The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-25
THE =" WHITE HEAD"
A Fitting Death Of the Monarch
Of the Plains.

"Say Bill. whar ye goin' to camp.
hey?''
Bout five miles further on. guess"
why not here, pard9 Plenty of
water an grass"
"Yes. 'xactly so; an sumthin' else,
too"
whats thatp"
"Ill tell yer. Don't say nothin'r'
The scene near the Comanche and
Loup creeks. Eastern Colorado; the
time. A. Dwell. about thirty years
ago. say. The personages, two tall.
sunburnt hunters, guides, or both, who
are plotting a somewhat long train of
cmigrants across the plains. These
emigrants. although comparatively
used to the Western wilds, were not
yet to be trusted in any matters relat-
ing to the management of the train.
nor in making a decision in which its
direction was in the least degree con-
cerned. The hunters, Bill and lobe,
were always appealed to, and their
verdict was final. no matter what SUBJ
ject might be under discussion.
Twas about six o'clock, on lovely
day in September, and the train, with
its patient draught animals, had been
toiling steadily along till its teamsters
were Just thinking Of camping, the To-
cality was so lovely, at the junction of
the two creeks afore named, with low
hills upon either side that stretched
away in airy shapes till lost in the dim
haze OF the cloudless sky. The clear
creeks, set with sedges. looked so in
wiling, the men and animals alike
turned wistful eye upon their cool
Now. Green grew the grass there, and
the beautiful stretching meadow
seemed to roll its free sward away to
the foothills, where Gray's and Long 5
peaks Glove the still blue air. WHY
not camp there? "Thars little
grade right ahead. Toby. JestAou 90
forrad and tell the transfers to put on
brakes in time, and I'll stay here and
keep things stiddy like"
SO Bill proposed; but just as the
leading team had almost cleared the
grade, its near hind wheel dropped in
to an unseen muskrat burrow that un.
dermined the way, and brought up with
u jerk so sudden that the axle snapped
otf-as lobe expressed it-..short
as pie-crust" leaving the great
wagon helpless mass in the
road. and, in addition, stopping the
Roadway of the rest so quickly
that an unes pected melee was the i'm
mediate result. This having subsidized
in some measure the fractured axle
was subjected to an examination which
resulted in verdict that "some time
must be given for REPAIRS" and as no
palt of the train could proceed with
out the remainder halt all along the
line was ordered for the night. and or
ders given to scamp upon the spot" a
proceeding which, while it gave un-
limited satisfaction to most of the train,
called forth the lOudest expressions of
anxiety and distrust from the hunters.
just my luck; dog-gone it." said
Bill, ''ter get kctched in this blasted
place! Wouldn't had it for a hundred
dollars!"
This remark was overheard BY one
of the leading emigrants, who hastily
inquired:
What was the matter?'
"Hush!" said Bill. II don't want
these punkin-heads ter hear me; wal,
till after supper. then I'll tell We
So. the dusty journey for that day
done, the camp made. and the tired
beasts picketed near the sparkling
Loup. cropped the wild Gramma sweet
and crisp.
d ."Sit down. boss" said Bill to the
emigrant. who was named Yark. Isl,
down. Say, lobe. tell every teamste1