then, after applying a solution of +salt and water, he was left to recover as best +he could. The brand would remain in evidence +more than a year unless the steer was +captured by cattle thieves, who possessed a +secret for growing the hair again in six months. +When the branding was completed, each +man was given twelve steers to break to yoke, +and it was three long weeks before we were +in shape to proceed on our long Western +tramp. The cattle were driven in each +morning at break of day, the same time as +when on trail. Each man with a yoke on +his left shoulder and a bow in his right hand +would go groping about in almost total darkness +to select his twelve steers. When they +were all found he would yoke them and +hitch them to the wagons; the wheelers<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +to the tongue, the leaders in front and the +balance to section chains. For days we +were obliged to lariat the wildest of them +and draw their heads to the hubs of the +heavily laden wagons, before being able to +adjust the yoke, many times receiving a +gentle reminder from the hind hoof of one of +the critters to be more careful. I went into +the fray with the full determination of learning +the profession of driver and at the tenth +day I had broken in a team of extras.</p> + + +<h3>ON THE SICK LIST</h3> + +<p>I was then taken sick and for two long +weeks kept my bed of earth under the mess +wagon, with no mother or doctor, and two +thousand miles from home. You may be +able to imagine my feelings, but I doubt it. +At the end of the second week Mr. Perry +came and told me they would make a start +the next afternoon and, in his judgment, he +thought it unwise to think of making the +trip in my present condition. I knew my +condition was serious, but I would rather +have died on the road, among those outlaws,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +than to have been left in Atchison among entire +strangers. They were all very kind and +did what they could for me, but were powerless +to check my fast failing strength. I +had wasted to less than one hundred pounds +in weight and was too weak to even lift an +arm.</p> + +<p>I pleaded with Mr. Perry for some time +and finally overcame his objections. "Well," +he said, "Charlie, I will fix a bed in my wagon +and you can bunk with me." I objected, +for I did not wish to discommode him in the +least and told him a good bed could be fixed +in the mess wagon. "As you will," he said, +and had the boys get some straw which +together with the Buffalo robe made a very +comfortable bed when not on the move.</p> + + +<h3>A THUNDER STORM</h3> + +<p>The next day they picked me up and put +me in the second or reserve mess wagon. +Shortly after that the start was made. +We had covered less than two miles when all +of a sudden I heard the rumbling of distant +thunder. Very soon rain began to patter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +on the canvas covering of my wagon. Then +Heaven's artillery broke loose and the water +came down in torrents. Never in my young +life had I witnessed such a storm. It seemed +as if thunder, lightning and clouds had +descended to earth and were mad with anger. +The racket was deafening. Between the +angered claps could be heard the cursing of +those Missouri bushwhackers, who, in their +oaths, defied the Almighty to do his worst +and hurled unspeakable insults at the memory +of the mothers who gave them birth. I knew +they were trying hard to make corral; whether +they could do it, rested entirely with the +wagon boss.</p> + +<p>The cattle were crazed with fright and the +moment they were loose, would certainly +stampede. The oxen were finally unyoked +and such a snorting and bellowing, it would +be impossible to describe. As the racket +died away in their mad race, my thoughts +turned to my chum, who I knew was with +them, and would be trampled beyond recognition +by their death-dealing hoofs, if he had +not gained his proper position in the rear.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 509px;"> +<img src="images/image031.jpg" width="509" height="600" alt="LOG CABIN IN KANSAS" title="LOG CABIN IN KANSAS" /> +<span class="caption">LOG CABIN IN KANSAS</span> +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> +<h3>THE LOG CABIN</h3> + +<p>At that juncture the front flaps of my +wagon were parted and at a flash I recognized +two of the men, who bore me across the way +to the "Old Log Cabin" on the extreme +edge of the then Western civilization. As +they laid me down I swooned from sheer +exhaustion and fright. Before I had become +fully conscious I heard that gruff old +wagon boss telling the good woman of the +cabin to spare nothing for my comfort. +She felt of my pulse, asked me a few questions +and assured him that she would soon +have me on my feet. He bade "God bless +me," and passed out into the dark and +stormy night. The good woman poked up +the fire and placed an old-fashioned, iron tea-kettle +in position to do its duty. At that +juncture a young miss about my own age +came from somewhere, as if by magic, and +was told by the good mother to prepare a +chicken, that she might make broth for the +sick young man, pointing to where I lay. +For two hours that good mother worked over +me, now and then giving me draughts of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +hot herb tea, while the daughter deftly +prepared nature's wild bird of the prairie, +occasionally shooting darts of sympathy from +her jet black eyes. When the bird had been +cooked, the meat and bones were removed +leaving only the broth which was seasoned +to a nicety and given me in small quantities +and at short intervals until early morning, +when I passed into dreamland with the +mother keeping vigil as though I were her +own son. When I awoke I felt refreshed +and comfortable, and found her still at my +side, doing for me that which only a mother +can.</p> + +<p>At daybreak I heard footsteps above; +presently the father and son came in. The +daughter was called and breakfast was prepared. +They told me that our cattle had +stampeded and it might be days before they +were found. After a three days search my +chum and the cattle were overtaken miles +from camp, but none the worse for their +fearful experience. The moment he arrived +he came to see me. I was sitting up for the +first time, wrapped in Indian blankets, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +very weak. I assured him that I would +certainly get well, emphasizing the fact, +however, that had we not run into that +fearful storm, making my present haven of +care possible, I could never have recovered, +and believed that the prayers of a loving +mother at home had been answered.</p> + + +<h3>A CATTLE STAMPEDE</h3> + +<p>He then related his experience with those +storm-maddened cattle. The first clap of +thunder awoke him, and when the rain began +he knew he was in for a bad night, and +had taken every precaution to supply himself +with all things needful. His description of +the storm and mad race to keep up with those +wild animals, crazed with fright, was enough +to congeal the blood of a well man, and in +my condition it nearly unnerved me. But +I was delighted to know that he was safe, +for we were like brothers. His safe arrival, +together with the motherly care I had received +and was receiving, put me rapidly on +the gain. Not a morning passed that the +daughter did not shoulder her trusty rifle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +and go out in search of some refreshment for +me, always returning with a number of +chickens of the prairie. She was a sure shot, +as were the entire family, for they were +all born and brought up on the border, +moving farther West as the country became +settled. From the father I learned the +treachery of the Indians, their mode of warfare +and different methods of attack; in fact, +I had the devilish traits of the noble red men—as +history called them—down to a nicety.</p> + +<p>When the daughter's day's work was done, +she would read to me and relate stories of +her life, which reminded me of the "Wild +Rose" in all its purity and strength.</p> + +<p>The fifth day after the cattle were found +the train broke corral and proceeded on its +long Western tramp. Before leaving, Mr. +Perry made arrangements with the old borderman +for me to overtake them as soon as I +was able.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image035.jpg" width="600" height="360" alt="THE MARCH OF DESTINY" title="THE MARCH OF DESTINY" /> +<span class="caption">THE MARCH OF DESTINY</span> +</p> + +<p>The fourth day after the train had left, +I made up my mind that I would start the +next morning at sunrise and so informed +my Western friends, whom, I felt, had saved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +my life. The old borderman expressed regret +at my leaving and informed me that both he +and his son would accompany me to camp. +I thanked him and assured him that I felt +a mother could not have done more for her +own son than his wife had for me—they +had all shown me every consideration possible—and +that I should always remember +them, which I have. At this juncture the +mother spoke up gently, but firmly, and +addressing her husband, said, "If you have +no objection, daughter will accompany Mr. +Young. She is a sure shot, a good horsewoman, +and the horses are fleet of foot. +We have not heard of any Indians in the +neighborhood for some time, and besides she +wants to go and the ride will do her good."</p> + +<p>He replied, "My good woman, you cannot +tell where the Indians are, they may be miles +away today, but here this very night."</p> + +<p>"That is true," she said, "but the stage +driver told me that he had not seen a redskin +since crossing the Nebraska line."</p> + +<p>"That may be," he replied, "still they may +have been in the bluffs, or sand hills watching<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +their opportunity to surprise one of the +many small trains of pilgrims, thinking to +overpower them, run off their cattle and +massacre all."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that is all true, but I'll wager they +could not catch our girl."</p> + +<p>After thinking silently for a few moments, +he said, "Well, if you wish, she may go; +but if anything happens to our little one, +you alone will be blamed."</p> + +<p>That settled it. We talked long after +father and brother had bade us good night. +Mother and daughter finally retired; but, +as for myself, I was nervous and restless, +sleeping little, thinking of home and loved +ones; not, however, forgetting the little +"Wild Rose" that was separated from me +only by a curtain partition.</p> + +<p>The following morning we were up at +break of day, and at just 5:30 on a lovely +August morning the horses were brought to +the door and both quickly mounted. Her +riding habit of buckskin, trimmed with +colored beads, was the most becoming costume +I had ever seen on her during my stay, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +for the first time I wished that I were not +going, but it was for a moment only.</p> + + +<h3>WITH THE WAGON TRAIN AGAIN</h3> + +<p>My destination was Denver, and nothing +could change my plans except death in the +natural way, or being cut down by those +treacherous plains roamers. After a pleasant +ride which lasted till noon, we came in sight +of the corral. When within a quarter of a +mile of it, she informed me she was going no +farther. Both quickly dismounted. Our +conversation would not interest you. Suffice +to say, the parting was painful to both. +I bade her good-bye and she was off like a +flash. I walked slowly into camp, now +and then turning to watch the fast +retreating figure of as brave a prairie +child as nature ever produced. The +men appeared glad to see me; the gruff +old wagon boss more so than any of the +others, for he would not let me turn my +hand to any kind of work until I was able. +Then I did my best to repay him for his +many kindnesses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> + +<p>At 2 o'clock that afternoon the train +broke corral, and for the first time I realized +the slowness of our progress, and the long +trip before us. Under the most favorable +circumstances we could not make over ten +miles a day and more often at the beginning +three, five and seven.</p> + +<p>Our bed was mother earth, a rubber blanket +and buffalo robe the mattress, two pairs of +blankets the covering, Heaven's canopy the +roof; the stars our silent sentinels. The +days were warm, the nights cool. We would +go into camp at sundown. The cattle were +unyoked and driven to water. After grub +the night herder and one of the drivers +would take them in charge, and if there were +no Indians following, would drive them to a +good grazing spot over the bluffs.</p> + +<p>We passed through Kansas, after crossing +the Little and Big Blue rivers, and part of +Nebraska without seeing another log cabin +or woods. Every fifteen or twenty miles +there was a stage station of the Ben Holiday +coach line, which ran between Atchison, +Kansas, and Sacramento, California. At<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +every station would be a relay of six horses, +and by driving night and day would make +one hundred miles every twenty-four hours. +They were accompanied by a guard of United +States soldiers on top of coaches and on +horseback.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 596px;"> +<img src="images/image042.jpg" width="596" height="600" alt="FORT CARNEY, NEBRASKA, 1859" title="FORT CARNEY, NEBRASKA, 1859" /> +<span class="caption">FORT CARNEY, NEBRASKA, 1859</span> +</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h2>ARRIVAL AT FORT CARNEY</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap043"><span class="dropcap">A</span></span>rriving at Fort Carney we +struck the Platte River trail +leading to Denver. We were +compelled by United States +army officers to halt and await +the arrival of a train of fifty +armed men before being +allowed to proceed. In a few +hours the required number came up, together +with three wagon loads of pilgrims. No train +was permitted to pass a Government fort +without one hundred well-armed men; but +once beyond the fort, they would become +separated and therein lay the danger.</p> + +<p>A captain was appointed by the commander +of the fort to take charge. Here +we struck the plains proper, or the great +American desert, as it was often called, the +home of the desperate Indians, degraded +half-breeds, and the squaw man—white men +with Indian wives—who were at that time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +either French or Spanish; also the fearless +hunters and trappers with nerves of steel, +outdoing the bravest Indian in daring and +the toughest grizzly in endurance. It is a +matter of record that these men of iron were +capable and some did amputate their own +limbs. A knife sharpened as keen as a +razor's edge would cut the flesh; another +hacked into a saw would separate the bones +and sensitive marrow; while an iron heated +to white heat seared up the arteries and the +trick was done. There was no anesthetic +in those days.</p> + +<p>There were also the cattle and mule thieves +who lived in the bluffs, miles from the trail +of white men, a tough lot of desperadoes, +believing in the adage "Dead men tell no +tales."