The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-31


taking Of themselves. This woman by the way,
the only one of the bloodthirsiy Camanche nation
that had the pleasure of seeing thougn terrible tales
told Of their deeds OF blood in this section of the
try in the way stealing stock and taking the scaps OF
struggling travellers. Some OF the settlers here say that
these acts OF depreciation are often committed
by the Camanches on the Reservation, with
arms furnished by our Indian agents, while
the Northern camancnes &c. ne credit OF IT,
its muddy waters were grateful boon for bath while
horses being changed at the station the banks
progress Of erection log hut for the station
keeper and help and corral yard in which herd
mules and catch them for Harvesting Dr. Birch, the
mail agent had everything In readiness so that had to
finish dressing in the wagon, short the delay They
changed wagons however, and took heavier loaded one
which thoughfwas bad policy. Our stopping place
WAS at smiths station, twenty three miles from Clear
Fork, on the banks Of small creek. No house had
been built yet those the station living in tents They
had nearly finished fine corral for the stock making it
brush Us no timber could be had, and filling in tho
chnks with mud. Our supper consisted Of cake cooked
the GOALS clear coffee and some dried beef cooked in
Mrs smith s beat style. We changed horses mules
and swallowed supper in dosble quick time, and were
soon on our way again.
Our from Clear Fork lay for time through little
valley and wound among the hills almost level On
left noticed two bluffs whose position reminded forci
bly, OF East and West Rock entering New Haven
harbor But they were mere hills most Of road lay
through rolling plains, covered with good grass and
quit tmber-a sorry landscape l you. Our way
was, however, much enlivened by "Bg Dick our driver
ION the canal and never land because he drunk
in the hold and various other things.
military post seventy four miles from Fort Beknap and
fifty from Chadbourne the between the two It
pied for some time was destroyed by fire by the soldiers
IN 1885, on the occasion of their being ordered to
other post. over half million dollars worth Of
property was destroyed at the time yet after pre-
tended investigation, conclusion arrived
at as to the cause of the diaboical deed
1t was said that the officers and men were
heartily disguised with the station, and wished TO
make certain Of never going back that, they
leaving the fort one Of the principal officers was heard to
that ha haI hmm
the soldiers taking HIM at his word stayed behind and
fred the buildings. Two things pretty certain: FIRST
that the soldiers did not like the place; and second that
whether accidentally or not burned down just they
left it. Most of the chmneys still standing and as
they reflected the light Of the full moon as drove up
might well become the title Of Phantom HILL There
the ruins Of from forty to fifty buildings including
observatory and magazine the latter built entirely
OF stone, and little injured that Dr. Birch took
for company s:orehouse; the stable is also fine stone
building, that altogether Phantom Hill the cheapest
and best new station on The route There is fine WELL
eighty feet deep and twenty feet in diameter which
We passed, had seventeen feet Of water in it, One
of the houses whose walls are nearly perfect is
We found here all alone, hundreds OF miles from
any settlement, bravely stopping ut their post, on
Phantom H fearless of the attacks Of bloody In
dians-as brave man settled frontier and
monument of shame to the cowardy soldiers who burned
the post The fort now needed TO protect the frontier
and should form one Of great chain of military stations
along the overland mail route, which needs all the pro-
lection that government has promised.
