The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-02-10
OF for Texas.

murmuring by, an open glade covered
with heavy coat Of brown grass,
while the gently rising hills on all
side are all covered with trees. Dur
ing the night Norther came upon
us. First a low roaring sound miles
away was heard among the trees; on
and or it came, growing louder and
louder until it bursts upon Us, send ng
a thrill of terror through us as the
trees swayed and tossed. and the wind
caught up the sparks and embers from
the fire and cast them aloft, lighting
up the forest.
We prepared breakfast, and with
the snow and wind on our backs we
moved across or rather aloug prairie
fringed on both sides with timber and
high hills. After a long drive we
stopped at house and got permission
to stay and shelter from the storm
which had grown intensely cold. We
called that camp scamp Snow; and it
was indeed a SHOW camp as the
owners name was .SnoW.
The sun arose bright and warm and
we again took the road and made our
camp OH the Verdigrees river SO well
known to Kansas. The river at this
point has but little good land or
timber. The country through which
we passed to-day is similar to the day
previous. The only thing of note was
he court house of this district. 1t
TODD alone in the timber, a log house,
md on the inside it had the appear
,nce OF Il third-rate Justices office, TAX
ing Judge Boyd's as sample of a
irst-rate one. From Ninita to this
point the country we passed through
5 beautiful but very poor, and the
'pen country is light grey soil very
hin. Crossing the Verdigrees, which
vas high and swift, we mounted q
high hill and entered upon Il high
:oclSy ridge, passed down to the
Caine, five miles below where we in
tended to cross. The Caine has
'either very good timber or good land,
bit l doubt not many fine farms might
&c made along its course. Leaving
he CAME we again climbed a high
nill and was out upon an open prairie
which locked very much like Kan
sas prairie though the soil was not
lear 50 good. We camped ON Bird
creek, better stream for timber and
and than we had yet passed. y short
Irive OF fur miles and we crossed the
Mingo, Il small stream, but fine timber
md good land. The country is indeed
beautiful and the prairie reaching from
he ridge to the Mingo is lime stone
soil and I doubt not as fertile as the
best of Kansas soil.
Beyond the Mingo the high ground
and ti;nberCd hills made fitting
back ground to III, beautiful landscape
before us which was intersected by
small streams fringed with timber.
Here we saw our first deer since start
ing. Away they went across our trail
and gave us visions of venison hams,
ribs, and tenderloins. We camped
three "Inj ne' miles from the Arkan
sas. Tle next morning we drove
across the fertile valley and reached
the .egry. The boat was stranded the
ferryman was gone and we sung that
good song. We ale waiting for the
boatman who, "in the course Of time"
came down and we gave him dollar
to hitch his team Oh to our wagon and
draw it across the river. On the west
bank the Greeks are building large
brick building for mission. We
drove three "iniine" miles and camp
ed. Three "Injine" miles make five
white mans miles. That evening
four Oswego boys drove into our camp
and we hailed them as br.thers Of the
same household They, too, were
bound for Oklahoma Oh a prospect.
Our train of three wagons made very
appearance as we wound
the trees or moved along. For
ten n lies our road led over hills COW
cred with a scanty growth Of jack
oaks and part oak trees. The soil was
light sandy and of not much fertility.
we then entered upon the open prairie
fringed with the everlasting timbered
hills. The prairie soil was fair and as
we descended the slope to the creek
known by the name Of Pole Cat creek
the soil was indeed good. 1t WAS late
when we camped and the next morn
ing being Sunday We did not drive
more than two miles and went into
camp. am afraid young Noble is Il, t
as pious as he was Oh the first Sunday;
but he said he was going to do mis-
sionary work, he wanted to clean out
the game. After traInping several
hours he came in and said the game
had been CLEANED out and he would
have to content himself with the piuus
work f washing himself.