The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1876-08-26
LETTER FROM COLORADO.

LAJUNTA, Col, Aug. 18th 1876.
EDITOR REGISTER: Thinking tha
possibly few lines from this part of thu
world might be read with some interes
by my friends and acquaintance in and
about lola, I will take the liberty o.
writing you short letter.
The A. T. & s. F. K. R. over which
travelled to this place from Topeka, trav
erses the Arkansas Valley from Hutch
inson to Pueblo and farther as can be
seen by the map. The appearance ofthe
country through which the Arkansas
River flows is very singular. The river
banks are but few feet high, and fol
miles, in many places, there is no timber
at all and one could be in close proxim.
ity to the river at some points without
discovering it. On each side the valley
spreads out on level from the very edge
of the river for several miles and then
comes the gravel hills, as devoid of grass
or vegetation of any kind, except small
bush few inches high, as the streets in
lola. do not know whether the small
bushes l speak of, which grow on the
plains and hills are sage bush or not, but
suppose they are. At some places, saw
considerable grass in the valley, and
some timber but both are scarce. The
river is very treacherous Astounding in
quicksand. 1 saw, in all, about fifty
antelope, scudding over the dry, dusty
plain, as the cars moved along. We did
not see any buffalo herds. They are
hardly ever seen along the line of the
railroad any more.
l arrived at LaJunta pronounced Lai,
Hoontah) at IL o'clock, Sunday August
18th. The place consists of two large
commission houses, five saloons, one
dance hall, two restaurants, one cigar
and tobacco store, three blacksmith shops
one railroad depot and post Office.
Good board and nicely furnished rooms
can be had at $500 and $500 per day.
How is that for expenses? This is as
desolate spot as can be found along the
line of the railroad. There is no grass to
amount to anything within less than
seven or eight miles. From this point
all goods tor New Mexico, Arizona, Mex
leo and parts of Texas are taken by OK
and mule freighr trains. The saloons
and dance hall are crowded with Next
can and American despcradoes, poems
and gamblers. On the 7th of this month
noted gambler was shot here and killed.
The act was committed in self defense.
There are no officers of justice here at
all. On Tuesday evening (the I5th) l
thought would like to see the dance
hall in full blast and not thinking it
necessary to ask any one to accompany
me went alone. l had not been standing
in front of the hall long when 1 was in
vited to step in and dance awhile, take
drink &c. l declined, much to the
of lady, standing near.
A noted Mexican rough had fired his
revolver in the air close to the dance hall
a few moments before, and in a short
time, shot again, this time through the
hall, the ball passing close to one of the
girls" and hitting the door lock, knock
ing it to pieces. A piece of the door
lock hit man, who yelled that he was
shot. In the midst of the confusion the
Mexican appeared on the sidewalk was
ierked into the dance hall, his revolver
and knife taken from him, after which
ne was knocked down, kicked and beaten
md then allowed to 60. Soon after he
appeared on corner, in the dark, with
mother revolver, just back of where
vas sitting, some distance from the
lance hall. l saw everybody running
ike frightened sheep into the dance hall
md saloons, but as had not mixed in
he tight, did not think l was in any
LANCER. Two or three shots, from guns
md reviewers fired at random, along the
sidewalk on which l was standing, from
he saloon doors, changed my mind and
While everybody was running, shooting
nd yelling, l made my way to the hotel,
nd after the shooting had ceased, went
o bed. No body was hurt. The next
morning l was asked at the breakfast
able if ] danced any the night before.
told them ] did when the shooting be-
an. 1t was reported during the day
hat the Mexicans intended "cleanine
ut" the town Wednesday night. When /.
light came, every man was armed, and
he street was deserted, while the dance
ouse and saloons were comparatively {
uiet. Nothing occurred however and ,
Kings are quiet again. I have made the /;
of several very agreeable |
ersons here. There are but four or five
lmilies in the place.
l start for Las Vegas New Mexico, with q
OK train in about one hour, so will i
ave to close. The distance from here
Lasvegas is said to be nearly three u
undred miles. The trip will consume I
ghteen or twenty days. a
Yours truly. b
r. s. HAMILTON. a
Capt. Anthony is an old and well 3
iown resident of the State, and a gen. d
eman every wav qualified nv edncation !,