</p> + +<p>There were the ranchmen at intervals of +twenty, fifty and a hundred miles, who sold +to the pilgrims supplies, such as canned +goods, playing cards, whiskey of the vilest +type, and traded worn-out cattle, doctored to +look well for a few days and then give out, +thus cheating freighters and pilgrims alike.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>These adobe ranches were built of sod cut +in lengths of from two to four feet, four +inches in thickness and eighteen inches in +width and laid grass side down. The side +walls were laid either single or double, six +feet in height, with the end walls tapering +upward. A long pole was then placed from +peak to peak and shorter poles from side walls +to ridge pole. Four inches of grass covered +the poles and the same depth of earth completed +the structure making the best fortifications +ever devised; no bullet was able to +penetrate their sides nor could fire burn them. +The poles used for building these adobe +ranches were in most cases hauled two +hundred miles and in some cases three hundred +miles.</p> + + +<h3>WILD ANIMALS OF THE WEST</h3> + +<p>On a graceful slope roamed immense herds +of buffalo, bands of elk, thousands of antelope, +herds of black-and white-tail deer and the +large gray wolf. Coyotes about the size of +a shepherd dog would assemble on the high +bluffs or invade the camp and make night<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +hideous by their continuous and almost +perfect imitation of a human baby's cry, +making sleep impossible. The prairie dog, +the fierce rattlesnake, and the beautiful +little white burrowing-owl, occupied the same +hole in the ground, making a queer family +combination. Contrary to the belief of all +dwellers and travelers of the plains in that +day, Colonel Roosevelt claims it is not a +fact that the three mentioned animals occupied +the same quarters together, and that +the story is a myth.</p> + +<p>The little prairie dogs had their villages +the same as the Indians. I have frequently +seen a prairie dog come out and return into +the same hole in the ground. I have also +seen a beautiful little white owl silently +perched at the side of the same hole and +finally enter it, and a few moments later a +fierce rattlesnake would crawl into the same +hole. Whether it was the snake's permanent +abode and it went in for a much needed rest, +or whether it was an enemy to the others +and the snake went in for a game supper of +prairie dog puppies and owl squabs, departing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +by another route, I am unable to say, +as I never took the trouble to investigate one +of the holes to confirm the fact. If I had, +I would in all probability still be digging. +However, in this case, I am inclined to give +Colonel Roosevelt the benefit of the doubt +for the reason that if nature had not created +an enemy to check their increase, the prairie +dog would now over-run the country, as they +multiply faster than any known animal, and +are very destructive to the farm. The Government, +through its agents, have destroyed +thousands every year in the West by distributing +poisoned grain. Last, but not least, of +the life of the plains was the Pole Cat. Conscious +of his own ability to protect himself, he +would often invade the camps at night, making +the life of the sleeper miserable.</p> + + +<h3>TROUBLE EN ROUTE</h3> + +<p>After leaving Fort Carney our troubles +began. Many of the drivers were as treacherous +as the Indians and would bear watching. +One of them in our mess was a former bushwhacker, +who bore many scars of his former<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +unsavory life, one of which was the loss of +an eye, which did not make him a very desirable +acquaintance, much less a companion. +He was of an ugly disposition, very seldom +speaking to anyone and very few taking the +trouble to speak to him. At times he acted +as if he had been taking something stronger +than coffee, but as we had not camped near +any ranch where the poison could be procured, +I came to the conclusion that he was +a dope fiend. In some mysterious manner +we had lost one of our cups, and at each meal +for a week it fell to the lot of this particular +bushwhacker to get left. He at last broke +his long silence, and in anger with oaths, +vowed he would not eat another meal without +a cup, and would certainly take one +from somebody, if obliged to. As soon as +the call for grub was heard the next morning, +all rushed simultaneously for a cup, and +Mr. Bushwhacker got left again. Without +ceremony he proceeded to make good +his threat, the second cook being his +victim.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> +<h3>TROUBLE EN ROUTE</h3> + +<p>For his trouble he received a stinging blow +over his good eye, and was sent sprawling +in the alkali dust. Not being in the least +dismayed, he rushed for another and received +a similar salute on the jaw, doubling him up +and bringing him to the earth. By this time +both messes joined in forming a ring and +called for fair play. Mr. Perry tried hard +to stop it, but was finally convinced that it +was better, policy to let them have it out. +How many times the fellow was knocked +down, I do not remember, but the last round +finished him. We carried him to the shady +side of his wagon, covered him with a blanket +and resumed our meal. On going into corral, +we always took our revolvers off and placed +them where they could easily be reached. +We had been eating but a short time, when +the report of a gun rang out and each man +fairly flew for his weapons. Indians seldom +made an attack except at early morning, +when the oxen were being yoked or when we +were going into corral at night. To the +surprise of everyone Mr. Bushwhacker had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +taken another lease of life and with a revolver +in each hand was firing at anyone his disturbed +brain suggested. He was quick of +action, firing and reloading with rapidity, +and soon had the entire camp playing hide +and seek between, around and under the +wagons to keep out of the range of his guns, +which we succeeded in doing, for not a man +was hit. Finally, two of the drivers succeeded +in getting behind him and overpowered +him. His brother bushwhackers +were in for lynching him on the spot, but +wiser council prevailed, and his disposal +was left to Mr. Perry who sentenced him to +be escorted back three miles from the corral +and left to walk the remaining two miles +to Fort Carney alone. He covered less than +a mile when he was captured by the Indians. +I was obliged then to drive his team. A few +evenings later my chum and friend were +lounging by the side of my wagon smoking, +and otherwise passing the time away, when +finally the conversation turned to the departed +driver who by that time had undoubtedly +been disposed of by the Indians—not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +a very pleasant thought—but we consoled +ourselves with the fact that no one was to +blame but himself. My chum inquired +the contents of my prairie schooner, and +I replied that I did not know, but would +investigate. Suiting the action to the word +I crawled in, struck a match, and found a +case labeled Hostetters' Bitters. Its ingredients +were one drop of Bitters and the remainder, +poor liquor. I soon found a case +that had been opened, pulled out a bottle +and sampled it. The old story came to me +about the Irish saloonkeeper and his bartender. +I called my chum and asked him if +Murphy was good for a drink, he replied, +"Has he got it?" "He has?" "He is then!" +and we all were. I thought it would be impossible +for the secret to be kept, but it was +until we were on the last leg to Denver. +The entire load consisted of cases of the +Bitters. Fights were of frequent occurrence +during the remainder of the trip, Mr. Perry +being powerless to prevent them.</p> + +<p>Arriving at Central City where the Bitters +were consigned, the consignee reported to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +the freighter that the load just received consisted +of one-half Bitters, the remainder +Platte river water. Each man had twenty +dollars deducted from his pay, and a large +number of the drivers, in addition, bore earmarks +of its effect.</p> + +<p>The country from Fort Carney for four +hundred miles up the Platte river valley +and back from the high bluffs, that skirted +the river on either side, was one vast rolling +plain with no vegetation except a coarse +luxuriant growth of grass in the valley near +the river and beyond the bluffs; in spots +that were not bare grew the prickly pear, +and a short crisp grass of lightish color and +of two varieties—the bunch and buffalo +grasses—which were very nutritious, as the +cattle thrived and grew fat on them. There +was the clear sky and sun by day, with an +occasional sandstorm; the moon (when out) +and stars by night, but no rain—a vast +thirsty desert. On the small islands of the +river a few scattered cottonwood trees were +to be seen. Their high branches embraced +a huge bunch of something that resembled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +the nest of an American Eagle, but on close +inspection was found to be the corpse of +a lone Indian a long time dead. This was +the mode of burial of some of the tribes +in the early days, using fur robes or blankets +for a casket. There was nothing to relieve +the monotony in this desert land, except +desperate Indians, immense herds of animal +life, daily coaches—when not held back +or captured by the Indians or mountain +highwaymen—returning freight trains, and +the following points where there were adobe +ranches: Dog Town, Plum Creek, Beaver +Creek, Godfrey's, Moore's, Brever's at Old +California Crossing and Jack Morrow's at +the junction of the north and south Platte, +Fort Julesburg, Cotton Wood and the Junction, +each one hundred miles apart, and John +Corlew's and William Kirby near O'Fallow's +Bluffs. It was said of these ranchmen that +some were honest and some were not; others +were in league with the Indians, and cattle +and mule thieves, and, as a rule, a bad +lot. They traded supplies to the Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +for furs of every kind. The winter passed +in hunting, trapping, drinking, and +gambling.</p> + + +<h3>O'FALLOW'S BLUFFS</h3> + +<p>O'Fallow's Bluffs was a point where the +river ran to the very foot of the bluffs making it +necessary for all of the trains to cross, then +again strike Platte river trail at Alkali Creek, +the waters of which were poisonous to man +and beast. The trail over the bluffs was of +sand, and those heavily ladened, white covered +prairie schooners would often sink to +the hubs, requiring from fifty to seventy-five +yoke of oxen to haul them across, often +being compelled to double the leading yoke +as far back as the wheelers, then doubling +again, would start them on a trot, and with +all in line and pulling together, would land +the deeply sunken wheels on solid ground. +It took one entire day to again reach river +trail, which was hard and smooth. O'Fallow's +Bluffs was a point feared by freighters +and emigrants alike. At this point many a +band of pilgrims met destruction at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +hands of the fiendish redskins of the plains. +Directly upon going into camp at night a +party of them would ride up, demand coffee, +whiskey, or whatever they wanted, and having +received it, would massacre the men and +children, reserving the women for a fate a +thousand fold worse, as they were very +seldom rescued by the tardy government, +whose agents were supplying the Indians +with guns, ammunition and whiskey to +carry on their hellish work unmolested. +When captured, which was seldom, were +they hung as they deserved? No, the chief +with a few others, who stood high in the +councils of the tribe, were taken by stage to +Atchison, Kansas, there transferred to luxuriantly +equipped sleeping cars of that day, +and whirled on to Washington; and, in war +paint and feather and with great pomp, were +presented to their great white father (the +President) as they called him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> +<h3>ABUSES OF THE INDIAN DEPARTMENT</h3> + +<p>They were then taken in charge by Representatives +of the Indian department of the +Government, that in those days was honeycombed +with corruption from foundation to +dome; a disgraceful and blood-stained spot +in the Nation's history. Day after day +and night after night they were shown the +sights of that great city. The capitol of a +free and growing Republic whose people +respected the Constitution their fathers had +drafted, signed and fought for. Day after +day and night after night they were courted, +dined, toasted and wined until they had become +sufficiently mellow to be cajoled into +signing another peace treaty, and were then +given money and loaded down with presents +as an inducement to be good. They were +then returned to the agency at the Fort, +having been taken from there and back by +those red-nosed, liquor-bloated Indian Department +guardians of the United States +Government and were freely supplied with +whiskey until they were willing to part with +their cattle, furs, and beaded goods at extremely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +low figures, in exchange for provisions, +guns, ammunition, and liquor at +fabulously high prices. Robbed of their +money and presents, and in this condition +allowed to return to their village, where +when they become sober, they would +quickly awaken to a realizing sense of +how they had been deceived, swindled and +robbed.</p> + +<p>What could you expect from those copper-colored +savages of the soil after such treatment? +With no regard for the treaty they +had signed, they would resume the warpath. +Revenge, swift and terrible, was meted +out to the innocent pilgrims and freighters +who had left home, comforts and friends. +Hundreds sacrificed their lives by horrible +tortures in their heroic efforts to settle the +West, unconscious that they were making +history for their country and the nation, +great.</p> + +<p>With no respect for the United States +Government, with no respect for the flag +with its cluster of stars and stripes of red, +white and blue that fired the heart of every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +living American soldier to win victory at +Valley Forge, which gained our independence, +Antietam, and San Juan Hill, saved the +nation, reunited the union of states in lasting +friendship, lifted the yoke of tyranny from +an oppressed people; and, as if with one +stroke, swept from the high seas two powerful +naval squadrons—the pride of the Spanish +nation.