The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-04-18
From New Mexico.


lHcFc UclnB HcIlHeT grass no WOOD ~ INC
Padas spring | filled my canteens and drove
on about six miles, where there was plenty
of good fuel and grass for my horses The
night passed as most nights do, with a solita.
ry traveller in a wilderness. | tetered my
horses, cooked my supper, and after talking
to and petting my faithful sentinels for a
while, wrapped in my blanket and went TO
sleep. In the morning | awoke early, and
after bringing up my horses and giving them
their grain, | proceeded to cook and eat my
breakfast. The horses were through eating
first and started off for the spring had pass.
ed the night before. started after them, en-
deavoring to get hold OF the trailing larlat,
but the faster / walked the faster they walk
ed, and when | began to run they did the
same. soon found myself far behind
You can imagine my feelings as | stood in
the road and saw my team disappear over a
hill. ! didn't say you ponies dear Six
weary miles on foot brought me back to the
spring, but no horses, Here the trail left the
road and went off toward the mountains
About half mile further l found my rene
gade team, and after little time succeeded
in catching the one with the lariett, but moth
ing | could do would induce the other to al
low a hand to be put on him. So was oblig
cd to mount and trust the other to follow
And now began ride that rivaled Sheridan's
| had neither bride nor halter, and finding
could not hold him, my charger laid down
to his best speed and accomplished the dis.
lance back to camp in in very few minutes.
| soon lost sight of the loose horse, and he
did not get to camp for near two hours, SO
that | was considerably delayed.
had been told that somewhere near here,
the road to old Fort Sumner turned off to the
right, but that the Santa Fee road kept
straight on. | found scarcely perceptible
| turning from the main one TO the left pass
cd it, then came back 10 look at it again.
Meantime it had rained and the side track
was more indistinct than before. Here
wished for the oft despsed luxury Of guide
board.
; The result of my hesitation and delibera-
ton was that | took the wrong road. After
.
was wrong but kept on, hoping that might
( find water where | could camp and Oh the
morrow rctrace my steps. drove nearly all
. day over sn undulating country, most of
which was covered with a heavy growth of
timber, hundreds Of acres of which had
been killed by fire, and the blackened and
charred Tree, gave a dcsolatc aspect to the
. country
Toward evening my dogs began 10 search
IN every -lily or low place where it looked
~ il there night be water and too was any
igusly looking for ghs Of water On drove
hour after hour, NOW around detached
mountain. then across broad plain, then be
tween Two hog back ranges and for miles
down beautiful grassy valley, all along
which va. the dry bed Of water course. |
looked in vain for water, and came 20 the
conclusion That If This land did'nt abound in
springs and brook. il had certainly some
nice places for them Night came on, and
as il got dark slept where there was good
grass and feed. | had little water IN my
canlecns, 50 that gave NY dogs little and
made myself q cup Of coffee. Then hitCbed
up and drove on in 4 sort Of desperation.
thought the road went some where and if
kept on | might get there. About midnight
q strong cold wind began To blow which
chilled me TO The bone, but still KEEP, on till
, O'Clock, when found had lcl the timber
and appeared to b. on one Of those imitless
plains common to New Mexico, fOryou must
know that this is q country of magnificent dis
= tances. Here | turned round and took tho
back track. At four | halted, having again
4 reached timber and built big fire. Thi,
night shall never forget II seemed intense
ly cold. | set huddled up so close 10 the fir,
HAT | burned "a large hole in the blankc
N wrapped around me; sill getting warm wa,
= ont of the question. At daylight made villa
= | supposed to be about an equitable division
. of the remaining water The horses 90
:, about quart apiece. The journey back wa,
- about as 1t had been going, except that ia,
" team was thin and weak, and had to be rcs,eC
" occasionally, and whenever | stoppcd In,
- dogs would climb on the wagon wheels an,
= whine most pitcously watching my ever
~ move in hopes that would again give then
IL wafer
This morning saw several deer and ont
large elk. Elk appear to be quite numerou
in these woods, Judging by the number q
x antlcrs which | saw, some of which wcr
ct very large. TWAS late in the afternoon whci
ID got back Ia where had left the right road
ry and here | was again in a quandary. IL Wa
he ahou; fifteen miles buck To- the Padas spring,