Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-04
For THE OXFORD DEMOCRAT
Western Correspondence.
GREELEY, COLORADO,
June II, 1876.

Mr.. Editor -
If you will take the trouble 10 open
your map, you may see that Weld County
is 10 the northeast corner oil Colorado,
that it is somewhat larger than Vermont,
containing l0494 50. miles, and that 1t is
traversed by the South Platte, a shallow,
sandy stream, whose rich bottoms form
the feeding ground OF buffalo, and the
hunting ground OF "poor Lo." 1t is not
my object in this off-hand sketch to tell
much that is new or wonderful, but to
portray lie in Weld County. es we see it
to-day, and as it has been often in years
gone by.
The western part of the County is con-
siderably settled, and to-day (the dreaded
grasshoppers destroyed by fire and tar
machines, or kept from the crops by the
irugatlpg streams) the wheat promises a
splendid crop Year by year the Platte
bottoms ill with settlers. the farms are
fenced the grass cut, irrigating bitches
taken out, dairy houses established, schools
opened, towns laid out. Great herds OF
cattle, horses and sheep are rapidly taking
the place of the still larger herds OF
buffalo
The country has. for some years been
considered safe enough Tor man 10 take
his family down the Platte" 1t is not
so to-day. We are in the midst OF an
Indian scare" such as has not been
known these ten years.
Six years ago when man went into
the valley he always had rllle where be
could put his hand on it. The man who
raked hay with the newest patent horse
rake, oddly enough had carbine strapped
upon his mule. The mowers went armed
and many OF mans daily acts told plainly
how dreadful is the warfare that poor
l.o" carries on, forcing his adversary TO
watch years Tor his coming, only to be
surprised at last with his arms out OF
reach. The uncertainty and dread al
tending Indian warfare is too wearing TOR
poor human nature to bear.
When Government allowed the gold
hunters TO enter the Black Hills, the In
dians resisted with all their might, and
no TO this date have doubtless slain nearly
three hundred persons, by the different
approaches to the gold country. Mad
with hate, they confounded the innocent
and the guilty after their old fashion, and,
as some OF US have expected. made de-
scent upon the Platte valley. They have
often come before, but not always as enc
mics. They are in want OF horses. They
delight in horses. He who owns most
horses is richest. They have Just secured
goodly number, and perpetrated a series
of murders. and gone TO their northern
reservations, it is supposed, 10 get more
government supplies. for poor Lo" is a
cunning dog. Meanwhile the country is
thoroughly alarmed. telegram an
nounces that band OF three hundred In
dians have crossed the U. 2. and are now
in our vicinity. Rumor tells OF them up
on Crow Creek, within twenty miles OF
town. and several have been seen cross
ing The Platte. which is now very high.
This stream of terrible quicksands, the
Indian never turns out for. Slipping off
his pony, and grasping its tail, he crosses
AS safely as mosquito on the tail OF a
nuskrat. No one is better Judge OF n
good horse, and no rider can get more
ont of q beast, or use more cruel devices
TO accomplish that end than he.
IL is now the season OF The ''round
ups" by which is meant the yearly gath
ering OF horses and cattle whereat each
owner takes the animals bearing his
brand-back totheir proper range, whence
the winter storms have driven, or inclina
lion drawn them. Hundreds OF hardy
men are securing tic country. a lew
DAYS ago four oil these roundup men
we're moving slowly along looking Tor
cattle and horses and driving what they
had found. Three men were on horse:
and one was driving a wagon. Mean
while "poor Lo" watched from the hiIls
unperceived. coveting the white men:
horses. As the sequel indicates, the In