Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-02-24
A cAATTY LETTER FROM NEW MEXICO.
CAMP On RIO NAMBA, ROCKY Mrs, !
NJ. Feb. IS, 1885.

while recrcating on a bospitable fallen pine,
figuring how much salary would want If
hunting for pay instead Of pleasure, l no.
ticed a large eagle circling around the sum |
init of Mt. Badly, which of course suggested |
to my mind the Wichita EAGLE, Of literary |
fame. and these few notes.
Mr.. Winton, of 0swego, and myself ac-
cepted an invitation of friends Of ours in
the Rockies TO pay them visit, and by ap-
pointment they met us at Santa Re with
their burro outfit on The 9Th inst.
The old city of Santa Fe is enc of eonsid-
cradle interest TO the visitor for the first
time. Its quaint, narrow streets suggesting
foreign town rather than American. The
population, consisting Of Americans and
Mexicans, is about 1000, the latter predon
mating. Since the advent of the A, I. d
5. +. the town has become modernized, the
old adobes giving way to modern buildings,
and American enterprise showing itself in
various ways. The place contains number
of very old churches. possessing paintaings
and relics brought from Spain centuries ago.
The old adobe church oil San
Miguel. being over three hun
bred years old. 4 large cathedral has been
in course of construction the past fifteen
years, and when finished will be the finest in
the territory. There are several institutions
of learning and charity under the supervi-
sion of the Catholic church. Dance houses,
drinking and gambling saloons, and attend
ant vices flourish TO a great extent One OF
the principal industries Is the manufacture
OF gold and silver hlagree jewe!ry; large
quantities are turned out, and widely dis
tributed throughout the country. At pres
ent the citizens are badly gone on roller
skating: and think our burro Pedro must
have got it, while quartered
near the rink. as while crossing the noun
tain his feet gave way and Pedro, pack and
all went went rolling down the side of the
mountain without stopping at way stations.
The view of the city from the top of the
mountain north of Fort Marcy is very fine,
showing the entire city spread out on the
plain below, surrounded by mountains on
all sides.
The distance to camp is eighteen miles,
and on account of the steep and rugged
trail, the trip can only be made on foot at
this eason Of the wear. The trail passes
over high peaks, and through deep, dark
ravines, numbered by the lofty pine, spruce
and other resinous and fragrant trees,
and the scenery on the whole
is grandly picturesque, but a- we wendell on
our weary way the beautiful SNOW" became
less charming. and the scenery would have
been enjoyed much more from the window
of Pullman. While en- route We were
caught in terrific snow storm, and not be-
ing able to reach camp, We took shelter and
spent the night in deserted goat herds
cabin. We reached camp the next day in
good spirits, and our furnishing appetites
were met with a generous dinner of roast
venison and palatabe side dishes. The boys
here are splendid cooks, and their light
bread and biscuits would put to shame many
a pretentiou; cook. The walls Of the cabin
instead of being covered with fine paper
| hsngings and paintings, are ornamented by
sides Of bacon and ribs of venison, and other
| things that strike a man favorably when
coming in hungry and tired from the chase.
The trio who compose the camp, whom for
| short will call Charlie, George and Ezra,
have spent over three years in the Rockies
hunting and mining in winter and mining
and prospecting in summer. They have
lately ..-truck it rich,' By finding valuable
mica leads,-one lode which they have
opened about ten feet has already produced
| over a thousand dollars worth of mica.
They have chrisicned it the Little Karl and
and are confident it will make
them all wealthy. They are n generous,
jolly lot of fellows, and deserve all the good
fortune that may betall them. Esra is the
| crack shot of the camp, as the nineteen deer
hung up ON the outside Of the cabin testify.
Charlie i, fine singer and banjoist, and
does much to cnlven the evenings around
the campfire, while George, who has had
wears Of varied experience in the mountains
and on the plains, is full of good stories,
| and being natural born wit, keeps the boys
IN continual good spirits. The camp is Sit
ua;ed ia a deep gorge on the western slope
OF the Rockies, and from the top of a high
peak, over ten thousand feet above the sea.
fine views are obtained of the surrounding
mountains and valleys. that of the valley of
the Rio Graude being the most interesting
the Mexican town Of lspanola and Pueblo
Indian villages of Namba and Santa Clara
showing to more pleasing advantage than
on closrr observation. Five miles down the
Namba there is a waterfall nearly two hun
dred feet high, and IS the most picturesque
bit of nature in this meek Of the woods
but very little known and visited on account
Of being such an out Of the way
place. Game is rather plentiful here,
and comprises few elk, plen-
ty Of deer, bears, mountain lions,
Wild turkey, grouse and mountain sheep.
In summer the streams afford splendid trout
ing, as they are so remote from. the centres |
of population, that they are not iished out |
like eastern streams, and the dicples of Wal |
ton can here satiate themselves with pleas |
urc to their hearts content. Another pleas |
an; feature attending the pursui; OF angling |
here is the absence Of mosquitoes and pois-
onous reptiles. On account of the deep |
SHOWS, and icy condition of the mountains, |
hunting Is rather hard work and attended |
with considerable danger; but the exhilera-
ting atmosphere and free outdoor life, |
makes one forget danger. and gives keen en-
joyinen, to the hunter while IN pursuit Of
game. | send this to be mailed by Pueblo /
indian, and in the language Of Patrick. mot
Henry III yes don't get this, let NE know
and III write We, an othe-."
Yours truly. II. W. b.
Col. Harizell say he sold bis pacing horse
"RoNie7 for 500.
The snow pillow was At work on the street
csr track yesterday again.
In the absence o, Judge Glenn, Squire
Hobbs Is acting police judge.
The 'clies; inhsbitantr has another OPP
portuni;v to tell Whist he knows.
In these stormy times It Is solacing to lis
ten TO the tales of some recent arrival from