</p> + +<p>Washington, Lincoln and McKinley were +backed by the old glory that electrified every +loyal American with patriotism to respond +to the call of duty for the love of their country +and the "Star Spangled Banner," that at +that time fluttered high above the parapet +of every Government fort as an emblem of +protection to all that were struggling on and +on over that vast expanse of unbroken and +treeless plain; can you wonder then that +the unspeakable crimes and mistakes of the +Government of those days still rankle in the +breast of every living man and woman that +in any way participated in the settlement +of the West? If you do, look on the painting +of the terrible annihilation of the gallant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +Custer and his five companies of the Seventh +U. S. Cavalry with the old chief, Sitting Bull, +and his band of Sioux Indians on the Big +Horn River, June 25, 1876, from which not +a man escaped to tell the tale, and you may +form some conception of the hardships, +suffering, and cruelties inflicted on the early +pioneer. It was left for the resourceful +Remington to vividly portray life and +scenes of those days, perpetuating their +memory on canvas and bronze for all time. +The name of Frederick Remington should +not only go down in history as the greatest +living artist of those scenes, but his bust in +bronze should be given a place in the Hall of +Fame as a tribute to his life and a recognition +of his great worth.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h2>AN ATTACK BY THE INDIANS</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap060"><span class="dropcap">O</span></span>'Fallow's Bluffs was the most +dismal spot on the entire +trail. Its high walls of earth +and over-hanging, jagged +rocks, with openings to the +rolling plain beyond, made +it an ideal point for the +sneaking, cowardly savages to attack the +weary pilgrims and freighters. The very +atmosphere seemed to produce a feeling of +gloom and approaching disaster. The +emigrants had been repeatedly instructed +by the commander at Fort Carney to +corral with one of the trains. Many of the +bullwhackers were desperate men, so that +the poor pilgrims were in danger from two +sources, and very seldom camped near either +corral. Our consort was a day's drive in +the rear. That evening the emigrants camped +about a half mile in advance of our train. +It was at this point, when unyoking our oxen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +at evening that a large band sneaked over the +bluffs for the purpose, as we supposed, of +stampeding our cattle. They did not take +us unawares, however, for we never turned +cattle from corral until the assistant wagon +boss surveyed the locality in every direction +with a field glass, for the tricky redskin +might be over the next sand hill.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image062.jpg" width="600" height="416" alt="INDIANS ATTACKING CORRAL" title="INDIANS ATTACKING CORRAL" /> +<span class="caption">INDIANS ATTACKING CORRAL</span> +</p> + +<p>Fifty good men could whip five times their +number, especially when fortified by those +immense white covered prairie schooners +in corral formation. On they came in single +file, their blood-curdling war whoop enough +to weaken the bravest. Closer they came, +bedecked in war-paint and feathers, their +chief in the lead resembling the devil incarnate +with all his aids bent on exterminating as +brave a band of freighters as ever crossed +the plains. Nearer they came, their ponies +on a dead run, the left leg over the back, +the right under and interlocking the left, +firing from the opposite side of them, ducking +their heads, encircling the camp and +yelling like demons. Their racket, together +with the yelping of their mongrel dogs and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +the snorting and bellowing of the cattle, +made it an unspeakable hell. Every man +stood to his gun, and from between the +wagons, at the command of the wagon boss, +poured forth with lightning rapidity his leaden +messengers of death. For about an hour +they made it very interesting for us. It +was almost impossible to hit one as they kept +circling the camp, drawing nearer with each +circle made. How many were killed we +did not know as they carried them off, but +from the number of riderless ponies, a dozen +or more must have been dispatched to their +happy hunting grounds. During the fight +a portion of them bore down on the poor +pilgrims' camp, in plain sight, and massacred +all, running off their cattle and such +of their outfit as they wanted.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image064.jpg" width="600" height="489" alt="MASSACRE OF EMIGRANTS" title="MASSACRE OF EMIGRANTS" /> +<span class="caption">MASSACRE OF EMIGRANTS</span> +</p> + + +<h3>SAVAGES IN THEIR GLORY</h3> + +<p>Mothers with babes at their sides and with +uplifted, clasped hands, implored the cruel +warriors for mercy, but it was like pouring +water on the desert sands. Crazed by thirst +for blood and the scalps of the whites, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +knew no mercy. The hatchet-like tomahawk +glittering in the evening twilight, held with +a vice-like grip in the hand of a cowardly +savage, came down at last with such force +as to crush through skull and brain, and all +was over. We were powerless to render +assistance. The scene was heartrending. +The depredations of these savages is too +revolting to relate, and after completing their +hellish work, they sneaked back as they +came, keeping up their sickening yell until +distance drowned it entirely. Few days passed +that they were not seen as evening approached, +and after dark we were able to +know that they were in the vicinity, watching +their opportunity to surprise us at early +morning, by signal arrows of fire shot into +the heavens to make known their whereabouts +to companions. Could these silent +bluffs of sand but unfold the butchery and +unspeakable outrages inflicted on innocent +men, women and children, could the trail +through the valley of the Platte, and even +more dangerous trail of the Smoky Hill +give up its secrets, it would reveal a dark<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +page in the history of our Government, which +was directly responsible for a great deal of it; +responsible in so far as sending unscrupulous +peace commissioners to the different agencies +to make treaties of peace with tribes of +Indians, and who kept them just long enough +to become liberally supplied with provisions, +clothing, guns, ammunition and whiskey, +then ravish and murder in the most diabolical +manner pilgrims and freighters alike. On +both trails many a silent monument of stone +was all that remained of their cruel depredations. +Such was not the uncommon work +of the fiends, known to readers of fiction as +the noble red men of the plains. More +dastardly cowards never existed. Their +struggles against destiny have long since +been broken, and the offspring of those cruel +warriors are being educated by a gracious +government.</p> + +<p>The monotony of that lonesome and tedious +tramp was enlivened only by fights among +the men, and an occasional lay-over for a day +to set the tires of the many wagons, having +had no rain to keep them tight during<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +the entire trip after leaving Atchison, +Kansas.</p> + +<p>With many encounters and bearing scars +received from warring tribes of Indians, +we tramped along in moccasin covered feet, +now and again throwing our long lashed +whips with such force as to awaken the dead-head +ox to life and quicker action.</p> + +<p>Day after day the same scenery faced us; +yet, it was an experience never to be forgotten. +We passed Fort Julesburg and Cottonwood +with the loss of but three men, arriving late at +night after a forced drive at the junction or +division of the two trails leading to Denver. +The distance to Denver by the "Cut-off" +was seventy-five miles; by the river route +one hundred miles; but as water was to be +found only at long distances on the former, +all cattle trains took the river route.</p> + +<p>It was early in November, the nights and +mornings were cold and frosty, the air +exhilarating. We were up the next morning +at the usual time, and as the sun rose in all +its splendor and warmth, one hundred miles +in the far away distance could be seen with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +the naked eye, the gigantic range of the +Rockies whose lofty snow-capped peaks, +sparkling in the morning sun, seemed to +soar and pierce the clouds of delicate shades +that floated in space about them, attracted, +as it were, by a heavenly magnet. It was a +sight I had not dreamed of, and one that +made an impression on my young mind to +last through life.</p> + + +<h3>DENVER AT LAST!</h3> + +<p>When about ten miles from Denver—so +we at least thought, and fearless of danger, +my chum and myself obtained permission +from Mr. Perry to walk to the city over the +rolling ground. We tramped until the sun +was well up in the heavens. One would +think it but a few miles to those mighty +and solemn mountains of rocks, so deceptive +was the distance, yet, they were twenty +miles beyond the city. At noon we knew +we had made ten long miles and were completely +tired out. We were on the point +of taking a rest when I urged my chum to +cross the next knoll, and if the city did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +loom up we would halt. We did so and to +our surprise and joy were right in the city +of Denver, the "Mecca" of nearly all Western +freighters and distributing point for the +far Western territories. It seemed to have +risen beneath our feet. The grand old range +of mountains with their sky-soaring pinnacles +and scenic background of grandeur, together +with the surrounding landscape, made it the +sight of one's life. Our sixteen mile walk +and previous seventy days' living on +a diet of bacon, beans, and dried apples, +certainly placed us in condition for a civilized +meal.</p> + +<p>We were directed to a first-class restaurant, +both in price and quality of food. We were +about famished, and to satisfy our hunger +seemed impossible. We ate and ate, and +probably would have been eating yet, had +not the waiter presented us with a ticket +demanding a five dollar gold piece from each, +when we decided we had better call a halt, if +we intended to remain in the city over +night.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> +<h3>AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE</h3> + +<p>On walking up the street we stepped into +the first hotel we came to, the old "Planters," +registered, paid for our supper, lodging and +breakfast. When about to leave the hotel, +who should walk in but a Genevan by name, +Michael C. Pembroke, with his arm in a +sling. He had been propelled across the +plains by mules, and one of the ugly brutes +had broken his right arm with one of his ever +active hoofs. I asked Michael why the +mule kicked him? He replied, "Charlie, +I may look foolish but was not fool enough +to go back and ask him." Never approach +a Missouri mule from the rear, for there +certainly will be trouble if you do. He asked +if we had any money.</p> + +<p>We replied that we would have when paid +off.</p> + +<p>He advised us to go direct to the Ben +Holiday stage office and buy a ticket for the +States as soon as we received our pay, as +Colorado was no place for boys.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 359px;"> +<img src="images/image070.jpg" width="359" height="600" alt="MICHAEL C. PEMBROKE" title="MICHAEL C. PEMBROKE" /> +<span class="caption">MICHAEL C. PEMBROKE</span> +</p> + +<p>At his suggestion we started out to do the +town, and came very near being done ourselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +Colorado at this time was a territory +with a Governor appointed by the +President. Law, except as executed by a +vigilance committee, did not amount to much +more than the word. If one wished to depart +life in full dress, he could be accommodated +by simply calling another a liar or cheat at +gambling. If desirous of taking a long rest +by being suspended by the neck from a limb +of the only tree in Denver at that time, which +was on the west side of Cherry Creek, all he +had to do was to appropriate to himself an +ox, mule, or anything of value, and the +vigilance committee would manipulate the +rope.</p> + +<p>The gambling places, which occupied long +halls on the ground floor of tall buildings—nearly +always on the business street of the +city—kept open until the small hours of +morning. There was always a brass band +in front, and a string band, or orchestra, in +the extreme rear, so if one wished to dance, +he could select a partner of most any nationality; +dance a set, step up to the bar, +pay two bits or twenty-five cents for cigars,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +drinks or both and expend his balance on +any game known to the profession, which +games occupied either side of the long room.</p> + +<p>We had been in the place less than fifteen +minutes when bang went a revolver and on +the instant the room was in total darkness. +I mechanically ducked under a table. Where +my companions were, I knew not; I began to +think that Mike's advice was about correct, +and before emerging wished more than once +I was back in my home. When the lights +were turned on, I discovered my chum +occupying a like berth of safety on the opposite +side of the room.</p> + +<p>Mike had evidently followed his own +advice and taken his departure, for he was +nowhere to be found. The band struck up +a lively tune; the fiddles, a waltz; dancing +began, gold and chips commenced to fly, +and, if I had not passed through the ordeal, +I never would have known anything had +happened. The dead were quickly disposed +of, the wounded hurried to physicians, +and old timers gave it no further thought, +as it was of frequent occurrence, and one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +soon became hardened. Denver at that time +was a hotbed of gambling, with murder and +lynch law a secondary pastime. Not being +deterred by our experience, we continued +our sightseeing, ending up at the only theatre +in the city, afterwards called the "Old +Languish."</p> + + +<h3>JOINING THE CATTLE TRAIN AGAIN</h3> + +<p>The following afternoon our train reached +town and we joined it during the evening +to be ready for an early start for Golden +City, the entrance to the mountains leading +to Black Hawk and Central City where +our freight was consigned. The most hazardous +part of our trip was before us, one that +to this day makes me shiver when I think of +it. The first team entered the canyon at +11 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> in a blinding snowstorm. The road +for nearly the entire distance was hewn +from solid rock out of the side of steep +mountains, gradually ascending to a great +height, then descending to what seemed a +bottomless canyon. We finally arrived at +Guy Hill, the most dangerous part of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +route. It took us one entire day to reach +its pinnacle, where we camped for the night. +The road at the top was cut through solid +rock at a height of twenty feet, seven feet +in width and led to a steep precipice. It +then made a sharp turn to the right and, in +a serpent shape drive, continued to the +canyon below. At this point it was said to +be fifteen hundred feet straight down, and +a number of outfits had previously gone over +its rocky edge and been hurled to destruction +by a slight error of judgment on the +part of the driver.