Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28

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saddle horse, with an African acting ia the
double capacity Of driver and cook. He
quietly proceeded to stake out a trail, rs
instructed, the good people of Park City
seconding the scheme. His new trail in
tersected the Chisholm trail at McLain's
ranch-now Clearwater-down which trail
he Travelled, meeting the first Texas herds
at Red River on their annual pilgrimage to
Kansas and a market. To them he explain
ed that the OLD trail was closed, and he, as
the agent of the great X. Z. road, had come
to see them safely over the new. Accom-
panying them leisurely up the trail, mailing
up at each creek and camping ground a
printed notice OF the new route, one sunny
afternoon they reached the Minnesota river.
Our friends Of the ranch Immediately dis
patched q messenger to Wichita, bringing
us the astonishing intelligence that our RE
walls had outmaneuvered and flanked us,
and were about to get away with the bag
gage A council of war was called which
decided to send committee forthwith
down the trail, to turn, if possible, this
living river OF life and wealth through our
embryo town. The parties selected were
N. A. English, Mike Meagher, J. NJ. Steele
and the writer. 1t was evening. The sun
had gone down behind the tall cottonwoods
which fringed the classic banks of the Nile
OF America; the heightened shadows ex-
tended over the luXuriant grass on Main
street and Douglas avenue ; no time was to
be lost; in haste we saddled our feet-foot-
ed, lOng-winded mustangs, buckled on
spurs and revovers--our saddle pockets
provided by friends with other things con-
sidered necessary--and mounting, we rode
forth into the placid waters OF the river on
mission which might decide for veal or
woe the destiny OF city. Across the river
safely, We galloped down the trail, over
where Robert Lawrence's house now
stands. straight across the valley to the
Cowskin, crossing where Cartwright now
resides. Impressed with the momentous
import of our errand, we galloped on in
silence into the darkness, over the prairie,
with no sound breaking the stiffness Of the
night but the clatter of our horses hoofs.
The twenty miles were quickly left behind,
and drawing rein at the friendly ranch We
learned that the advance Of the cattle drive
-four large herds-had crossed the river in
the afternoon, aud guided by Major S. had
hurried past on the new trail. Things
looked gloomy for the four horsemen and
Wichita the night was cloudy and dark !;
the herds could not be followed over the
prairie grass in the darkness, so we picket
ed our horses, spread our saddle blankets
on the dirt floor of the ranch with our sad
dies for pillows and laid down, but not to
sleep. Our minds were too full of what the
morrow would bring forth. Long before
the morning dawned we saddled our horses
and with the first light struck out on the
trail to the northwest. After two hours Of
hard riding, we saw ahead of us the herds,
already strung out and on the move. Maj.
Shanklin's outfit was just starting from the
campfire. As we rode up he saluted us
with, .'This is Wichita delegation pre-
sumo, you are too late.'' We only stopped
a moment, but noticed tent and bedding
tied on behind the ambulance, frying pans,
bake oven, coffee pots, tin cups. guns, ETC.,
tied ON at every available point, and sack
of -four and a side of bacon under the seat;
also, what appeared to be sundry boxes of
cigars and kegs wherewith to beguile the
artiess Texan.
halt. They halted the cattle men gather
ed around us we told them they were mis-
led and of the trail, liable to get lost, miss
the best market and paradise Of town !;
and much more to the came effect. Major
Shanklin coming up replied that the old
trail was closed up by settlers, who would
stampede or shoot their cattle; that
Chisholm creek was an impossible quag-
mire; that the only way they could get
through was to follow him, and so We ar
gued hot and fast. The cattle men hesitat-
ed /; they were already some ten miles west
of Wichita /; the prairie was fresh burned
east of them; the stubs would hurt the cat
ties feet they said; they feared trouble and
loss.
We guaranteed them safe escort and pay
ment for ali losses, but to no purpose, when
happy thought occurred to one of our
party. Taking the leader Of the cattle
men to one side he used an argument in
the way of handsome consideration which
proved more potent than words. lie won
our case the word OF command was given;
the great herds OF cattle swung around TO
the right and headed for Wichita, leaving
Maj. 5. alone on the prairie with bis sable
John. III due time we arrived in town tri-
umphant and exultant, and the drOvers lit
orally had the ''freedom of tine city," The
cattle forded the river just below the pres
ent bridge; thence along Douglas avenue
over the ground where Eagle block stands !;
thence across Smythe e. Sons corner; thence
over where J. II. Todd and J. W. Hinton
reside, crossing Chisholm creek below the
Hoover bridge. We accompanied the herds
on their way paid for one beef, Sl5, as
agreed, that unfortunately broke its neck
in crossing Chisholm creek again met and
discounted Maj. Sh anklin, who had taken
. wide circuit and met the herds with
fresh installment OF bugabOo stories; and,
on 4 grassy bank few miles north Of town
we alighted, drew up paper which all the
drovers signed, in substance stating the
route by Wichita was the shortest, best,
safest and only practible route, and the
Wichita folks the cleyerest people they had
ever met, and advising all Texas herds to
drive to Wichita, the first, best and only
supply point on the route. We then re-
turned to town.
Not yet had the EAGLE plumed its pinlons
or the Beacon's light shone forth, but
clutch, and Fred Sewers, of the Vidsfte
printed a lot of circulars containing the
statement of our Texas friends, which
were at once sent down the trail and post
ed rs far as Red river.
On the day we turned the herds towards
Wichita, Park City learned Of their ap-
proach on the new trail, and forestailed
matters a little by sending dispatch to the
daily papers OF the State, announcing that
the first herds, numbering fifteen thousand,
had arrived ut their town on the new tran,
which guaranteed them the Texas cattle
trade and the supremacy in the Arkansas
valley.
herds passed that way, the four horsemen
had killed their town. To-day, and for
many years past, the fine farm OF our friend
w. I. Jewett has occupied their town site.
All that summer and the next the stream
of cattle, and trade, and traffic flowed in
and through the streets OF Wichita.
OF the four horsemen, one has gone TO
his rest, slain by the assassin's bullet, white
in discharge of official duty on the same old
Chisholm trail. One resides on the shores
Of far off Puget Sound, but the man who
made the argument which won is with us
here to-day an honored member Of our city
government.
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