Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-07-14
Written for the Gallipolis Journal
A Trip Across the Plains to
Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1he Time was WINCH Trip dCIOSS
the Plains was formidable underta-
king. Three months were required to
make the necessary preparations;
teams to be purchased, provisions to
be laid in, and the map of the particu-
lar route to be taken and well studied.
Then there. was the trusty and indis-
pensible guide to be selected and arms
and ammunition, as much required as
provisions, to be purchased. 1t was
truly a mammoth undertaking in
which months were to be consumed in
performing. How different now!--
The rail road, that mighty engine of
civilization, spans the continent, and
the locomotives whistle is heard from
ocean to ocean. Now, six days is suf-
feient for a journey where, less
than fifteen years ago, nearly as many
months was required. Now no prep
aration is necessary save the inevita-
BILE hand trunk and a railroad ticket.
When one contemplates the giant
strides, we as a people, have made in
the past twenty years; the wonderful
changes which have occurred; the de-
velopement of the great west; it seems
to rival the wonderful stories in the
Arabian Nights.
One route yet remains where the old
mode of travel is the only one; the
route into New Mexico and Arizona.
1t will soon give way to the locomotive
which is daily reaching nearer point
in that region of the country. Having
recently made trip to Santa Fe, N.
NJ, we propose giving the readers Of
the Journal sketch of it, from our
daily memoranda kept at the time
To many it will prove an old story,
poorly told, yet we trust it will not be
wholly uninteresting.
Of the trip from St. Louis to Xii
Carson, Col :, by rail, we shall pass
over-as it is an every day story, ia
miliar to all.
We arrived at Kit Carson, Col, piG
the Kansas, Pacific r. R., on the at
ternoon of the 18th of May. Ru
mors of Indian outrages filled the air
and stories of theft, murder ant
atrocities committed by them reached
us from the time of our departure from
Kansas City. Troops were in motor
and everything betokened an approach
| ing Indian war.
Kit Carson, at the time we reached
there, was the terminous of X. 2. X
R., and a city of six weeks growth
1t was Sheridan, moved eighty-seveI
miles further west, houses and all, ant
called Kit Carson. 1t has apopulatioI
of about 200; two hotels ($4 so pc
day;) stores of all kinds; liquor sa
looms in abundance, and dance houses
where the lowest of the denas-n'o'ade
with their satellites, made night hide
GUS with their drunken orgies.
We had expected to leave Kit Garscl
on the 18th or 18th, with FIVE six-mul
wagons and two ambulances, but II
this we were sadly disappointed. Or
ders came to hold one ambulance ant
FIVE wagons for recruits from For
Leavenworth, en- route to New Mexico
When the train came in it contained
seven wagons. which insured us tw'
, and one ambulance. How anxiousl,
we waited for those recruits to com
up! They should have arrived a
Carson on the 21st, but it was no
until the 26th they came. On tn
next day we started on our journe
across the plains. Before coPyin!
from my daily memorandum permi
me to give few details as to our party
&c. Our own party consisted of eight
n, wife and daughter, Mrs. s. and tw
daughters, of Geneva, N. Y, Mr.: F
of Scioto county, o., and Mr.. N, G
/ your place. We had been advised b
the knowing ones, to keep with the re
cruits until we had got beyond Fol
Lyon and the Arkansas river; then "
would be secure from. all danger fror
the Indians. AS the gentle sayag
had, the day before, driven in tt
herders at Carson, and put in an al
pearance within mile and half
the city, We naturally felt that thel
was wisdom in the advice. 1t Wel