Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-04-01
GENTRY'S JAUNT.
Account of His Recent Trip
to the Land of Gold,
He Encounters Innumerabie Obstacles on
Account of Snow and the Extremely Cold
Weather--Letter to Mrs. Gentry, in which
Full Details are Given.
Rico, COLORADO. March 4. 80.

Rico, COLORADO, March 4, 80.
My DEAR WIFE: l have nothing
new or interesting to write about the
camp. Work will progress very
slowly until the snow goes off, so
that the trails are opened. For two
days the snow melted very fast, but
we had another storm last night and
four inches more of
snow fell, adding to the fur or five
teet already on the ground. Before
l say more l must say for your com
fort, that | never felt in better health
than since l got to camp. 1 have
been very free from coughs and colds
since left Alamosa.
AS there is so little to write about
here, l might as we'll commence the
promised account of my trip to this
place. 1t would be an interesting
story if I only had the talent for
describing such things.
After making all the arrangements
| could to have the machinery for
warled, Mr.. Steacy and | began to
make preparations to start for Rico.
There was but little doubt as to the
best route for II. to take. The road
to Silvertcn was only passable on
snow shoes and then we would have
to 90 to Rico, 40 miles from there, on
snow shoes, SO we decided to buy q
wagon and team and start at once by
the long southern route. A nice
new wagon and good pair of horses
purchased, we provided ourselves
with ten days provisions, breakfast
bacon, a boiled ham, bread. crackers.
coffee, &c, and a good supply of
blankets, aX and matches and loaded
our wagon and started for our first
days journey. We stored our trunks.
after taking out as few things as we
thought We could do with, and put
them into a seamless sack. We were
discouraged by many Of the citizens
on account of difficulties OF the trip
and improbability Of our reaching
Rico. Some said they expected to
see us back in few weeks, and they
all bid us good bye as if it was a fnal
farewell. But | found Col. Sieacv to
be man Of as firm resolutions as
myself and nothing daunted and we
started.
Our first days journey was thirty
miles, to Conneyos, a Mexican plaz-
Ia, on the Conneyos River. Our
trip was rather monotouous as our
way was over Il level plain, passing
but one house, stage station, about
half way. where We fed our horses
and took our first lunch From this
on, our evenings drive was not So
pleasant, heavy wind storm blow
ing into our faces and filling our
eyes with the alkah dust. Abou,
five O'Clock we reached the plaza
and found an American who kept
store and also lodged and fed travel
ers. The Mexican plazzas would be
strange looking towns to you. They
are ali built OF daub or dried mud
bricks, one-story high and arranged
in long rows around Il hollow square,
all facing towards The center or plaz
"a. This style of building theil
towns must have originated with al
idea of protection from attacks oi
Indians, but is an Old custom and
is almost invariably their custom still
After seeing our horses we'll pro
videh for ana our plundcr taken car,
of, We went into Mi Arnold's hous,
to await supper. The house h.,
about twenty rooms, all one story
high and aIi i'll Il row, with a porcl
There were doors between rooms
but YOU haV TO 90 out doors to ge
into the next room. There were Two
beds and a fire place Ill the room W,
occupied. We found two men il
the room, one of them al army Off
Ger. who had Just alrIcd from Pago-;
Springs, ON his way to the States Oh
a iurlow. We found him quite inter
esting and got cons derahle lniorma
ton from him Of our route as he hat
just come over a part of it. We in
uuircd what would be our next stop
ping place and was told that Ire
Readra or Ouch Henry's was thirt,
miles distant and that there was II,
house until we reached there w
we're cautioned by the officer and b,
the proprietor, to be a little watch
ful of Dutch Henry as he was q noto
siously bad man and was thought t
be guilty of having spirited away sew
eral persons for their money, bu
that the authorities were not able t.
prove anything on him. When morn
ing came we found that it had snow
ed four or five inches and the storl
continued. But as the next thirt
miles was difficult on account of som
deep snow, and for fear the presen
storm would make the road aroun
the base of the Sanantone mountai
impassable, we ordered our team
loaded our wagon, taking in som
more oats for our horses, as ther
was little feed to be had from thi
on. Off we go, the snow almos
binding us, and after going abou
Ga little jackD The mans feet a
most touched the ground, He wa
very poorly clad, but had a piste
buckled on him worth more than a
of his other fleets. He inquired til
distance to Conneyos and asked
\ We had met two men on foot. II
} said he was afraid they had froze
as they must have been out all nigl
and without blankets. Then he sal
he would give ollar for drink {
whiskey, but we had none to civ
him. After about ten miles more {
7 heavy road, the snow coming up t
! the hubs, and the road, in man
places, almost invisible, we cross IL
small divide and commence to d.
cend. Nothi ing to- be seen bat sno
capped hills, slopeing valleys, stut
ded here and there with clusters ,
beautiful gre een pines. We agai
have occasion to congratulate 'ou
selves when comparing our situation
wrapped up with so many war
clothes, with that OF three foot paf
almost naked no oyercoats or wral
pings, tramping thr rough the snow z