The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-04-06
THE VALLEY OF THE ARKANSAS.


former resident of this valley, Thco. F. Pric
contributes Il lengthy poem to the columns of Il
chicago Tribune, descriptive of the great vale
fron which we Gull the following graphic vers
touching the streams and historical incidents
our owa county:
a stream flows winding through the west
From Colorado's canyons deep,
Whence, springing from her mountiin-crest,
The waters wild in torrents leap,
To qucnch the thirst of burning sands
That glow anon mid verdant lands
Brown herds OF lordly buffalo.
+ ar as the eye surveys the scene,
And surging like the oceans flow,
Craze DER the boundless prairie green
Then, starting up in wild alright,
Wake Earring thunders in their flight.
Long leagues are passed--far other scene
Ii IS TO the Big Arkansas song;
The coyotes howl tells what has been,
And white bones strew the plain along;
The red man seeks Il fsr domain,
Nor wigwam dots the valley plain.
The Minnesota and Chisholm CLEAN
Through swayinS boughs ami fowery banks
The plum and wild grape shade the stream.
And nod above in fruitful ranks;
Here floats wild duck with water-hen,
And marmot burrows in the fen.
Mid this glad valley, richly fair,
Two sister rivers laughing meet,
And nature yields a grateful share
Of bOwery hooks and flow Tets sweet;
And Wichita's tall spires are seen,
Which Southwest proudly calls her Queen.
Reclaimed from widest Natures home,
wondrous marvel of the age,
She rears luxurious Splendor's dome
Where lately echoed savage rage,
Aud ling ring not for lapse OF years,
wealth, Beatty, Fashion, Art, appears!
Bright gem within an emerald sh inc,
he beauteous city proudly sits;
Around the grassy pillows shine
O,er which The dark-grecn shadow fits;
SprinSinS as by Entertainments wand,
Inc Walls, with turrets crowned, expandi
lis sweet the charming scene TO view
When browse the herds meath twilight skies
Where, waving 'gainst the background blue,
DARK foliage 10 the breeze replies,
Ana where the fruitful gardens are
Adorned with fragrant wild flowers fair
a thrifty merchant Durfcc was,
who reared this Indian triding-post
when CIVILIZATION gave no laws
Securing life or treasure lost
When iawlcss men, with crime in view,
Established here their rendezvous.
Then traveller through this region drear,
With weapon cleHched and watchful eve,
Beck'd not when outlaws should appear,
Crouched meath that clump he passes by,
And plunge his body in the stream
OH could that river, murmuriaS low
Tell of DARK deeds she witnessed there,
Her bosom dyed in crimson glow
From that cold Shape her waters bear,
Ye'd learn, from her dim, yellow bank,
That form was flung which sullen sank!
But emigration 5 ccaseless flow
Soon oyerawes these sons of crime,
And settlers vigorous actions show
Grim Retribution bldes her time
Till gallows-trce, by moonlight dim,
Bears horse-thict swung from every limb!
The desperado's deeds no more
Restraints Of civil law defy;
The days of Ledford's league are DER,
And violence bcheld him die
Bold bandit! numbers round him stand
Where he tails fighting hand 10 hand!
a strangely mingled group was there,
As then the infant city lay,--
Rude borderers, with unshorn hair,
Who in the chase great skill display,
Adventures of every grade,
With enterprising sons OF trade.
No cleaning dome of palace grand
In dazzling grandeur greets the eye,
Where unpretentious dwellings stand
Ie would not view admlringly;
No span Dove the Arkansas stood
Where waves the silvery cottonwood.
That frontiers Injuries were few,
Though Fashion introduced her art,
For beauty here had wandered, too,
To win and tame the rider heart,
Where oftentimes "a deeper shade
Hinged the brown cheeks Of native maid.
Oh! many mirthful gathering there
The prairie-moon smiled down upon,
And vigorously the young and fair
Whirled the gay dance till night was gone;
But that rude orchestra might ne'er
In Splendor's frescoed halls appear!