The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-04
AWAY QUIT WEST.
- 80. e. : q q. -s-- =. -.
Letter from a wheeling Boy ON the
Frontier.
Fort KEARNEY, N. T.,
-. March 1Gth 500

41uttOIo 4HtGtLtySHCGTs
Alter my return from Fort Sedgwick
Colorado Territory, and short chasl
after deserters, / find myself with braiI
and nerves sufficiently composed Il
again trouble you with an account o
my seeings and doings in this vicinity
OF late, there having been quite /
number of individuals who proposed
! am led to, believe from the fact o
Government Corralls being robbed ol
large numbers of horses, going into5th
Livery and Sales Stable business, ]
was instructedto investigate the mat
ter, acting in the capacity of Special
Inspector of the East sub district. With
my transportation pass in my pocket
and feeling like a very important anG
consequential personage, 1 proceeded tC
the Hotel of the great Overland Stage
Line.
This is the line spoken of, and cele.
brated in the song called the Denver
city line, on which a very notorious
Jehu once drove mules, after very ro.
mantle incident, with a lady who ped.
died sarsaparilla. an
The hotel l'mehtioned is a most palatial
tion. The structureis. of wood, beauti-
fully carved with an AK; the Joints be
ing handsomly pointed with mud,
while Hogarths lines of beauty are dis
played in profusion in the graceful and
symmetrical curfs assumed by the logs
ofPlatte River mahogany, called by the
name am unable to discover, but / am
inclined to think he died shortly after
finishing this grand undertaking, and
left it as mounlent to his undoubted
scientific skill. 7'alosg'.fi
While waiting for the stage was en-
abled to make u slight survey of my
travelling companions, / mean the fe-
male portionya of which i noticed a
'goodly number, and upon closer obser-
.vation found that the noises OF
youngsters in distress, proceeding from
the adjoining room, We're the property
of some of thejnlore matronly looking.
The "surface Indications for an un-
sleepless night were ele-
giant, and being 6achdL0Tic in my tenn
perament / was soon AFFLICTED with a
huge disgust. ElJLt ttsE,y-
Soon the stage arrived and fine large
coaches they are with their four power
full horses, pictures of muscular power
and endurance, which carry along their
heavy load at the rate of eight to ten
miles an hour, apparently with the
greatest ease. Then there is the driver
like King on his throne, who instead
of purple and gold, is enveloped in
huge folds of over coats, blankets, buff
falo robes, furs and comforters,l with
his Jolly looking face, bronzed and
toughened by cold and exposure to
wind and sun and red nose with its
color hightened probably by "vigor-
Gus pull" nj the stomach bitter bottle /;
whifewith whip for scepter he COM
mands obedience from his subjects the
horses, and confidence from his friends
the passengers.
Each nemalzes a rush for an inside
seat outside is bitter cold, even the
babies suddenly learn to walk and
scramble for the inside, but that priv
lege of first choice and the spirit of po-
likeness extended to the opposite sex,
which, distinguishes the civilized ma
tions of the earth, is exercised oven on
the plains of the West, and after seeing
the ladies fixed, the agent, with whom
/ am favorite, treated me to what no
doubt he mistakenly regarded favor
ed position; and which gained by a
little manure only known to and
practiced by great military
men.
NJ 8ifFRs55r biz ny" Ior9ettbis
ness of cross babies, was here increased
to a most alarming extent. Imagine
nv dismayi when i found myself WIS
a yis" with young girl. She must have
some place toput her feet, and SO must l.
From the crowded state oil the coacn
this was difficult matter.
Being gthe Unfortunate possessor OF a
double amount of bashfulness, sat
with my knees drawn up to my chin,
hearing. doubt not, u close resem-
blance to "bump on n log" The ie-
male, did not appear to express me Is
slightest concern in regard to- nor qld
she evince, desire to releaye me from
nv very uncomfortable and awkward
position.
While reflecting whether or not had
better stop the co1ch and ride on the
hurricane deck, was impressed with
fine disa0reeable fact that my torlnentor
did not use Sozodont. Here was
pickle for fastidious youth. Ihnally
reasoned the matter out this way: II a
lady "don't" use a tooth brush, she
s'won't" care if Iget on her toes l al al
last let them down gradually, out on
encouutering hers, / was seized with
cold chill, and up they came; 1 gave
another lam and they stayed down.
.Ticould not t'staiid the pressure" long,
and at the next stltton exchanged
places with married man on top, 70
whom my place was not SO emparras-
sing. This was my first experience ~
a stage coach, and itisito be hoped the
last one, if yonng females are aboard
THESE coaches are travelling curiosity
shops.t I In them can be found all sorts
and manners of breach-loadingD IRE
arms Each passenger carries general
liVETa carbitie and revolver as a protee
tfbn against Sioux and Ghey yenne nes, witt
whom he is liable at any moment. tc
dispute his way across his oncle sum sum
farm. This overland route runs alonE
the Platte river, from Omaha CITY OF
tIle Missouri river, to Denver Clty, 9
distance of six hundred miles. Along
thafrTsroad at about every twelve
miles lis a ranch. The last nameC
is house Of one low story
built of sod, with a. roof. OF SUCKS
laid side by side, covered with dift ano y
sod. This material furnishes atnPl'
nrbtection from the weather.. from Int
fact that 1t seldom rains; sometimes 1
snace of twelve months elapse wlthou
fhe least shower. The floors are OF dirt
while theiranchman has for wall pape
enIntv corn sacks, and sometimes en-
lows the luxury of a carpet of the SAM
material. Though rude OF appearanS'
on the outside, they are warm and com
Portable within; the ranchman general
" being as happy and contented as
iorfi. At these ranches are generally
kent all comforts for man and BEAST,
myself have enjoyed many a goot
4 iisouarei, meal in them, paying TOR Tn
same good 'tsquaren price OF aoou
| two dollars. ..,.t. 5 .,,!.-...
It is from the want of sufhcien
quantity of rain that the Platte valley
All the population is connne'
Ito the road, but farming
NOT their means of livelihood
It Ia from the passage of immens
muletxains that all ther money is made
The ranchman hasample and abund
ant means in the summer to store n
immense piles of hay. This he can q
at about ten dollars a ton. He gets hi
| corn hauled from the river, and whel
received costs him about ten cents pc
Rndiimmense trains pass over, he sell
1 his fiay for one hundred dollars pc
- = 4 .,s,r,, OF q ffaaI1 chntS ner pound