</p> + +<p>The cold and snow, together with summer +clothing, made our suffering indescribable. +The following morning I started in the lead +of the train with a nine thousand pound +boiler, with the rear wheels securely locked, +and twenty yoke of oxen to haul it to the +edge of the precipice. Then discarding all +but the wheelers and leaders, we began +the descent. There was not room enough +on either side for the driver to walk. He +generally rode the off ox, but I took my +position on the rear of the wagon tongue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +and found it decidedly the safest place in +case of an accident. By night all wagons +were safely in the canyon below. The road +for nearly the entire distance presented the +same dangers, taking ten days to reach our +destination from Denver, the entire trip +occupying eighty days.</p> + + +<h3>A THRILLING COACH RIDE</h3> + +<p>On receiving our pay, which was our +promised salary less twenty dollars for the +Hostetter's Bitters, my chum and myself +decided to go direct to Denver, our friend +remaining in the Mountain City. We boarded +a Concord coach with six snow-white +horses to wheel us on a dead run over and +around steep mountains and through dismal +canyons, first on four wheels, then three, +then two and occasionally one, keeping +us constantly busy retaining our seats and +fearing at every turn that we would be dashed +into eternity; and yet, it was one of the most +picturesque and thrilling rides one could +take. Being tossed from side to side in the +roomy coach, now and then grabbing a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +fellow passenger with desperation, gazing +down from lofty peaks to yawning chasms +below, hearing the crack of the long-lashed +whip urging the noble steeds to faster speed, +turning the rough, ragged, serpent-shaped +drive, thundering through clouds and mist +with lightning rapidity, and always in constant +terror of a breakdown or error on the +part of the fearless driver, gave one a sensation +that would nearly make his hair stand +on end. During the descent a slight error +on the part of the horses or driver, would +have hurled all to a horrible death; but +those mountain drivers, strapped to their +seats, were monarchs of the Rockies and +unerring in every move. From among the +snow-covered glaciers sparkling in the morning +sun, emitting the many tints of a midday +storm-bow and presenting a sight of +unsurpassed grandeur, we emerged from the +mouth of the last canyon and struck the +smooth rolling trail. All the way from Golden +we were going, it seemed, on the wings of +the wind and were landed in Denver on +scheduled time.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h2>DENVER IN 1865</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap077"><span class="dropcap">I</span></span>n that period Denver was appropriately +called the "City of the +Plains." Situated sixteen miles +from the base of the nearest +Rocky Mountain peak, and six +hundred and fifty miles from Atchison, +Kansas, the nearest town to the +East; while seven hundred miles to the west +loomed up as from the very bowels of the +earth, the beautiful city of the Mormons, +Salt Lake City, Utah. The nearest forts—two +hundred miles distant—were Fort +Cottonwood to the northeast, Collins to +the north and Halleck to the northwest. +Its northern limits extended to the South +fork of the Platte River; Cherry Creek +running through one-third, dividing it into +East and West Denver. Its population numbered +about five thousand souls. Here was +to be found the illiterate man—but a grade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +above the coyote—lawbreakers of every kind +and from every land, to men of culture and +refinement. Here it stood, a typical mining +town, a monument to the indomitable energy +of man in his efforts to settle that barren and +almost endless plain and open to the world +the Rocky's unlimited hidden gold. Here +were brick structures modern for that day, +the brick being made from the soil of the +territory; a United States mint, a church, a +school house, large warehouses, stores, and +the home of the <i>Rocky Mountain Daily News</i>, +which kept one partially in touch with happenings +in the faraway states. Isolated from +the outside world, it was an ideal place of +refuge for those anxious to escape the outraged +law. Knights of the green cloth held +full sway. Men in every walk in life gambled. +A dead man for breakfast was not an uncommon +heading for the menu card, the old +tree on the west bank of Cherry Creek +furnishing the man. Society was just a +little exclusive and to gain admission the +pass was, "Where are you from?" and in +some cases, "Your name in the East."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> + +<p>Desperadoes made one attempt to lay the +city in ashes and certainly would have +accomplished their purpose had it not been +for the timely action of the Vigilance Committee +in hanging the ring-leaders. When +the guilt of a suspect for any crime was +in doubt, he was presented with a horse or +mule and ordered to leave between sun and +sun and never return. During my four years +of residence in Denver there was but one +Indian scare and it made a lasting impression +on the tablet of my memory. A church bell +pealed forth the warning over the thirsty +desert of an Indian attack. Business places +were closed, the women and children were +rushed to the mint and warehouses for +protection, armed men surrounded the city, +pickets on horseback were thrown out in +every direction. Couriers kept thundering +back and forth between picket line and those +in command and others were despatched +to the different Forts for assistance that +never came. A look of determination stood +out on the face of every one and not a man, +from clergyman to desperado, within the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +confines of the city who would not willingly +have given up his life's blood to protect the +honor of the women and lives of the little +ones. For three weary days and the same +number of nights the terrible suspense lasted, +but no Indian came. It was a false alarm.</p> + +<p>Denver, in its early settlement, was never +attacked by the Indians except in isolated +cases. The only reason that I ever heard +given for their not doing so was that they +knew not their strength, for there was no +time in the sixties that they could not have +swooped down on the place, massacred all +and buried the little mining town in ashes.</p> + + +<h3>SECURED WORK AGAIN</h3> + +<p>For a young man to obtain work other +than oxen or mule driving, we were told, +was simply impossible. Not being deterred, +however, by this discouraging information +we at once started out to secure work. +Board was twenty-five dollars a week in +gold, and you had to furnish your own sleeping +quarters, so not to secure work at once +would quickly reduce our wealth. We had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +called on nearly all of the business places, +when my chum secured a position with a +grocer and freighter. As for myself, I received +little encouragement but finally called +at a large restaurant where I was offered +work. I told the proprietor it was a little +out of my line, but he told me that if I could +not find a position to suit me, I should walk +in at any time, pull off my coat and go to +work, which I did three days later. About +the tenth day the proprietor told me his +lease expired and that the man who owned +the building was going to conduct the business. +He came in that afternoon, and I +was introduced to him. Before leaving he +stepped into the office and informed me +that he wanted a man next to him; or, in +other words, an assistant and that the +former proprietor had given me a good +recommend and he thought that I would +suit him. He made me a tempting offer and +I accepted. The restaurant was located on +Blake street, one of the then principal business +streets of the city, and kept open until +early morning as did the gambling places<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +in the immediate vicinity. I soon discovered +that the new proprietor could neither read +or write and that he conducted one of the +largest private club rooms in the city where +gambling was carried on without limit. He +paid me a large salary and allowed me everything +my wild nature craved. I had charge +of the entire business as well as his bank +account.</p> + +<p>The restaurant was the headquarters of +nearly all oxen and mule drivers and also +of the miners who came from the mountains +in winter, and were of the toughest type of +men of that day. All professional oxen +and mule drivers after making one round +trip to the river and points in the far Western +territories were paid off in Denver and many +of them would deposit with me, for safe +keeping, a large share of their dangerously +and hard earned dollars. They would then +start out to do the town, now and then +taking a chance at one of the many gambling +games, always returning for more money, +which I would give them; and this they +would continue until all was expended except<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +enough to keep them a week, when sober, +and a commission for doing the business, +for which I was careful to look out. An +individual who bore the name of "One Eye +Jack" boarded with us and I could always +depend upon him in time of trouble. His +vocation for a long time was a mystery, +until one evening, as I was passing down a +side street, he popped out from an alley +and with uplifted blackjack would have +felled and robbed me had he not recognized +the unearthly yell I gave. I forgave him, +and afterwards he doubled his energies to +protect me and on more than one occasion +saved my life. When in his professional +clothes he was a tough looking customer +and could fight like a bull dog. He was +always liberally supplied with someone else's +money. Yet with all his bad traits, his +word was as good as his gold; but like +other similar individuals that infested Denver +at that time, he finally went to the end of +his tether, and was presented by the Vigilance +Committee with a hemp collar that deprived +him of his life.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>Before his demise, however, a party of +ten tough-looking individuals entered the +restaurant and, in forceful language, demanded +the best the country offered in +eatables and drink. My friend, or would-be-murderer, +was in at the time and I noticed +a look of cunning pleasure steal over his +rough countenance. The strangers were dressed +in corduroy trousers, velveteen coats, +slouch hats and black ties. Their shirts +and collars of red flannel made a conspicuous +appearance and caused their undoing later. +After seeing them well cared for, I returned +to the office and calling Jack inquired his +opinion of the gents.</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied, "I may be mistaken +but I will just bet you a ten spot they +are road agents." "Yes," I said, "I am +inclined to agree with you, but keep +mum."</p> + +<p>You may think it strange I did not give +this bold highwayman away; but life in +those days was sweet and I had no desire +to have that young life taken so I followed +Commanche Bill's advice and strictly minded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +my own business. If I had not, I would +not be living today.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image086.jpg" width="600" height="437" alt="ROAD AGENTS HOLDING UP STAGE COACH" title="ROAD AGENTS HOLDING UP STAGE COACH" /> +<span class="caption">ROAD AGENTS HOLDING UP STAGE COACH</span> +</p> + + +<h3>HIGHWAYMEN OF THE WEST</h3> + +<p>Two mornings later on entering for breakfast +one of the band had his head done up +in a bandage. From words he dropped +I was satisfied that Jack or one of his cronies +had been improving their spare time by +relieving him of his over abundance of gold. +The reckless manner in which they disposed +of their money and their conversation +when flushed with wine betrayed their +true characters and stamped them a murderous +band of mountain highwaymen who +had made their headquarters in the fastnesses +of the Rockies, near the overland +mountain trail and there devoted their time +to holding up stage coaches, compelling +the driver with a shot from a carbine to +halt, descend, disarm and be quiet. The +passengers were then ordered to alight and +stand in a row, continually being covered +with guns by a part of the band and by +others relieved of their personal effects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +Then the stage coach was systematically +gone through together with the Wells Fargo +& Co's. safe, which often contained gold +into the thousands. These hold-ups were +not infrequent and were the fear of all who +were obliged to pass through these canyons +of robbery and often death. The bunch +that we harbored were undoubtedly as bold +a band of robbers and murderers as ever +infested the silent caves of the Rockies. +Could their dingy walls but talk they would +reveal crimes unspeakable. I knew there +were many strangers in town and was almost +certain their every movement was watched; +nor was I mistaken. The seventh day after +their arrival a young school teacher whom +I knew by sight called at the restaurant +and inquired by name for one of the band. +I asked if he knew him. He replied, no +more than that he had met him in one of +the corrals of the city and had been offered +free passage to the States if he would do +their cooking. I told him of my suspicions +and all I knew about them and advised +him not to go with them, but like many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +others he gave no heed. Two days later +they were missed at meal time. The next +morning word came by courier that the +entire band including the school teacher +were dangling by the neck from the branches +of cottonwood trees twelve miles down the +Platte River with their pockets inside-out +and outfits gone. Thus was meted out +innocent and guilty alike the Vigilance Committee +justice, which was not of uncommon +occurrence.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image088.jpg" width="600" height="492" alt="VIGILANCE COMMITTEE JUSTICE" title="VIGILANCE COMMITTEE JUSTICE" /> +<span class="caption">VIGILANCE COMMITTEE JUSTICE</span> +</p> + +<p>Mr. Pembroke secured a position at Black +Hawk, Colorado, in the year 1865, with the +first smelter works erected in the Rocky +Mountains. He was employed in the separating +department where sulphur was freely +used, and he inhaled much of the fumes +emitted therefrom, which was the direct +cause of a severe illness.</p> + +<p>He fought retirement for a long time, +but was finally forced to give up.</p> + +<p>The latter part of February, 1886, he +arrived in Denver on his way to his home +in Geneva, N. Y., but remained with me +at the restaurant for ten days where he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +was cared for and given the best of medical +aid available in those days.</p> + +<p>He finally prevailed on a mule freighter +to take him as a passenger to Atchison, +Kansas. Arriving at Fort Carney, Nebraska, +he had a relapse and was ordered by the +Commander of the Fort to be placed in the +Army Hospital for treatment, where he +remained until able to continue his journey +by stage to Atchison, thence by rail +home.