The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-13
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY

be the rude work Of some race now pass
oil away. BY adding n few stones ut one
point, = strong corral has been male,
much used by her,icfs. A few years
since. one of them had driven his cattle
into II for the night. when he was attack.
cd by band of Indians. Posting himself
In high place, where depression In the
rocks screened him from their view, no
used his trtisty rifle 10 such advantage that
they fled. leaving him and his charge liIi-
nlolcsted. The most interesting feature
of the road thcnceforth was the prairie-
dog towns through which we frequently
passed. These litth creatures, more like
squirrels than dogs, inhabit the high plains
from Mexico to the far north, subsistinS on
grass and roots, and choosing for their
domicilcs the sandy knolls remote from
water. II was pleasant to sec them frisk-
ing about, never far from home and al-
ways making toward II with n sharp cry,
miscalled bark, rs the carriage approach
cd. They burrow. In tho ground to tho
depth of several feet, and their holes, into
which they plunge when they are disturb
cd. resemble huge ant-hills. Often they
sit erect, like squirrels on the heap Of sand
at the mouth, their fore-paws dropping
like 'half-crosscd arms and never saw
them in this posture, with their sleek di-
ninishing heads and brown coats, that |
did not think Of robed monks ut their de-
votions and fancy them the pigmy her
mits of the prairc. Their flesh Is said 70
be coarse and unp,latable. though II Is
sometimes eaten In an extremity by hum
tors and Indians. Our driver told ms that
he and two companions were once block.
cd up by snow on tho plains, and for two
days had nothing 10 eat but prairie dogs;
shut" said he, at was good while before
the taste got out Of the frying-pan."
Peace tn the harmless company and sal
walton from the rover's cuisine. Their
gambols will soon be over. for, Ike the
nobler denizens of the plains, they disalp-
pear at the advance Of the railway and tho
town. "a
Each succeeding undulation of the
prairie was 50 exactly alike the last that
We could hardly tell whether we were
going forward or retracing our steps.
Indeed. all that varies tho monotOny Of
the entire route Is the changing aspect Of
the mountains, and the streams which
glide from them into the plain. their
banks lined with cotton. woods and grey.
green willows, and perhaps the adjacent
land irrigated aud enclosed for farms. In
the sultry noon we came to Box Elder
Creek, and halted for dinner mt rancho
kept by an Englishman, also bachelor
with u Portuguese for cook. Tho house
had four roOms--n kitchen and dining'
room. whose floors wero of earth. and "a
bar-room and the bedroom of the pros
prietor, finished with boards. Tho bed.
room. which was given us, had quiet
comfortable looki although q mischicv-
ous goat persisted in jumping up from the
outside and pulling and tearing the calico
curtain which hung over the small oper
window. When spoke of II to tho land.
lord. he only laughed and said: eyes In
likes To do. that '" Zach liberty n thcrr,iss
Colorado! On the table was q fluto, with
an odd volume of "Blcak House," and
above 1t hung brace of loaded pistols.
Dinner was delayed for remarkable
pudding the cook was concoctinS, evident
ly his chef II 0urre-a kind of batter stuff
cd with raisins-but which proved far
less palatablc than the plain ham and bis
cult. This jolly Englishman's seemed TO
bo favorite resort for the frcighters, sew
eral of whom were taking their MONDAY
rest in the vicinity, and coming In and
out of the house with jokes and laughter,
while their unyoked cattle were quench-
ing their thirst in the great trough by the
door. Just rs we were finishing dinner.
u shcpher,i-dog camo howling into the
house, holding up his swollen leg, which
n rattlesnake had bitten. Instantly the
men seized him, poured q dipper full of
howlcd worse than cver-and then bound
up the wound in q poultico Of raw
onions and salt. Wo learned afterward
that these remedies proved cilicacious,
and that the next day ho was abroad rs
ever.
Under lowering clouds and warm drop
ping rain we went on to tho settlement
on Cache 10 Poudre Creek, Fort Collins.
The fort has been sometime abandoned;
but there are several houses here. and
the rich lands along the creek furnish va
rious supplies to the market of Cheyenne.
We found u degree Of comfort ut small
inn, kept by widow from Wisconsin;
an elderly woman Of rcsolute character,
whose children, save the youngest son,
were all settled in Illinois, but who pre-
fcrred the plains to tho prarics. She
spoke with enthusiasm Of Colorado. Of
It's admirable climate, which made her
feel strong and young again, OF its pro-
ductive soil. Of the advantages IL offered
for the rearing Of stock, and dwelt with
satisfaction upon the excellent price she
had Just received for some young cattle
raised In the open pastures, never housed
or fed, and which she said she had hardly
seen until the day of the sale. She was
n devoted Methodist. and regretted that
that we could not stay to attend tho con-
ference meeting which WAS to be held in
the settlement on the Saturday following;
and she was sure that the singing and ex-
hortaiion would repay one for crossing
the territory to hear. Indeed, she SEEM
cd to think everything desirable was to
be found in Colorado.
At sunset tho clouds rolled away, and
the mountains near rs here, rose bathed
in crimson and gold. or dazzling white
with snow. above their -pine-olad slopes
of vivid green. We watched them fade
into violet, into night; and then. while
all the stars came out, and there was no
sound save the signing of the wind, or,
Mt intervals. the molrnfnl. cry of the
coyote. VIC lay down to sleep in their
shadow. r
Mrs. Catherine Marsh Of Baltimore, last week
in freak Of insanity, murdered her four chill.
drcn by cutting thsir thruAts. She attempted 70