The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-10-20
From Texas.
MIDWAY, Tex, Sept, 1873,


am tresspassing upon your columns and
will condense.
The day after our lrlp to Marlenfeld,
Mr.. c. Barber, division superintendent,
and Mr.. Wheedon decided 10 accompany
us on another excursion, thlS time to the
Sand Hills, about 100 mules west, and a
special train consisting Of engine and ten
der and our car, again started for the west.
observed that rifles and shot guns formed
part of our outfit. and learned that sew
eral of the party proposed to have some
game this time sure.
At Midway, 40 miles from Big Springs,
we found the same beautiful rolling
prairie seen at Marlenfcld, and on digging
the earth to the depth of fifteen inches,
was moist enough to pack or ball in the
hand We had seen at several points what
this red loan would produce. We knew
that it was fertile SOIL, and were delighted,
as well as surprised, to find at this distance
west a rich and wide prairie, capable of
cultivation, and the general opinion was
that within very short time q thriving
town, supported by large farming popu-
lation as we'll as by the trade of the more
distant stock men, would be found here or
hereabouts.
For perhaps 20 miles further west the
same general character of soil, grasses,
&C., was observed, and then the indlca-
tions of rocky and more sterile soil became
more and more frequent, until we reached
the Sand Hills.
The party divided into squads. Mr.
Barber, the parson, the Colonel and others
with guns and Job, the Quaker bearing
red flag, started for game. Mr.. Whaedon,
Oskaloosa and some of our farmer friends
were armed with spade to test for water
and examine the soil, while Mr.. Roeser
and the writer meandered across the plans
and hills IN search of grasses and flowers,
our car meantime being sent to station to
be out Of the way of passing trains. After
several hours we reassembled at the rail
road track, tired out, our hunters disguised
because the numerous antelopes persistent.
ly kept out OF gun shot, the only trophies
shown being large bundle of grasses for
Mr.. RS cabinet and several handsome
bouquets carried by the writer.
These sand hills, as seen by us, are bill
lowy upheavals of quartz sand, none very
high, covered in part with unnutritious
grasses, as l believe, weeds and stunted
shrubs. Patches destitute of all yegeta-
ton were frequent, and there was felt
sense of utter loneliness and barrenness
that had | been alone would have been op.
pressive and bewildering
One peculiar feature was that by scrap
ing off an inch or two from the surface the
earth or sand was moist and apparently
full of water.
Some enthusiastic writer has said that
on his visit he found numerous lakes or
ponds of pure water among these hills. |
Perhaps he did, but we did not and not
even Job could imagine what these hills |
and plans were good for unless 1t be for
one vast watermelon field.
Our return was without incident, except
that numerous herds of antelope now kept
provoklngly near the train, and the fire.
quent reports of our WInchesters indicated
that some OF our party did not propose re.
turning gameless. Sure enough, down
fell beauty. The train was stopped,
backed to the supposed spot, and the party
deployeo to search for the game. Their
efforts were, however, unsuccessful, and
we finally reached Big Springs tired,
hungry, immensely pleased with our ex.
cursion and with the decidedly handsome
treatment received at the hands of Messrs.
Barber and Wheedon II.
BIG SPRINGS, Tex Sept, 2S
When | was here eighteen months ago
there were perhaps half dozen cheap
shanties and one hundred people Now
there are many buildings, some very excel.
lent, good hotel, a church, school house,
ane a $35, 900 court house, with from 1000
to 1900 people.
The St. James-our Canvas side
tracked, and we were told to make our
selves at home, stay as long as we pleased,
and when we got ready to leave hitch on
to any train and depart in peace
should have mentioned that the ladies
of our party left US at Weatherrord
Among them were Mrs. H., matronly and
refined, Mrs. r., the modest and cultivated
Kentucky lady, Mrs. F.. veracious, merry.
never so happy as when perpetrating a
practical joke on some of US, and Mrs. c.,
(may say the Bohemian with pencil and
note book In hand, always on the qui ctce
for points 1t won't do to say facts. for she
seemed to take in as truth all that was told ,
her, but perhaps my fears on this point t
were groundless, tor women, like men. are
mot alwaya what they SEEM" and she
may, like the writer, have found some Of
her facts fables II
Then W. had rhn ,uy,r tho Ioo,o. g..