The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-31
ing stencil ever saw. requiring but little
labor to quarry them. and easily worked


TO any shape reaEired.
The Trustees are gentlemen Ia every
sense of the word, and possess IN an eli-
inent degree that indomiiable energy
which always insuressuceess. They have
a good natural landing foE steamboats,
and the Levee is now being graded, and
large three-story storehouse, with Eall
in the third story: large hotel, three
churches, and a number of stores and
private residences, are in process of con-
struction; all of which are built of
stone, and will add much to the beauty
of the city.
We arrived at the Fort just as the sun
was sinking behind the western hills; and
as he she'd his soft and genial rays DER
the earth, imparting beauty to all sur
rounding objects. we were Jed to exclaim,
This is beautiful, glorious and must be
seen to be realized.
Gen. Pomeroy had letter of intro
duction to Col. Montgomery from Gov.
Reeder. We met Col Montgomery, who
had been out to enjoy the beauty of the
setting sun, short distance from the
Fort; and after Gen. Pomeroy had made
himself known, aad given me an intro
duction to the Colonel, We alighted, and
giving the Generals horse into the care
of an attendant, VIC were ushered into
the ColonePs quarters, where we were
introduced to Captain Lyon, Drs. Ham
mond and Simmons, Lieuts. Hunter,
Long. and Dyer, and Mr.. Conway-ali
gentlemen of the right stamp. After
we had supped, we retired to Capt. Ly-
on's quarters, who claimed US as his
guests. Next morning Capt. Lyon in
yited Gen. Pomeroy and myself to take
ride on horseback to see the Territory
above the Fort, which we readily accept
| ed. Horses were brought to the door,
and we mounted and took our course up
the Smoky Hill which, in connection
with the Republican Fork, forms the
Kansas river. Crossing the Smoky Hill
at the government ferry, we proceeded
up the south bank, along the flats and
over the bluffs for six miles, when we
came to town site located on Lyons
creek and the south bank of the Smoky
Hill. This town is named Chetolah-
the Indian name for Smoky Hill-and is
certainly beautiful place for town, and
possesses the advantages of good water,
plenty of timber, the best of land, and
plenty of good stone for building. South
of the town, and further up the river, is
some of the finest bottom land I ever
saw, and is good point for eastern men
to select for farming. Proceeding up
Lyons creek for one mile, we crossed at
an Indian ford, and loosing our horses
reins, we dashed away across the prairie
at a headleng pace for two or three miles.
We came to high bluff, which we as
cended. and glorious view was spread
out before our vision. The river winding
its way along through the valley, with
occasionally large bend covered with
timber, and the high bottoms running
back to the bluffs, intersected with nu-
merous creeks, all skirted with timber,
was sight which far exceeds anything
l ever saw before Turning our horses
heads homeward, Capt Lyon proposed to
ford the Smoky Hill, in order to shorten
our ride home. Always on hand for
anything which promises fun we agreed,
and dashing across the prairie we soon
reached the river, and found stony bot
tom. Capt. Lyon, the first where duty
calls or danger threatens, spurred his
horse into the water, and succeeded in
getting across without getting wet.
was mounted ON a powerful gray horse
of high mettle; and | did not know
whether he would be frightened or not
but running all risk, l urged him into the
water, and had got half way across when
my horse became frightened and began to
rear and plunge in the water; and as
sat on the saddle with my legs curled up
under me to keep from .getting wet,
had my hands full; but it was of no use,
for my horse got in where it was deeper,
and at every plunge the water would
make clean sweep over the saddle, Civ
ing me sort of sitz bath. The General
kept up the stream little more, and went
over in good shape. The weather was
quite warm, so | did not suffer from nv
bath, but kept on. We passed over a
beautiful country, and just before reach
! ing the Fort we came on to a beautiful
fiat, with good road, and we could not
resist the temptation to try the speed OF
our horses; SO loosing the reins, away
We dashed, each horse and rider striving
bis. utmost to beat the others; but we
! were too evenly matched, and neither
came out the better. We arrived at the
Fort at 4, P. NJ, and partook of glori-
Gus dinner, prepared by Mrs. Loo, who
understands how to get up variety OF
good dishes, which surpasses anything ]
have met with for many a year. The
next day Col. Montgomery and General
Pomeroy rode up the Republican Fork,
| being well satisfied to remain at home,
feeling quite tired from the effects of the
ride the day before. Gen. Pomeroy re-
ported that he found a better country up
this river than up the Smoky Hill. After
going up some ten miles, the bluffs begin
to lose themselves In the moro gradual
rise of the rolling prairie, and there is a
greater quantity of timber as you proceed
up the river. | hardly think this river
will be navigable for steamboats,, although
the Smoky Hill viii be navigable some
40 miles.
We stopped at the Fort until Tuesday,
1. the 18Th; when we started on our journey
home.
+, The Fort is situated on high roll ol
the prairie. and isyisible formiles around.
Thereare seven buildings completed, ,and
Ieight more to finish the original plan
and when completed, viii inelose hol-
low square 42o by $40 feet. The build
ings are tive stories high, besides the
basement. Three of the six are for off, off
/ GERS quarters, and have an L running
back for the culinary department The
other tAree are for storehouses and soldier
quarters; each building has piazza front
ing the square. The buildings are con-
Istructed of limestone taken from quarry
within half a mile of the Fort, and is a
beautiful stone. aud can be worked with