The station directly in the trail of the Northern Ca
manches they down into Texas their maTauding
expeditions To leave this and other stations the
SO exposed is trfng with human life, and inviting
tack on the helpless defenders OF the mail As have al
ready said, there will be designing white well as
Indians, whose cupidty must be overawed by adequate
military protection Let but this be afforded, AMI pre-
dict for the mail route complete success well as
rapid settlement Of the many fertile and desirable spots
VIC had expected to find team Of mules in readiness for
us at Phantom HILL but they not there had 10
proceed with our already jaded animals until could
meet them on their way towards us Our mules had
mile Mt pts,it lint
we had to go fifteen miles further, half way Aber-
crombie Peak, before we met another team The road
was across smooth plain studded with tho everlasting
musqut timber. The Abercrombie range is about mid
way between the Brazos and Colorado rivers running
bluffs rising from the plain 70 the height OF nearly 1000
feet The Peak itself has curious summit cap OF bare
rocks, with regular interstices, "a work OF solid
sonry. II seemed a. the rain had washed away the
soil, leaving the rocks in this AT distance they
much reSembled the turrets and abuments OF a lofty
fortress. They could be for thirty or forty miles
Of our road along the plain, and they looked
80 near that one naturally became impatient
TO reach them distance which would appear be but
mile two would prove 10 be eight ten, thus afford
inc another smtudc OF these vas, plains 20 the broad
sea IN the deceptive appearance OF distances II
FIRST fairly aggravatng travel for hours plain sht
Of object and yet appear TO be than when
You started but afterwards learned get accustomed
to IT, We stopped az the station called Abercrombe
to get breakfast which consisted Of the s,ansard-cocc
tough beef and BUTTERFLIES short cake prepared by old
negro woman, who, cleanliness is next 10 godlncss,
would stand but little chance Of heaven There old
saying, ths eyery must eat his peck Of Dirt I
think have had good with my peck this trip
which has been roughng Il with vengeance.
Leaving Abercrombe Peak our road led through rug
gcd pass IN the mountains, and up rather steep hill,
which supposed Of course had incline on the
Ing the top 10 end broad plain stretching before rs
The keeper OF the next station well Of that Abcr
be had drove Of 800 sheep, grazing growing and IN
creang without expense to him, while he was attending
10 other duties.
few hours ride brought, US 10 Chadbourne, military
station bend II the Little Colorado river, exactly
The thirty second parallel OF latitude where arrived
twenty -four hours ahead 81 table time having trayersed
sa5 miles Of our journey without accident and but little
delay.
point along the thirty second parallel, but the much
dreaded Iano Estscado, stalked plan nterposes It's
direction to the head 81 the Conchs river
tributary Of the Little Colorado and thence 70 the "Horse
bead Crossing Of the Pccos river taking degree fur
thcr south which have 10 regain by following up the
fccs all ~ which might have been saved had the money
Which has been expended N trying T. sink arcsan wells
the Siaked Plains been applied the purpose OF build
ing pla tanks 20 catch the water when Il falls a. oleu
does IN copous quantities. but ! had forgotten Chad.
bouines. There nov bu, one company Of the Second
cavalry stationed here-ccmpany Gthc remaining cavai.
and infantry having been ordered TO look the In
dams IN the wacbta Mountains. There few houses
besides tie government buildings, and few Inhabitants
besides the soldiers The place l. almost surrounded by
sort q harrcsde which was built few years since in
ANTICIPATION q sweeping attack by the Indians, Which
did not come on Some q the buildings look unusually
neat for this section Of The country The officer 70
command = Captain Bradfuie. who, understand kindly
loaned the employees ~ mail company suic ent arms
sbd ammunition Tor their protection until their could
be forwarded.
S0rc little delay experienced here before the Wild
mules could be caught and haTressed, b which several
hours Il oar advance time vas lost Mr J Nichols,
u Mr. Crvcscrs division, 10 drive. and
Nr. hathor. ~ Mr. Giovcr's division. which com
menocs at Chadbourue ana ends at Franklin on the
RIO Grandc, was r. proceed On horseback point ont the
road and maintain general supervision. Whether from
the nehlcencv n Mr.. Nichols driving or because Mr
Naiher furious riding frightened the mules or because
tie mules were Wild that tho bows had been having
Jolly good time the Vt the % the nrsi
stage BY special dspcnsatun q Providence ~ from
combination Of all these causes, will not pretend
say. bot certainly from unforeseen and vexatous
cause here suffered n detention n some hours The
mules reared pitched. twisted whrled, wheeled ran.
stood still. ana Up all sorts ~ capers The wagon
performed many evolu0ns thai J. IN fear ~ my life,
abandoned and took 20 nv heels fully confident that
rouid make progress straight line. with much
less riss " breaking my neck. Mr. Lee suffer ~ The
FORT who with others had come out horseback 70 see
u. slari- k-ndN offered 10 take up behnh him. 20