</p> + +<p>He left Colorado with the full determination +of returning on recovering his health. +A mother's influence, however, changed his +plans and he finally decided to remain in +the East. He purchased a grocery business +and conducted it with great success until +his death, March 17th, 1910. By his strict +attention to business, square dealing, genial +disposition and original wit, he gained the +confidence and respect of his fellow-men. +He was buried in St. Patrick's cemetery in +his home city where a surviving sister has +caused to be erected an appropriate and +costly monument to his memory.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> +<h3>NEW EMPLOYMENT</h3> + +<p>I remained with the restaurant keeper one +year, when through the assistance of influential +men that boarded at the restaurant, +I secured a position with a grocer. Shortly +after entering his employ I made the acquaintance +of an ex-army officer, a graduate +of West Point and a well educated man, +who afterwards became my boon companion. +At that time he was an ex-pork merchant +from Cincinnati; an eccentric old fellow +without chick or child, and with plenty +of money to loan at 3% a month. He owned +a large warehouse on Cherry Creek in West +Denver where he slept and did his own +cooking. His evenings were passed at the +store and many were the nights that we told +stories and otherwise enjoyed ourselves. He +was a silent member of the firm and I was +wise enough to keep on the right side of him. +During that time the head of the firm ran +for Congress on the Democratic ticket. Such +an election I never want to see or go through +again. Large wagons loaded with barrels +of all kinds of liquor on tap were driven from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +poll to poll. Many more ballots were cast in +each precinct than there were voters and +by night nearly the entire male portion of the +inhabitants were a drunken, howling mass. +The outcome of the election resulted in the +Governor giving the Democratic nominee the +certificate of election; the Secretary of the +territory favoring the Republicans. The +Governor left the city that night and never +returned. The contest terminated in a Republican +Congress seating the Republican +candidate, and Andrew Johnson—then President +of the United States—appointing the +Democratic candidate Governor of Colorado. +A year from that time General Grant was +inaugurated, and shortly afterwards the Governor's +head went into the basket and mine +fell on the outside.</p> + +<p>On another occasion there was to be a +prize fight at Golden City, sixteen miles +from Denver. My friend, the ex-pork merchant, +I could see was anxious to attend +but did not wish to lower his standard of +dignity by doing so, so the subject was not +mentioned save in a casual way until the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +morning of the fight, when he entered the +store, puffing and blowing, stamping the +floor with his hickory cane and mopping +his crimson brow with an old-fashioned +bandana handkerchief, said "Charley, let's +go to that infernal fight. I don't approve +of it, but let's go."</p> + +<p>"All right," I said. I was in for any +kind of sport.</p> + + +<h3>AN EXPERIENCE IN MULE RIDING</h3> + +<p>I left everything, locked the store and +started out to procure a rig, but found +there were none to be had for love or money. +The only article of propulsion we could hire +were saddle mules. Both quickly mounted +and on a slow trot started for the ring. We +had been there less than an hour when both +of us became thoroughly disgusted and started +on the return trip. When about seven miles +from Denver and going at a lively pace—for +a mule—the Major's animal stiffened +both front legs, and placing his hoofs firmly +in the sandy road, permitted the Major's +chunky little body to pass over his head +and through space for about ten feet, landing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +with much force, on his stomach. The +old fellow was an artist at curse words and +the more I laughed the more he cursed. +He was a sprightly little fellow and on gaining +his feet grabbed for the bridle, but +Mr. Mule shook his head, made a side step, +and the devil could not have caught him +again until he reached the barn. I dismounted +and with much difficulty my friend +scrambled into my saddle, with myself on +behind. But my long-eared critter objected +and the fun commenced. He bunted and +kicked. All of a sudden his hind quarters +rose and like lightning his long lanky legs +shot high into the air. First, I went off, +and on gaining a sitting position with mouth, +ears and eyes full of sand, I witnessed a +spectacle befitting the clumsiest bareback +rider on one of their first lessons. The +old Major had both arms affectionately +entwined around the mule's thick neck and +was hanging on with desperation. Up and +down went the hind quarters of that unkind +brute, bunting and kicking, the Major's +little body keeping taps with the ups and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +downs and every time he caught his breath +he let out a war whoop that would do credit +to a Commanche brave. The old mule +finally dumped him all in a heap and followed +his mate to Denver. Such an appearance +as both presented, each blaming the other +for our misfortune and vowing we would +never be caught at another prize fight. +Lame, bruised, and crestfallen, we walked +the remainder of the way into Denver. +Each cautioned the other to say nothing +of our misfortune; but the two Mauds had carried +the news ahead, and we were the laughing +stock of the town for the next nine days.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image096.jpg" width="600" height="437" alt="RETURNING FROM PRIZE FIGHT" title="RETURNING FROM PRIZE FIGHT" /> +<span class="caption">RETURNING FROM PRIZE FIGHT</span> +</p> + +<p>At another time I was attending a performance +in the "Old Languish Theater," +when from the stage I was informed I was +wanted in the bar room of the building, +a necessary adjunct to all western theaters +in those days. Upon entering I was taken +by the hand by one of those trusty and +warm-hearted stage drivers of the plains +and Rockies, and told that my chum had been +caught in one of those treacherous mountain +snow storms on the Catchla Purder River<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +two miles above La Port and was badly +frozen, and, if he didn't receive medical aid +at once, could not survive. I left the theater +at once and commenced preparing plans for +the trip. I started unaccompanied the following +afternoon at 2:30 o'clock on a one +hundred fifty mile ride.</p> + + +<h3>A RIDE IN A STORM</h3> + +<p>My conveyance was a long old-fashioned +buggy. The buggy, which was well filled +with straw, blankets, medicine, grub, and +a commissary bottle, had two good roadsters +hitched in front to wheel me to the +rescue of my friend or to an ignominious +death. I had not only Indians to fear, but +the treacherous elements. The trail ran +close along the base of the mountains. It +was a lovely May day. I was obliged +to make thirty-two miles that night to +reach cover. Less than half of the distance +had been traveled when the wind veered +suddenly to the north, mild at first, then a +hurricane of anger, roaring and blowing +with such force as to nearly upset the buggy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +Dark clouds gathered and floated around +those silent peaks of ages. Lightning darted +hither and thither among the stalwart pines, +which were creaking, bending and crashing. +Clap after clap of thunder pealed through +and from those dismal canyons, vibrating +between Nature's slopes of granite, quartz +and rock. The din was fearful, rain fell +at first, then turned to snow. Just before +it became dark I adjusted the front piece +of the buggy. My compass was useless. +I urged my faithful steeds to faster speed, +and at the same time gave them the rein. +As I did so, they left the trail. Cold and +chilled to the marrow or very bone, I took +frequent drafts from the commissary bottle, +and fought with all my power against sleep, +but it was useless.</p> + +<p>On gaining partial consciousness two squaws +were bending over me rubbing me with all +their Indian strength and a third forcing +something warm down my throat. Men, +rough of dress, were smoking and playing +cards. Revolvers, chips and gold was in front +of each, with plenty of the latter in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +center of the table. I knew not if they +were friends or mountain highwaymen. +Many claim that horses are dumb brutes +with no instinct, but that faithful pair on +leaving the trail avoided a long bend and +made straight for the adobe stage ranch, +sixteen miles away. On reaching it, they +ran the buggy-pole through the only opening +of that mud shack rousing the inmates to +action and bringing me to safety.</p> + +<p>The large Concord coach filled with passengers +soon arrived from Denver, and owing +to the severity of the storm, put up for the +night. The time was passed in smoking, +drinking and playing cards. At six o'clock +the next morning the coach pulled up at +the door. The storm was over, but not +the wind. The cold was intense. My team +soon came up, but their ears and noses were +badly frost bitten and otherwise showed +the effects of the storm. I followed the +coach but for a short distance only, as the +snow which was drifting badly obliterated +the trail. The six black horses on the +coach were too much for my two bays and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +soon left me far in the rear. My compass +had been lost and by noon I was back at the +ranch I had previously left, the horses +having made nearly a complete circle without +my knowledge. I secured another compass +and at nine o'clock that evening rolled +into La Port, a city of adobe ranches, and +stage station, where I put up for the night. +(A place of two or three houses in those days +was called a city.) I was informed that +my chum was two miles up the river and +in bad shape. The next morning I was up +at day break. After grub I started and +found my companion quartered in a little +old log cabin at the base of the mountains, +and being cared for by an aged squaw and +her daughter—the old buck being out caring +for the cattle. My chum had encountered +the same kind of a storm as his rescuer, +and unable to find his way was obliged to +remain out the entire night and only one +hundred feet from the cabin. Both of his +feet were badly frozen. The Indians had +done everything possible for him. The +daughter, for an Indian, was extremely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +pretty, and I soon discovered that she was +very much taken with my chum. I applied +the remedies which I had brought. Then +the little Indian maiden bundled him up, +and with the promise that he would return +they parted.</p> + +<p>We were at once off on the return trip and +arrived at the stage ranch, where I was +cared for the previous night at just six +o'clock. On driving up to the door of the +station all three of the reaches of the buggy +broke and gently dropped us to the ground. +Fortunately there was a blacksmith connected +with the station and I assisted him +through the long night, forging reaches and +repairing the buggy. At daylight we were +off, reaching Denver in safety at 3:30 that +afternoon and making the trip in just three +days.</p> + +<p>Both of my chum's feet had to be amputated +at the insteps. He was very grateful +and quite conscious of the fact that true +friendship still existed.</p> + +<p>Before leaving the governor's employ, I +accompanied a mule train of ten wagons<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +with supplies for the Ute tribe of Indians +who lived in one of the parks of the mountains +in the vicinity of Pike's Peak. The Utes, +at that particular time, were on friendly +terms with the white men as there was a +treaty of peace existing between them and +the Government.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h2>A PROOF OF MARKSMANSHIP</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap103"><span class="dropcap">W</span></span>e took with us a Mr. Baker, +who was conceded to be one +of the best guides, hunters, +trappers and interpreters of +that day, with a heart as +large as an American bison, +and as tender as a child's. But when his anger +was aroused by danger or treachery, the +very devil seemed to possess him; he had +the courage of a lion, and was a dead shot. +We had been friends for a long time, and +on more than one occasion he had proved +a true one.</p> + +<p>The park was an ideal summer resort, +an extended plateau with acres of fresh +green grass, wild flowers, and virgin soil. +In the center was a beautiful lake, its ice +cold water well stocked with the finny tribe +of speckled mountain trout, the delight of +the angler. The park was inclosed by mountains +of great height and grandeur, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +rocky slopes were dotted with spruce, pine, +and cottonwood, and capped with ages of +crystal snow, presenting a sight more pleasing +to the eye than the Falls of Niagara, +and a perfect haven for an Indian maiden's +love dream.</p> + +<p>We had been in camp but a few days when +Mr. Baker informed me that the young +bucks, as the men of the tribe were called, +wanted us to join in shooting at a target. +After Mr. Baker and myself had made a +few bull's eyes, they proposed we two should +choose sides, and we did so. The teams +were very evenly matched, making the game +interesting. In the meantime, I had been +presented to the chief in true Indian fashion +and in turn was made known by him to his +squaw, young bucks and maidens. The Indians +had their tribal laws and customs as +well as the white man and were required +to live up to them. The maidens were +two in number, their ages fourteen and +seventeen moons respectively; the latter a +picture of Indian beauty, perfect in every +feature, form and carriage, a rare model<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +for an artist. They were nearly always +found together. At first they were quite +reserved, but finally we became fast friends; +we would ramble, hunt, fish from canoes +and sail the placid waters of the little +lake.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the tenth day +Mr. Baker entered my tent with a troubled +look. I bade him good-morning and inquired +the cause. Without fencing, he asked +me if I wanted to be a squaw man. I asked +him what the devil he was getting at.</p> + + +<h3>AN OFFER OF MATRIMONY</h3> + +<p>He replied, "All there is to it, the old +chief has taken a great liking to you, and +wants you to marry Weenouah, his oldest +daughter. He has plenty of money, and +his horses and cattle run into four figures."</p> + +<p>"That is no inducement," I said, "and +it could never be."</p> + +<p>Mr. Baker asked, "How are you going to +get out of it?"</p> + +<p>I replied, "I have been in lots of tight +places, as you know, and have always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +managed to squeeze through, and I'll get +out of this one in some way."