Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-09-02
THE " WHITE HEAD"
A Fitting Death of the Monarch
of the Plains.

"Say Bill, whar we goin' to camp,
hey?"
Bout five miles further on, guess"
"Why not here, pardp Plenty OF
water an grass"
Eyes, 'zactly so; an sumthin' else,
too"
whats thatp"
'I'll tell yer. Don't say nothin'"
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 somewhat long train of
emigrants 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 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 sub
ject might be under discussion.
Twas about six o'clock, on a 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
viting, the men and animals alike
turned a wistful eye upon their cool
flow. Green grew the grass there, and
the beautiful stretching meadow
seemed to roll its free sward away to
the foothills, where Gray's and Longs
peaks Glove the still blue air. Why
not camp there? "Thar's little
grade right ahead, Toby. Jest you 90
forrad and tell the tcamsters 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 I'M
dermined the way, and brought up with
jerk so sudden that the axle snapped
off-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 unexpected 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
pant of the train could proceed with
out the remainder a halt all along the
line was ordered for the night, and or
ders given to ''camp 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 ketched in this blasted
place! Wouldn't had it for hundred
dollarsr'
This remark was overheard by one
of the leading emigrants, who hastily
inquired:
"What was the matter?n
"Hushr' said Bill, Il don't want
these punkin-heads ter hear me; wait
till after supper. then I'll tell ye."
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.
"Sit down. boss" said Bill to the
emigrant, who was named Yark. ISL
down. Say lobe, tell every teamstel
to picket the horses extra strong, and
put good men on guard. We DOM
want no sleepy-heads tonight, no mat.
ter what fur Ye only waste yer breath
tellin' these civilized critters any thing,
or tryin' to make 'em understand. Sc
go ahead. and then come back here.
Away went lobe; and. having full
filled his order. returned. Then, pull.
ing out their pipes. the three men
gathered around to hear the story
which had been SO suddenly stopped
as it was being related by Bin that
afternoon.
''Yark, did We ever see the White
Head?"