The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-03-06
Letter from Now Msrioo.
- q lAs nem,enIIe Aayeeale.
CiAFroS, CoiFAx CousrY,
t-,w Mrxtao E.,h-nar, ~ 1871

NEw MExico, February 10, 1875. I
Aessrs. FiitOrs;-I have just returned from
two weeks journey over the kiowa plains !
and rs some Of your young readers may wish
TO know how they do ihingan down thcre,
will write a brief description Of what saw
and experienced.
Our outfit consisted OF four men, well.armad,
one wagon to carry blankets and provisions,
and several riding horses. Our store Of pro.
visions consisted OF a sack Of -four and round
Of beef Our cooking utensils were frying.
pan and coheepot. We travelled about
twenty-five miles the first day, and camped
near the summit of the Kiowa mountains.
The scenery was grand, and the paslurage
good, but We had no water except what we
melted from the snow banks, and the wind
did not blow warm. We had plenty Of good
wood, and that was great consolation. We
made our bed on the frozen ground. The
blankets we're not quite wide enough to cover
all Of us, and somehow got the shortest end.
About midnight froze out, and built a big
FIRE, by which sat till morning, thinking Of
my pleasant home in Maryland, and "the
girl left behind me
The next day we reached the Palo Blauco,
little stream which rises in the kiowas and
runs for about ten miles, when it suddenly
sinks and is seen no more for many miles.
The water is good but the grass is short,
there being great many sheep on the range
We spent one day on this stream, and then
started east for the Coresa. Saw thousands
Of antelope, but did not shoot any held our
ammunition for bigger game.
There is some very fine grass along the
Coresa, but the stream soon sinks beneath
the sand.
We next reached stream called the Tcre.
ka, which had plenty Of water in il, bat the
grass was all beaten into the earth last fall by
terrible hail storm. Took claim on this
stream, and called it Ratcliif, in honor Of the
only and oldest inhabitant, an old gray rat,
From there we concluded NE would leave the
trail and strike direct for the Rabbtear noun
tains. We got along very well for six or eight
miles, when the plain terminated in a cliff
two hundred feet in height. At tho bottom
we saw cabin, and sent man down TO ask
where we might get down with the team He
was met by man with rifle and six shooter,
who ordered him to stand of, and give an ac
count Of himself, Finding that we wer not
on the war-path, he gave us the desired infor
nation. and after driving around ten miles we
reached the cabin, distant not over five hun.
dred yards from point Of starting. Two cattle
herders were staying here, and were the only
white men we met on our trip, and they said
they had not seen a white stranger for three
months. The next morning il was foggy and
snowiDg-just the time for cattle thieves to OPP
crate. The herders wont out to rid the range,
and had gone but a short distance when they
found three Mexicans stealing cattle. The
herders charged upon them and killed two on
the spot the other jumped on n pony and
flew for his life, but oil in vain, for he was
disahled by bullet and fell from his horse.
He prayed, aud cried like u child for his life,
but was brought back to his dead comrades
and was there killed, or rather murdered,
The dead men were left where they fell, and
that is the only grave they viii ever have.
They had oxen and wagons with them TO haal
the beef, also several horses, all Of which were
left-the oxen with their yokes on and the
horses saddled and bridled.
This may sound strange to eastern ears, but
II rs q common occurrence on the frontier,
and nothing is thought of it. We saw Mt least
$4,000 head of sheep, all owned by Mexieans.
Sheep and cattle will not do well on tho same
range, aud their respective owners are always
on the fight. 1t is a favorite amusement with
the Texan rangers to stand off about mile
and shell a sheep herd with Shapes rife.
took up another rancho on the Seneca
Bonro, and then we concluded TO 20 home.
Altogether laid claim to about 5,0OO, 900
acres during my trip, all OF which will trade
for good house and lot In Westminster, with
o nice girl In the bargain. But the trim was
not altogether in vain: brought back a new
breed Of greybaeks, which got at the sheep
camps, and one of the boys shot an eagle
which was S..feet inches across the wings.
Weather has been good for the past few
weeks, but now threatens snow. Grass is
getting very short, though the stock still looks
we'll.
Ladies are scarce, and reyy dear There
are only four or five single ones within fifty
miles, and each one has argument Of adorers,
in fact, the girls have soft thing Of it in this
country. PIE