</p> + +<p>Little did either of us dream at that time +of the manner, or rather the sacrifice, that +one of us was doomed to bear, for me to +escape the wrath of the old chief, when +informed I would not marry his daughter. +Fate decreed he was never to be so informed, +but instead, a most cruel and +unfortunate accident was to provide the +means.</p> + +<p>That afternoon the young bucks were +again anxious to test their skill at the target. +We all used the same carbine, which contained +seven cartridges, one in the gun barrel +and six in a magazine in the butt of the +gun. Mr. Baker and I always tossed up +a pebble to see who had first shot. As +Mr. Baker won the first chance, he took +aim and pulled the trigger and such an +explosion as took place will never be forgotten. +Everyone was stunned by its force. +When the smoke had cleared, poor Baker's +body was found lying on the ground with +the lower jaw torn from its place. On<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +recovering from the shock the young bucks +fairly flew for the Indian medicine man. +I quickly reached the corral and informed +the wagon boss of the accident. He at +once ordered the mules brought up. The +light wagon was supplied with straw, blankets, +commissary bottle and grub. Six of the +fastest mules were hitched to the wagon +and selecting two of the mulewhackers gave +instruction for his care en route. I took +the lines and quickly drove to the spot +where poor Baker had fallen. Just as soon +as the flow of blood had been checked and +his wounds dressed we raised him gently +and placed him in the wagon. Without a +word I mounted the driver's box and drove +for all there was in those six mules, reaching +Denver late the following night. Some who +read this narrative may be skeptical, but +it is a fact, nevertheless, that poor Baker +recovered for I saw him a year later, but +he could partake of liquid food only. The +once stalwart form of that brave man, now +emaciated and wasted to a mere skeleton, +still stood erect.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> +<h3>THE TOLL OF THE PLAINS</h3> + +<p>My whole heart went out to him who, in +years past, had hunted the antelope, deer, +elk and buffalo; fought the cowardly savages +and desperadoes on the thirsty plains and +amidst the ragged slopes of the Rocky +Mountains; penetrated the silent recesses +of the dismal canyons and caves; crossed +the snow covered divides; faced danger of +every conceivable nature; and at last, although +maimed for life, was grateful that +he had escaped death and thankful in the +thought that he had done his share in the +settlement of the then Far West. As I gazed +into his once keen eyes and beheld that shriveled +face, my heart wrung with remorse, for I +knew he had keenly suffered. Tears filled +my eyes and trickled down my weather-beaten +and sun-tanned boyish face, and I +knew he accepted it as an emblem of my +sorrow for being the innocent cause, in a +measure, of his cruel misfortune. Thus, by +the flip of a pebble was my life spared, but +at the expense of a true friend.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h2>ON TO LEAVENWORTH</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap109"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>he next summer I was not very +well, and so I made a trip to +Leavenworth, Kansas, by the +Southern or Smoky Hill route. +We made the trip by mule train of +twenty wagons with six mules hitched to +each. The driver rode the nigh mule +and with one line guided the team. If he +wanted the leaders to go to the right +he simply jerked fast or slow, depending +on how quick he wanted to make +the turn; if to the left, a steady or quick pull. +The Indians on this trail were more numerous +than on the Platte and scarcely a day passed +that they were not to be seen, and continually +trying to drive off our stock. We did not +receive any great scare until we reached the +Big Blue River where on the fourth day of +July at ten o'clock in the morning a large +Concord coach filled with passengers and a +small guard of the United States soldiers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +which had previously passed us, were awaiting +our arrival before daring to proceed. +On reaching the crest of the bluff leading +to the valley of the river we saw hundreds +of Sioux Indians, in war paint and feathers, +camped on the opposite side in the underbrush +and woods, and in the main trail +directly in our path.</p> + +<p>We at once went into corral. Thirty +men against a horde of savages, if they were +there to dispute our right of progress, was +not a pleasant position to be placed in nor +a fitting manner in which to celebrate the +glorious Fourth. Consultations were numerous +and all took part. The redskins, camped +in plain sight, were hurrying to and fro, +evidently in council like ourselves. To the +right of the trail was a dense wood close +to the river bank; on the left was a high +perpendicular bluff, its sides unscalable, so +our route was a genuine death trap, should +they attack us. After grub all gathered +in a circle and with pipes we proceeded +with our last council. The situation was +talked over from every point as to what the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +Indians might do or might not do. We +finally arrived to the conclusion that they +had the best of us whatever move we made. +A majority vote decided to proceed with +every man for himself in case of attack. +Our wagons were empty which was a little +in our favor as we could go on a mule trot +or gallop. The coach filled with passengers +was placed in the lead; and, being the youngest +of the party, they were considerate +enough to let me follow, and I did so as +closely as possible. On reaching the river +bottom, the driver of the coach started his +horses on a run and the lash was put to every +mule. We were all yelling like demons +and on our approach the Indians left the +trail and took to the river, thinking that we +were a hundred or more strong. All passed +safely through that valley of what might +have been a horrible massacre. The unearthly +racket we made was undoubtedly +our salvation, but we were not out of danger +by any means and continued our flight +until eleven <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> when we went into corral +for food and rest. At three <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> we again<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +struck the trail and it is well that we did, +for those blood-thirsty redskins laid death +and destruction in their wake and came +very near overtaking us a day later. Arriving +at Leavenworth, I boarded a Missouri +River palace for St. Louis, thence to New +Orleans.</p> + + +<h3>A FALSE FRIEND</h3> + +<p>On returning to St. Louis, I met +a Westerner that I knew only by sight, and +by him was induced to remain over a few +days and take in the city. I did and was +scooped. On the third morning I went +through my pockets and the bed, piece +by piece, dumping its contents in the center +of the room, but my roll was gone. At once +I sought my friend, but he was nowhere to +be found. Plain case of misplaced confidence. +He had made a touch. In my desperation, +I made a confident of the caretaker of the +hotel register. Being of a sympathetic nature, +he consoled me with an invitation +to stimulate, which I did. Being without +a trunk, I was informed on my arrival it +was customary to pay as you enter; fortunately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +I had a meal to my credit. I was +in good condition, having had sufficient +victuals to last the day, after which I proceeded +to the river front and here discovered a +boat bound for Omaha. I boarded her, sought +out the steward, and applied for a position. +He replied that he did not want any help.</p> + +<p>"Well, I suppose you will let a fellow work +his way, won't you?"</p> + +<p>His answer was "Get off this craft," and +without further talk, in not a very gentlemanly +manner he assisted me.</p> + +<p>On landing, I was mad clear through, +and made up my mind I was going on that +boat, and I did go. Just before the gang +plank was pulled in I walked on board, +keeping a sharp lookout for the steward. +After I had avoided him for an hour and just +as I was on the point of congratulating myself, +I bumped into him.</p> + +<p>"You on board?"</p> + +<p>"It looks very much as if I were in evidence."</p> + +<p>He grabbed me by the coat collar and +hustled me before the captain. I told a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +straight story, and he, being a man, told the +steward to take me up to the kitchen and set +me to work. He did, and had his revenge +in seeing that it was nearly continuous. +After supper I worked the dish racket until +twelve o'clock. At three the next morning +he awoke me out of a sound sleep and set +me to cleaning the woodwork of the cabin. +Another of my desirable duties was to wash +and polish the silver, throwing the water +over the sides of the boat.</p> + + +<h3>AN ALERT STEWARD</h3> + +<p>After dinner of the second day I proceeded +with the tin bucket to the side of the boat +and overboard went its contents, including +three silver spoons. The spoons had no +sooner left the bucket than I felt something +of great force come in contact with the seat +of my trousers. For a moment I thought +surely perpetual motion had been discovered. +Turning I was face to face with that infernal +steward. Nor did that end my troubles +for during the entire trip that particular +locality of my person was the target for that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +fellow's boot. With a terrible oath, he +informed me that my landing would be +reached about midnight a day later and was +called Wood Pile Landing. A short time +before reaching the place, I was hustled +from my bunk by the steward and in no +gentle manner forced to the bow of the +boat. The night was pitch dark, and produced +a decidedly lonesome feeling in the +one that was to be put off at a Wood Pile +on the edge of an immense forest and undoubtedly +miles from a dwelling. As the +boat reached the bank, not even waiting for +the gang plank to be shoved out, the old +sinner gave me a push and at the same time +applied the now familiar boot. I reached +the earth on all fours. My first thought +was to present him with a rock, but I curbed +my temper, for I had no idea of deserting +the old ship.</p> + +<p>In those days the boilers of the boats +were fired with cord wood purchased of the +planters and delivered on the bank of the +river. All boats plying on the Missouri +River at that time were flat bottom with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +paddle wheel at the stern. Two long heavy +poles were carried at the bow and worked +with a windlass, being used to raise the bow +of the boat when becoming fast on a sand +bar. The pilot was obliged to keep a continuous +lookout for these bars, as the channel +was treacherous and changed often.</p> + +<p>On approaching the river bank one of the +deck hands would jump off with the bow +line and make fast to a stump or tree, then +the stern line was thrown to him and similarly +connected. Then the negro deck hands would +proceed to carry on the wood on their bare +shoulders to the tune of a Southern plantation +melody. When ready to start the bow +line was cast off, the paddle wheel was started +by the engine, and by means of the steering +gear the craft was swung out into the stream, +then the stern line was thrown aship, and +the boat was off—but not without the +steward's victim. No sooner had the colored +gentlemen reached the deck, than I followed. +Waiting until all was quiet aboard, I sought +my berth. The next morning I proceeded +with my work as if nothing had happened.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +I anticipated the steward's next move would +be to throw me overboard, and in that +belief told the cook of what he had done the +previous night. At that point he came in, +and on discovering me said, "You here again," +his face purple with rage. His right foot +at once became restless, he made a rush for +me, but the cook with butcher-knife in hand +prevented the action of said foot, and my +troubles with that gentleman were over.</p> + + +<h3>ARRIVAL AT LEAVENWORTH</h3> + +<p>We soon reached Leavenworth, and I +left the boat without regret, but a much +wiser youth. I went to the First National +Bank of Leavenworth, drew my money, and +after a few days' rest, I again embarked for +Denver astride a mule. We saw plenty +of Indians, but as the train was a long one +they did not molest us.</p> + +<p>On reaching the city of the plains I at +once hunted up my old friend, the Major, +who introduced me to the head of a firm of +contractors, who were at that time engaged +in getting out ties in the "Black Hills," for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +a portion of the Union Pacific railroad, +then under construction. He told me that +he wanted a man to go there and straighten +out a set of books that a former employee +had left badly mixed. He also took the +trouble to inform me that the country was +alive with Indians, and that the man who +went there took big chances; and, if I were +at all timid, I had better not accept the +position. My friend gave me a strong recommend +and I clinched the matter by telling +the gentleman that I was not afraid of man, +ghost or Indian. He replied that I was just +the man he was in search of, and would give +me five hundred dollars in gold, a good horse +and pay all expenses; that I should get my +traps and be at the Planter's Hotel for dinner.</p> + +<p>He expected his two partners from the east +to inspect the camp and business, and everything +was to be in readiness to depart on +their arrival. Our conveyance was a full +sized Concord coach with six good mules +to draw it. The boot of the coach contained +the best of everything to eat and drink—the +latter being just as essential in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +country as gun and ammunition. The partners +were detained en route, and did not +arrive until the second day, when they wished +to rest and see the western sights, so we did +not leave until the fourth day. Two Denverites +accompanied us, making six in the party.</p> + +<p>The first afternoon we made thirty-two +miles, and camped near a stage station, +where they keep, for the weary pilgrims, +supplies and the rankest kind of corn juice +known to the professional drinker.</p> + +<p>The following morning we made an early +start, and before noon rolled into La Port, +on the Cachella Pondre River, the only +settlement on the trail to the hills. We put +up at the stage station for the night. There +we met a drover, and a party of cow boys +with one thousand head of California bronchos +bound for the States. Those cowboys +were as wild as western life could make them, +yet, a jolly good lot.</p> + +<p>During the evening, at the suggestion of +someone, a poker game was started which +lasted all night, and in the morning those +who had indulged in the game were not feeling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +any too good—especially the losers—but, +nevertheless, they all strolled over to +the large adobe corral to see our party off. +Mr. A——, the head of the firm of contractors, +had his large winnings safely concealed in +a chamois bag placed close to his hide, where +all wise men of the West carried their money +in those days.