Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-29

| plys nut, DelOTe we Dau pFOCeeuSN iaA w.
ward Caldwell, we found a barb wire
fence running across our path. We tried
TO go around 1t, but, after travelling ABOUT
half day, we gave it up. l think the
fence reached TO FL Paso, Texas.
! went to the 'COloueP' and said: you
have made mistake; we are carnpe0 on
somebody's pasture"
He made no reply save this: "Cut the
wiresi"
We went back prepared to "cut," but
were met by gang OF cowboys, who
came up and informed us in very frank
| manner that is characteristic OF those PIC
turesque grenadiers OF the plains, that
| 'if we molested barD on that fence they
would I'LL us full OF hOies," or something
to that effect. That settled it.; we went
| back to camp and found that the Chey-
ennes had stolen all our stock and disap-
peared. Again it began to appear to me
that we must have made some mistake in
the place.
Colonel" SAID 1, ''don't you think
we've made some mistake in our loca-
tion?"
sob, no; certainly not" responded he,
very quietly. "Of course we may have
some little bad luck at first, but"
But hold on, said |. ''You advertised
that you were bringing US to a land flow
ing with milk and honey and we find it
| isn't flowing with anything but barb-wire
fences, hostile cowboys, and thieving
Cheyennes. How do you account for that?
Don't you think you have made mistake
in the paradise and taken US to the other
placep'
~ see," he answered, s'y0u are not used
to the West. Everything here is novel as
yet. You'll have to get used to such lit
tie tnconveniences as those that have
just happened and others that may come"
THAT may all be-" said /, land things
may be novel; don't doubt that. l sup
pose being scalped and burned at the
stake would also be novel to me, hut If l
had my choice of staying here or being
sent to Chicago, I'd take Chicago"'
SIN that case" said he, ''you had better
go back hOme.r
So made up nv mind to vamose, if the
cowboys were willing; and calling a few
OF my fellow land-seekers about me /
said;
Friends, Romans, and MlssourIans,
lend me your ears few moments, and
I'll try to throw out a few hints that nav
be of some use to you in the pursuit of
the great fortunes you have come here TO
acquire. Pm not much of an orator like
Brutus there" said |, pointing to the
''COlonel," "but can guess pretty close
to thing after ] have seen 1t, smelt it,
and tasted it. We have all come here to
get land and riches, but somehow or other
the desire for land ana the vanities of
wealth have all left me. l am
now pilgrim and stranger
with only one desire. and that Is
| to get hack to civilization. but before 20
away | wish to make my will. or a divi-
sion of my property among you. 1 have
not much to give, but what have I give
freely. So, being in my right mind, the
north-half OF my quar'er-sectiOn of buff
falO wallows l bequeath TO Bruus there
to him and his heirs forever. The other
half I'll give back to the United States. l
do this so you NAV always have one good
neighbor. at least. 1t may be, as you say.
this will be a great country some time.
Thew may build the capitol up there on that
little blackjack hill, and who knows but
what Congress will assemble on that buff
faiO wallow yonder. But. after all, it may
be some time yet, so I'll not wait. l have
mission to perform back in the States,
40 | guess I'll 20 and attend to that first.
Business before pleasure you know.
THE two mules brought here I'll give
to the Cheyennes, and as they already
have them in taeir possession it will not
/ be necessary to hunt them up to tell them
| of their legacy. NV new wagon PHI give
| to the one OF you whom it will do the most
! good 10 hold till the Uheyennes come back
after il, which won't be long. NV tin cup
and plate and ten pounds OF dried beef I'll
! take with me, IS they may be of some use
I to me till fall in with some other philan-
thropist who is making his way back to
I civilization. | wish had more to bestow
upon you, but | have given you all have,
but my revolver and experience. These
| will take back with me, as both may be
needed the next time l hear another
boomer trying to get up another colony
for paradise"
So l shook hands with my fellow land
! seekers and came away, and when got
TO Caldwell found company of United
States troops going down to escort the
other ''boomers'' off the ''strip."
knew they would see the 'Uolonel" so
I sent him a little verse from the Bible
which says;
GA wniD for a horse, bride for an ass,
and a rod for a FOOLS back"