San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-06-28
Written for the PRxs Pass.
"reminiscences Of a Texas Veteran...Th
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
BY O. ERHARD.
tCopyrighted.l
XVIII.
KENpALL's NARRATIVE CONTINUED.

KENDALL's NARRATIVE CONTINUED.
We crossed them during the dry season,
and at a time when their beds contained but
little water, and that brackish and standing
in pools Southwest of the steppe, at
distance of perhaps seventy five miles, rises
the Wichita, which after running course a
little north of east, empties into the Red
River some fifty or seventy miles west OF
the Gross Timbers. 1t may be recollected
that previous to the departure of the Mexi-
con Carlos, as mentioned heretofore, we had
noticed large stream south of the Wichita,
and running nearly parallel, that was un-
doubtelly the red fork of the Brazos.
1t is certainly not little amusing to ex-
anime the Red River of the different maps,
and trace it's most singular windings. On
several of the maps now before me, see
that it rises north of Santa Fe, near latitude
SO Q north, and in longitude varying from
IO4 to 1OGo west of Greenwich. On one
of these maps it's general course for some
five hundred miles is southwest; on another
it runs some three hundred miles in that di-
rection. then it strikes of across the prairies
north of east. The most correctly laid down
course of the stream, on any OF the charts
have examined, may be found on Tanners
Map of Mexico; but there it is somewhat
too long, although the general eastern course
he has given it is in the main correct. But
I must leave speculation, and turn to the
water-course we had by this time reached.
Our little party remained some half hour
upon the banks of the stream, considering
which route to pursue. The general course
of the river, as I havo before stated, was a
little north of east, and to follow it up was
finally decided upon. We proceeded along
its northern banks, as that side afforded the
best travelling, until dark, when we epcamp-
ed in copse of cottonwoods Adreary,
rainy night, was followed by day so cloudy
that we could not steer cur course; yet there
was the river acting as guide, and we follow
ed it. At times we were close in upon the
narrow and fertile valley which skirted its
borders. at other times, some long bend in
in the stream would throw us out.upon
succession of low, barren sand-hills, with
little other vegetation gracing their sides than
dwarf thorn. prickly pear, or plum bushes.
The latter were not moro than eighteen inch
es high, yet they seemed to thrive luxuriant-
ly in the sand, and when we were among
them they were loaded with plums Of the
largest size, and such as were ripe were Of
delicious favor. Ripe or unripe, however,
the bushes were stripped by our famished
men. the fruit filling their stomachs for the
time. but yielding no real nourishment
Some Of the halfdried plums we found in
the sand tasted like prunes. During the
day we also found large quantities of small
but wen-favored grapes, which were de-
voured with avidiiy that told our suffering.
It was this day that our runaway guide, Car
los. was seen BIZ two Of our men, who were
ont some distance from the main body in
search Of plans He vas stIl in company
with the Italian Brigsoli, and both said that
they had been lost and hAlf-stArved fron the
hour when they left Is, 81 the s-Eae tine
Lbeyzing earnestly for some provisions.
Tier worn And lasg-ri aspect tod more