</p> + +<p>The drover had been a heavy but good +loser. When about ready to hitch up our +mules he called out to Mr. A——, "I'll go you +six of my best bronchos against five hundred +dollars that you haven't a man in your outfit +that can drive the d——d brutes a mile and +return."</p> + +<p>The contractor approached me and asked +if I thought I could do it. I told him that +I was willing to take the chance.</p> + +<p>Without another word he walked over +to where the drover was standing and informed +him that he would take the bet, +provided he would have his cowpunchers +hitch the little devils to the coach.</p> + +<p>"Agreed," shouted the old fellow in no +uncertain language.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys turned to the work with a will; +for the fun expected, even if I received a +broken neck for my daredevil recklessness, +excited them to the highest pitch.</p> + +<p>The reader has undoubtedly seen in the +Wild West circuses the old-fashioned overland +coach hung by heavy springs from front +to rear axle. One of the most uncomfortable +conveyances to ride in ever invented, especially +for the driver, for, if the coach was not +heavily loaded, when the front wheels dropped +into a hole the old ramshackle thing was +liable to topple over on the animals; and, +if the driver was not securely strapped to +the seat when the rear wheels reached the +hole, he would land some distance in the +rear. The contractor had the old ark properly +balanced before starting, so I had no excuse +to worry from that source.</p> + +<p>The cowpunchers selected one broncho +each and after a half hour's hawling, pulling +and coaxing succeeded in hitching them to +the coach. I climbed to the seat and +was securely strapped with a large +leather apron. Then I gathered up the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +lines and placed myself solidly for the +start.</p> + +<p>The whip socket contained a hickory stick +five feet long with a lash twelve feet in length +attached to one end. I gave the word to +let them go, but the little bronchos thought +different and balked. The number of times +they bucked and threw themselves, started +and bucked again, would be impossible to say. +Finally the contractor accused the drover +of being in collusion with his cowpuncher +in order to win the wager by holding the +bronchos back and a volley of words of not +very mild character ensued, after which the +six cowboys, three on either side of the team, +stood off six feet. The noise made by the +cracking of their whips their everlasting yelping +made the excitement stronger than before, +and I was off on the wildest ride I ever +took. A hurdle jumper would not stand +much of a chance with one of those wild +bronchos.</p> + + +<h3>A DANGEROUS RIDE</h3> + +<p>It was a lovely June morning and the bracing +air of Colorado made me feel as wild as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +the young animals that were fast wheeling +me over the dangerous trail and possibly +into a camp of hostile Indians. I gave no +thought to danger for I was too busy keeping +the fiery little beasts to the trail. They +were going at breakneck speed with no sign +of tiring, so I let them go enjoying the sport +even more than they. My hat went flying +with the wind, I looked back, but could not +see the ranch. How far I had left it behind, +or what distance I had covered, I knew not.</p> + +<p>At last I came to myself and realized for +the first time what terrible danger I was in. +Slowly turning the team to the right, I began +a circle, hardly perceptible at first, but +finally again reaching the trail. On the +return trip, I plied the long lash to the leading +pair. They shot forward faster than +ever, all steaming with foam and covered +with lather. At a great distance to the south +I could see a party of Indians riding in the +same direction. This additional danger seemed +fairly to intoxicate me and I plied the +whip with all my strength. The corral +loomed up and then the stage station. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +others, with hands in their pockets and mouth +agap, were holding their breath; and, as we +wheeled past them, the cowboys lashing +the bronchos, a mighty shout went up. I +had won the wager and was the lion of the day.</p> + +<p>We did not make a start until the following +morning. We fastened the bronchos +together and tied the leader to the rear +of the coach, and thus resumed our journey +to the hills, where we safely arrived two days +later, but minus four of the treacherous +brutes. At night we always picketed them +with the mules and the four that were lost +had pulled their picket irons and undoubtedly +gone to join the much read of "wild horses +of the plains."</p> + +<p>The camp in the hills consisted of shanties +for fifteen hundred men, saw mill, and outfit +store. The latter included in its stock plenty +of the best kind of liquor. Each man was +allowed three drinks a day and no more.</p> + +<p>I had the books straightened out in due +time and one day the contractor discovered +he would soon be out of flour, and the nearest +point at which it could be purchased was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +La Port, seventy-five miles distant. The +Indians were troublesome, and each man +who was asked refused to go, with one exception. +The contractor finally made me a +tempting offer to accompany a driver of a +six mule team. I accepted, and at break +of day the next morning we started. My +companion on that dangerous trip was a +plucky son of the Emerald Isle. We camped +that night on Lodge Pole Creek. On the +opposite side was an adobe ranch, and an +immense stockade owned by a Frenchman +with a Sioux squaw for a wife.</p> + +<p>In our hurried start we had forgotten our +tobacco, and without it my companion seemed +lost. After grub I mounted my horse, and +crossed over the creek to procure some. On +making my wants known, I was freely supplied +with tobacco, and was also informed +that before we arrived they had been fighting +the Indians for some time; that one of the +cowboys had an arm badly shattered; and +that they feared another attack the next +morning. I returned to camp and told my +companion of our danger.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<h3>A WELCOME HAVEN</h3> + +<p>After giving the animals plenty of feed +and rest, we again took the trail at 4:30 <span class="smcap">A. M.</span> +As the day dawned, with the aid of a field +glass, I discovered Indians swooping down +on the ranch with the stockade at breakneck +speed, and others coming in our direction. +I told Patrick to urge the mules to +a gallop. He suspected the cause and did +so at once. Over the rolling ground we flew +until the sun was well up in the heavens, and +as each hour passed the redskins gained on +us, until at last they could be seen with the +naked eye. The harsh and cruel war-whoop +of those blood-thirsty savages echoed and +re-echoed back from the distant hills, and +over the desolate plains until men and beasts +were crazed to desperation. The lash was +put to the already tired mules, and we +strained every nerve to reach the crest of the +next knoll, hoping against hope for succor. +On they came, their warwhoops for scalps +and the white man's blood was now continuous. +The long feared report of their +rifles was at last heard; bullets pierced our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +canvas covered wagon. We made a last +desperate effort and reached the summit +of the bluff. Not a half a mile from its base +was a large corral of white covered wagons. +Down the incline we flew, looking neither to +the right nor the left, and, on reaching the +corral, both men and beasts fell into a heap +exhausted.</p> + +<p>The red devils rode to the top of the hill, +and the warwhoop of anger they sent up rings +in my ears at times to this very day.</p> + +<p>That evening we again took the trail and +made the remainder of the trip by night +drives. Reaching La Port the third morning, +we secured our load and after giving +the animals a much needed rest we started +on the return trip. The fourth morning we +arrived at the ranch with the stockade. +Three mornings after we reached the foot of +the hills where the company had a log cabin +for their hunters and trappers, who, with +their trusty rifles, furnished antelope, deer +and buffalo meat for their small army of +employees. On entering, a sight met our +gaze too revolting to pass from memory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +Upon the earthy floor lay two of those +sturdy and warm-hearted dwellers of the +plains and rockies, cold in death, scalped +and mutilated almost beyond recognition—a +deed committed by those dastardly red +fiends of the Far West. Both were friends of +mine and with uncovered head, in the presence +of that gritty son of old Ireland, I vowed +vengeance.</p> + +<p>"At least, Charlie," said Patrick, "Let's +give them a decent burial and move on."</p> + +<p>We did so, reaching camp that evening +just as the sun, with its beautiful tints of +carmine, was bidding plains and hills goodnight, +as if in memory of those stalwart and +brave men who made the settlement and +civilization of the West possible.</p> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p><hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h2>A PLUCKY GERMAN</h2> + + +<p><span class="dropcap129"><span class="dropcap">T</span></span>wo weeks later a strapping +six-foot German, who +was in charge of another camp +further down the line, came for +a visit. Shortly after his arrival, he proposed +that we should go hunting, to which I agreed.</p> + +<p>That morning, as usual, the men called +for their liquor, and among them was a long +lanky fellow with red hair and bushy beard. +He certainly had the appearance of an outlaw. +He had received one glass of grog and +came for the second which I refused him. +Without a word I was on my back. At that +point the German came in and caught him +with the left hand in the same locality. +Suffering with pain and crazed with liquor, +he left the store, secured his revolvers and +returned. I was behind the counter at the +time with my back to the door. The first +thing I knew I heard the report of a revolver +and a bullet whizzed past my ear and buried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +itself in a can of tomatoes not six inches +from my head. As I turned around, I saw +the fellow being propelled through the door +by the German's right. At that point the +contractor came in and after being told of +what had happened, he discharged the fellow. +He wished to retain his revolvers, but his +request was not granted. He had an old-fashioned +army musket and begged to be +allowed to keep that. I told Mr. A—— not +to let him have it for I was satisfied from the +blow he gave me that he was a bad actor; +but Mr. A——, being good natured and kind +hearted, consented. He ordered four days' +rations put up for him and he left camp in +an ugly mood and was given no further +thought.</p> + +<p>After grub, the German proposed that we +flip a coin to see who should go for the horses. +The visitor losing, he at once started for +the canyon below where the horses were +grazing. Shortly after I heard a shot and +then many more, but gave it no heed as it +was a common occurrence there. Half an +hour later one of the men came in and told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +me that the German lay dead in the canyon +below. I, with the others in camp, proceeded +to the point indicated, where we found the +poor fellow lying on his back. A bullet +from that villian's musket had pierced his +heart. His watch, belt of cartridges, revolvers, +and repeating carbine were gone. After +we returned with the body, Mr. A—— had the +mill whistle blown calling all hands to quarters +and for three days and nights with little +sleep or rest we searched those hills and +trails leading to Salt Lake and Denver. +We picketed men on each trail to search all +passing trains; but the demon gave us the +slip, and cheated that maddened crowd +of a lynching, or something worse; perhaps +a tug of war between two wild bronchos, +which we had in camp, with that man's +body as the connecting link.</p> + +<p>I can to this day remember just how that +poor fellow looked; cold in death, far from +home and loved ones, with no mother to +weep at his bier. With uncovered heads +we lowered him in earth, in a rough box, +at the foot of one of the tall sentinels of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +hills, and placed a slab to mark the spot, +that his friends might some day claim all +that remained of as brave and honest a +German as ever lived.</p> + + +<h3>A WATCHFUL PROVIDENCE</h3> + +<p>Thus by the toss of a coin was my life +again spared. This last narrow escape from +death was the fourteenth of which I positively +knew, and how many more that I did not +know of, it is impossible to tell; so I made up +my mind to get out of the country alive, if +possible. I informed Mr. A—— of my intentions +and the following day closed my business +and at dusk that evening I started, +unaccompanied, on a two hundred mile ride +over a trail watched by hundreds of blood-thirsty +Indians. I knew that no Indian +pony could overtake my fleet runner, and all +that was to be feared was a surprise or have +my horse shot from under me. I camped +far from the trail, with lariat fastened to +my wrist, never closing my eyes until my +faithful animal had laid down for the day. +His first move at dusk awoke me, and, after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +feed, we were off with the wind at breakneck +speed.</p> + +<p>At the close of the second day, while I lay +sleeping on the desert sands with the saddle +blanket for a pillow, and dreaming of my +far away home, it seemed as if something of +a slimy nature was slowly crawling over the +calf of my bare leg. On gaining partial +consciousness, too quickly did I realize that +it was a reality and not a dream. A rattlesnake's +long slimy body was crossing that +bridge of flesh, squirming along for a couple +of inches, then raising its repulsive body a +foot or more and turning its insignificant +head, would look straight towards my partly +closed eyes and, with its hideous mouth +agap, would dart its poisonous arrow-like +tongue in and out like lightning, then +lowering itself, it would resume the same +tactics as before. How many times it repeated +this, I shall never know. No words +have ever been formed that can adequately +express the feeling that took possession of +me. I seemed powerless to move a muscle +or twitch an eye-lid. The suspense was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +terrible, expecting each time that the slimy +body descended the viper would thrust his +poisonous lance into my leg and all would +be over. The horror of it all cannot be +imagined, and to this day, when I recall the +incident, it sends a shiver through my entire +body. As the coarse rattles of his tail left +the bare flesh of my leg, my senses seemed +to return; but it was only for a moment, +for through the pant of my right leg I felt +that same crawling sensation and I knew in +an instant that it was a mate following the +one that had just passed over the bridge of +flesh. As soon as it reached the bare leg +the dirty reptile went through the same +horrible stunts as the first one. The agony +seemed impossible to bear and when at last +the thing had completed its journey and was +at a safe distance away, I leaped into the +air—how far I shall leave the reader to surmise. +Crazed with anger and trembling +from head to foot, I rushed for my revolvers +and fired at random. I was considered a +good shot in those days, but in this excited +condition I would not have been able to hit a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +barn. I ran for my Henry Carbine and, +grasping it by the barrel, made short work +of ridding the earth of the cause that had +produced the most terrifying scare experience +during my western life.