The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-29

tually exists | can readily believe, from TIT
t fact that the train on which ! went west from
, Topeka was made up of eleven passenger
coaches, every one OF which was crowded, anl
the second-Class cars were OvcrcrOwdcd Will
; people seeking homes IN the ncwly.Opcncd.ul
| territory. The energy with which the railroad
is being pushed towards completion makes II
outrun even this incoming tidal-wave Of emf
grafton, and great gaps Of unsettled country
are ctt in its rear Is colossal illustrations Oi
the broad and continental scope Of It's AIMS and
management Imagine IA railroad being built
As Is aCtuslly the case between La JuHta and
ITrinidad-so rapidly that there has been OPP
portunity to erect but mr. houSe for "a distance
of eighty.thrcc miles 10 mark the mighty STRIDE
taken IN
THE RACE TOWARD THE PACIFIC,
Tn. road WAS opened only the 4ih OF last July
to Las Vegas and by Jan. it Will have been
pushed all the way to the Rio Grande River,
with branch runningt TO Santa Fe. Mr.. Frank
Springer who IS the attorney tor the road IN
| New Mexico, and from whom received much
valuable data anG Information regarding the
! TERRITORY, assured me that the same restless
energy and rcsstess march would character
izc the advance through the wild and almost
UNEMPLOYED country west OF the Rio Grandc
down INTO old Mexico, through some portions
of which they expected to escort their army Of
wOrkmcn with an armed guard OF sell-Organ-
lied militia. 1t is quite evident to any one
who has been to "the 'front.' that notwithstand-
ing the rumors of consolidation" with the
Southern Pacific, which is pulling through
Arizona eastward, Mr., Strong has no intention
of stopping his road this side OF Sonora Bay,
thereby to lose the advantage Of the thousand
or more miles shorter route to the Pacific and
| China trade which that terminal point Will
| give him. The evidences Of permancnCy cX-
ist on every hand not the least Of which is the
tcompletlOn of the tunnel through the Ration
| Mountains south Of Trinidad ana which while
it robs the Traveller Of the exciting and piCtllr-
esque over the mountain by means of the old
"switchback," helps to shorten the trip by sew
eral hours, and saves the Company an immense
Expenditure formerly required in hauling their
cars over an almost Alpine range,
1t is through this tunnel that the road leaves
Colorado and enters New Mexico The ride
from Trinidad up to the summit is over heavy
grades and through wild and broken noun
| tain scenery which closes into q canyon be
fore reaching the tunnel. Until this WAS com
petsd few weeks ago, the ride over the
mountains was quite adventlresOmc, being BY
means of the "switCAback" already mentioned.
swITCHBACK"
| is the track laid along the side Of the noun
tain, which is 80 precipitous that the cars must
be zigzagged up the side in series OF almost
parallel lines,--the engine first running for
ward up an incline then backing its load up
another incline and repeating this forward
and back" movement until ii has "incllned'
It's way to the very top The tunnel 10y means
of which this "switchback' has been done
away with is over 1000 feet long and has been
pushed through the mountain in less than a
| year.
Just at the foot of the Ration Mountains, on
the south side of the range, is the thrifty town
of Otera, which was the last place the Santa
Fe road rested in its advance before opening
up to las Vegas. Here | lAt the railroad to
take Il thiity.sly mile ride across country TO
CImarron, the county seat Of Colax county,
the old home Of Maxwell, and the gateway to
the Cimarron Canyon and the Moreno Valley
Of Gold. Ny companion and guide already
alluded to WAS
"A noted man in these parts, and withal such a
| figure a. stands out boldly against a back
ground Of disaster A kentuCklan by birth, a
dead shot by education, gentleman by IN
stinct, the memory of Daniel Boone was too
fresh to let him sleep peacefully, and stirred
up a spirit of emulation in his daring nature.
He drlfted naturally into border life, and the
War found HIM in old Mexico, rich IN mines
ana cattle BY nativity Southerner by ma
turc a patriot, and by necessity an Indian ha-
| ter he did not want to fight his brethren, but
was determined to serve his country. SO he
took charge OF a company Of border scouts,
and during the war participated IN those ro
mantle and bloody episodes which were lost
light of IN the view Of the larger and more DIES,
perate tragedy being enacted III the States. AT
ter the War, he naturally dritted back INTO the
lneighbOrhood for ones neighbor in tins coun-
try is the man who lives within 100 miles Of
your ranch) Of Kit Carson, and Chase, and Max
well. Here he settled again, and began to re-
crut his fortune by raising his cattle; and,
plain kindly faced, buckskin-hosed man that
he was to the casual observer, he yet has a
hoofed fortune that would buy Queen Victoria
jeweled crown which would be the envy OF
Royal rivals
When he settled IN this country il was over
run with despcradoes who were the dread OF
all settlers, from whom they cxacted II tthins
tribute rs relIglously as did the lsraehtish
priests. These he determined to persuade"
away and with the assistance Of few equally
brave men he has succeeded in restoring peace
in COltax county.
| AS an illustration Of his nerve and the kind
| of stuff it takes to make u border doctor" 1t
may be interesting to tell one recent incident
in his career. Some time ago he was one of u
Grand Jury who indicted for murder bold
and daredevil ringleader Of cattlesteallng
gang. lie, with the other members of the jury,
was duly notified that their lives must pay
the forfeit of their audacity One evening not
long after he was awakened by load call in
front of his ranch, and, cautiously responding,
he found himself aCcosted by one ofthe gang"
who informed that the wife of the ringleader
was in the pangs Of childbirth and threatened
with death. He was the only doctor to be had
in "a hundred miles, and would he come? He
hestated moment, but when his humani-
| ty was appealed to he forgot caution. Yes he
would come; ana through the night fifty miles
he rode to the camp of the desperadoes. Into
the tent he strobe, and, cycling his enemy for Il
moment he drew his pistols, laid them on the
woman's pillow, and politely said, Let me
finish this job first, and then | will attend TO