The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-01-29
For the EAGLE.
From Fort Sill.

Fort SILL, /. r., Jan. ., 1874
EDITOR EAGLE: Occasionally see
in the columns of the EAGLE a COM
muuication from this meek of the
woods but to-day, lying in camp
while my mind wanders back to Wich-
ita and her people, ! thought perhaps
| might write "A few items of interest
TO those who had their minds turned
this way. left Wichita in November
for Fort Sill not expecting to find much
down in tins country, but OH my arri-
so fine a place. Fort Sill is situated
on a small hill adjoining the Wichita
mountains. on Medicine bluffs and
Cash creek. IL is commanded by Gen.
Davidson. and is considered one of the
finest posts in the west, Lcavenworth
not excepted. The buildings are built
Of lime stone, surrounding beautiful
square. The troops are mostly colored
soldiers, Near the post is the Kiowa,
Commanchc and Apache agencies. In
the agent, j. NJ. lIaworlh, we met an
old acquaintance, formerly of Olaihc,
Kansas. His career rs an agent has
been very successful, and has given
universal satisfaction. We also met
the Misses Sharon, of Wichita, who
are training the young ideas of poor
Lo how TO shoot. The school house is
a fine two story building, about l00xS0
feet. The school is composed mostly
ofCaddoes, there school at the Wichita
agency being full. and the wild tribes
not having consented 10 let their chill
dren attend, as vet. East of the school
buildings are the saw and grist mills,
also Mr.. VIM. Mathewson's trading
post, WHO'S the original Buffalo BILL"
having spent eighteen years on the
frontier, and speaks all the Indian lam
guages. But we will at present bid
adieu to those at the agency and Mr..
NJ, and bring our readers to the head
quarters of c. l.. Dubois, L. 5. sur
veyor, who has the contract for sur
veying the kiowa and Commanche
reservations. Near the headquarters
we found the surveyors. among whom
were many old acquaintance, and we
joined the survey. Next morning we
were ordered in the field, taking up
our work on the banks of Red river,
and running up the range line between
range eight and nine. As vet we have
a good time, although the walking be-
comes somewhat tiresome to a new be-
ginncr. We scarcely ever run across
the Indians belonging TO the wild
tribes, but are in settlement of Cad
does who are very friendly. and treat
Us with kindness. They are engaged
in farming and raising stock. The soil
here is not first-class. il being very
sandy, and in many places entirely
barren. The timber is very fine here.
pecana, water is plentiful. although in
many places the alkali is so strong that
il is almost useless. Game here con-
sists of bear. deer. antelops and tur-
KEYS; also small game in great abund-
ance. Fish are also very plentiful.
Buffalo are found west of here. as also
the Indians belonging TO the wild
tribes. We are lying in camp near the
headquarters, having been ordered in
yesterday. While here we are fire.
qucntly visited by the Indians, who
arc very anxious 10 "swap" with the
boys. and many made purchase of them,
but were afterwards made 10 give up
all TO. the authorities. To do Justice
to this country, its climate. etc, would
be useless TO attempt in this, but you
may expect to hear soon from
A SURVEYOR