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image135.jpg" width="600" height="440" alt="BILLIE! BILLIE!" title="BILLIE! BILLIE!" /> +<span class="caption">BILLIE! BILLIE!</span> +</p> + + +<h3>THE FAITHFUL HORSE</h3> + +<p>For the first time during the excitement +my thoughts turned to my faithful horse, +but he was nowhere to be seen. The horror +of the situation began to dawn upon me and +I realized at once that I was lost on that +desolate plain—one hundred miles from any +camp that I knew of and apparently alone. +I cried out, "My God, what can be done!" +The thought was enough to drive one crazy. +Can I ever forget it? I think not; nor could +anyone. Even to see or talk to an Indian +would have been a comfort. Driven to +agonizing despair I ran for my field glass and +scanned the rolling ground in every direction. +Buffalo, deer, antelope, coyote, and a small +party of horsemen were visible, but the +latter too far away to make out if they were +United States Cavalrymen or Indians. Looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +again, without my glass, I discovered my +horse standing on a high knoll not more than +a half mile away with head and tail erect; +the breath from his dilated nostrils ascending +heavenward in the cold October air and +presenting a picture for an artist. I called +loudly, "Billie, Billie," and with outstretched +hand walked slowly toward him, but he looked +not in my direction. All of a sudden he +made a quick bound and was off. My heart +seemed to stop beating. A minute seemed +an hour; but I kept walking after him and +he finally stopped, turned around and faced +me. That look can never be forgotten. +With ears thrown back, he came slowly +toward me. Again, I called "Billie, Billie," +and held out both hands and with a whinner +he came on a gallop, trembling in every +muscle, seemingly as frightened as myself. +I patted his neck, straightened out his rich +heavy mane, rubbed his face and nose and +kissed him. He licked my cheek and hand +in appreciation of my welcome; moisture +gathered in his large eyes and I cried with +joy—like a child that I was—and then we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +both felt better. I coiled up the lariat +and placed my right arm over his perfectly +formed neck and slowly walked to our little +camp. I rubbed him down until he was +perfectly dry; then curried, brushed and +rubbed until I could almost see myself in +his coat of silky hair. Then I made him lay +down and did the same thing myself, using +his withers and mane for a pillow. When +I awoke the moon shown full in our faces. +I patted his neck and soon those large eyes +were looking affectionately into mine. I +sprang to my feet and he did the same. +After brushing off the side on which he had +laid, I placed the saddle blanket, buckled +taut the saddle, gathered up my small camp +kit and fastened it to the rear of the saddle, +coiled the lariat and hung it on the pommel +of the saddle, fastened on my spurs—from +which he had never felt even the slightest +touch—threw my field glass over my left +shoulder, buckled on my cartridge belt and +revolvers, swung my canteen and Henry +Carbine over my right shoulder, and with a +leap, landed astride the saddle, and was off<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +with the wind in search of the trail two full +miles away.</p> + + +<h3>THE INDIANS CAPTURE A FRIEND</h3> + +<p>Early on the morning of the third day, I +stopped at a stage station, where I met the +assistant wagon boss who was with the bull +train during my first trip across the plains. +He was a genuine Missouri Bushwacker +and a desperate fellow. Like all others +of his class he wore his hair long, making it +a much coveted prize for the Indians. After +the days visit and relating our experience +of western life, he told me that he was on +his way to the Black Hills. I reluctantly +volunteered the information to him that I +did not think he would ever reach there on +the old skate he was riding, and that he +should not venture on the trail until after +dark, but he knew it all and started at sundown. +I was sure the fellow would never +reach the Hills, nor was I mistaken, for +in less than an hour the Salt Lake Coach +rolled up to the door of the station, and the +driver asked if a horseman had put up at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +the place, and being informed that there +had, told us the Indians had captured him +and tied him to one of their own ponies +and was rapidly going north, leaving his old +nag to be picked up by any one who would +care for it. Not a day passed that the unwelcome +savages were not to be seen, and +we were chased many times, but the faithful +animal reached Denver in safety.</p> + +<p>The Union Pacific railroad had then reached +Julesburg and I conceived the hazardous +idea of reaching that point by navigating +the Platte River—a distance of three hundred +miles—so I at once ordered a flat bottomed +boat built of material in the rough.</p> + + +<h3>A CUNNING SCHEMER</h3> + +<p>I next went in quest of my aged chum, +the ex-pig dealer, who, when found, revealed +by a twinkle in his eye another dare-devil +scheme, which he was quite capable of concocting +when alone in his warehouse den. +He exclaimed, with much feeling and a +forced tear, that he was right down glad to +see me safely back and gave me little rest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +until I had related my experiences in the +hills. He then unfolded his diabolical scheme, +whereby both of us could lay a foundation +for a fortune. I was in need of the latter, +without any question, but not by this +method.</p> + +<p>Cheyenne had just been surveyed, mapped +and laid out, and the proposition was for +him to furnish a man, two mule teams, +wagons, tents, provisions and all other necessities; +and this man and myself were to +go there and squat or take possession of +two sections of Government land, consisting +of one hundred and sixty acres each, +located just outside the city limits. The +offer was promptly rejected, and it destroyed +the last particle of friendship that had +existed between us as far as I was concerned. +I had just been through that part of the +country and had narrowly escaped death +many times, and for us to carry out this +scheme, I knew would be impossible, for +the tricky redskins would be certain to +capture us. I cannot recollect the exact +reply that I made him, but am positive I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +requested him to go to Hades by the shortest +possible route. We parted in anger after +three long years of friendship. The old +major's love for the almighty dollar was the +cause. I never did have a very strong desire +to furnish material to the cruel savages for +one of their home scalp dances, and besides +my mind was made up to leave Colorado, +which I did.</p> + +<p>I afterwards made the acquaintance of a +young fellow, a college graduate who had +been unable to secure a position to his liking +and was anxious to return to the States. +After a few days of good fellowship, and +finding him of the right material, I made +my plans known to him. He at once fell +in with them, and a week later we embarked +on our perilous journey. We started at full +moon drifting with a comparatively strong +current using paddles to guide our roughly +constructed craft. We made nightly rides +of about fifty miles, and at dawn would land +on one of the small islands of the river, +conceal ourselves and the boat in the tall +grass from which we were able to see all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +that passed by trail and bluffs, and not be +seen ourselves. Our greatest danger was +in being discovered by the Indians on the +high bluffs, or a visit from them to the island +we occupied. The first scare we had was +when a party of a dozen or more rode to the +bank of the river for the purpose, as we +supposed, of crossing. They seemed, however, +undecided as to their course, but finally +urged their ponies down the bank and into +the river. To describe our feelings would +be impossible. Just then, to us, a minute +seemed an hour. Cold beads of perspiration +stood out on both, not exactly from +fear, but a sort of yearning to be elsewhere; +and I wondered, after all that I had passed +through, if I was to be cut down on my homeward +journey by those fiendish red devils. +"Saved!" whispered my friend, "they are +leaving the river." And sure enough those +little prairie ponies were climbing the bank +on a dead run for the bluffs.</p> + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/image143.jpg" width="600" height="439" alt="HOME RIDE DOWN THE PLATTE RIVER" title="HOME RIDE DOWN THE PLATTE RIVER" /> +<span class="caption">HOME RIDE DOWN THE PLATTE RIVER</span> +</p> + +<p>The last night of that eventful ride lasted +long until after the sun was up. The large +Concord coach filled with passengers passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +close to the river bank a short time before, +and from the driver we learned we were ten +miles from Julesburg. We proceeded, keeping +close to the bank, and with field glass +continually swept the valley and bluffs in +every direction. We were facing a mild +and depressing wind. All of a sudden dismal +sounds reached our ears, and as the noiseless +current of the river rounded the projecting +points in its banks, it bore our staunch old +craft to a place of safety, or ourselves to a +cruel death, we knew not which. The +sounds became more distinct until both of +us were satisfied that the Indians had captured +the overland coach with its load of +human freight. As we rounded the next +bend the river took a straight course, but +there was no island in sight.</p> + +<p>"No island in sight," said my friend. +"Where can we go?" And turning around +I discovered he was as white as a sheet. As +for myself, I was hanging to the edge of the +bank trying hard to collect my wits and +recover from a fainting spell. We finally +managed to get the boat back and around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +the bend where we lay concealed for some +time, suffering the torture of Hades. I +finally crawled to the top of the bank and +with field glass surveyed the locality in every +direction. No life was visible, still the +unearthly noise kept up, and the feeling of +those two lone travelers would be impossible +to describe. The thought at last came to +me that we must be somewhere in the vicinity +of the old California Crossing. I crawled +back to the boat and told my companion to +go ahead, while I continually used the field +glass. After fifteen minutes, I discovered +a white speck in the eastern horizon. We +were soon over our fright, and with light +hearts were sailing over the rippling waters +of the old Platte feeling assured that we would +soon reach a place of safety, as far as the +Indians were concerned.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the crossing, which it proved +to be, we found one of those large white +covered prairie schooners stalled in the middle +of the stream, and fifty Greasers, as the +Mexican drivers were called, and as many +yoke of oxen trying to haul it out.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> +<h3>FAREWELL TO THE PLAINS</h3> + +<p>We sailed merrily along and at two <span class="smcap">P. M.</span> +reached Julesburg, the then terminus of the +Union Pacific railroad and overland shipping +point for all territory west, north and south. +The Union Pacific railroad, when under +construction, made a terminus every two or +three hundred miles. The houses were built +in sections, so they were easily taken apart, +loaded on flat freight cars, and taken to the +next terminus completely deserting the former +town, Julesburg was rightfully named "The +Portable Hell of the Plains." My finer +feelings cannot, if words could, attempt a +description. Suffice to say that during the +three days we were there four men and women +were buried in their street costumes. The +fourth day we boarded a Union Pacific train +and were whirled to its Eastern terminus, +Omaha, thence home, arriving safely after +an absence of four years.</p> + +<p>The habits formed during those western +years were hard to change, and the fight of +my life to live a semblance of the proper life, +required a will power as irresistible as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +crystal quartz taken from the lofty snow +capped mountain sides, taking tons of weight +to crush it, that the good might be separated +from the worthless.</p> + + +<p class="figcenter" style="width: 303px;"> +<img src="images/image148.png" width="303" height="450" alt="(teepee)" title="" /> +</p> + + + + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<h3>Transcriber's Notes</h3> + +<p>Original spelling has been preserved. Some illustrations have been +moved to avoid breaking up the text. The following typos have been +corrected:</p> + +<p><a href="#CONTENTS">Contents</a>: Markmanship changed to Marksmanship:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Chapter V—A Proof of Markmanship)</span><br /></p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_104">104</a>: ther changed to their:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(had ther tribal laws and customs).</span><br /></p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_106">106</a>: added closing quotes:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(I'll get out of this one in some way.)</span><br /></p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_128">128</a>: added comma after Charlie:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">("At least, Charlie" said Patrick, "Let's give them a decent).</span><br /></p> + +<p>Page <a href="#Page_137">137</a>: added comma after second Billie:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(loudly, "Billie, Billie" and with outstretched hand walked).</span><br /></p> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dangers of the Trail in 1865, by Charles E Young + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGERS OF THE TRAIL IN 1865 *** + +***** This file should be named 27077-h.htm or 27077-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/7/27077/ + +Produced by Diane Monico and The Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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