Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1886-07-30
"a lLrii.r From Las Vegas Hot Springs

| AlLrti.r From Las Vegas Hot Springs.
| Some weeks since we mentioned
the fact that Gen. A. w. DoniphaE
was sojourning IN New Mexico, seek
ing restoration of health: The fol-
lowing was written by him to citI-
zen of Ray county, and published in
the Richmond Democrat, We know
it will be interesting to every soldier
4 of the Mexican war in this county,
and for 9TH. ir especial ben
eft We clip and republish it;
Col. A. X. K.lMoCLINToCK; H4-
4 DEAR SIR;-It would be mere af.
fectation to ask if you remembered
how intolerably hot was the day OF
i my departure. OF course you do,
and / fear you have some duplicates
of the isame,3 ascertainlng that the
hair of q dog does not always cure
the bite. / shall certainly never for
get the two hours spent in,that seeth-
j ing cauldron at Kansas City. l nev
er saw the depot so erowded--the
melting mass of humanity were
;''sloshing'' around like molten lava.
4 The children in the fiery furnace
would have gained nothing by an
bexchange. The mercury In favor
4 able places In the city marked $50
and many degrees higher at the de-
pot. When we gained the apex of
the boundless prairies west of Eore-
lla the brisk breeze was refreshing
hourly more comfortable, until my
arrival here, and here it is simply
cIlarming--wouldn not have it cooler.
As you remember Las Vegas you re-
quire no description. The meadows
are located at the junction of two
small rivers The springs are 10
Gated on one of these rivers, Gallinas
Chicken river+six. miles west of
the city on a beautiful plateau, SUR
rounded by the most grand and pic
turesqie p scenery The thermal
springs are forty in number and of
all degrees of heatfrom 110' to 140'.
The baths are a great luxury and
leave the skin as soft as an infants.
The hotel is all that the most fastid-
ious could desire in all its depart
ments. My strength is impi owing.
The 9th inst, was my birthday-pass-
ing the 18th mile post and it was en-
| ioyed as few birthdays have been, in
the city, mainly at the banking house
of our distinguished friend, Col. w.
NJ. Eads, late of Hale & Eads, Car
rollton, Mo. The colonel made a
| great pecuniarY and social sacrifice
| in leaving his Missouri home, but his
excellent wife could find no health
] and he did not hesitate, but surrend-
cred all to make her comfortable. /
am gratified to say she has gained
the sought for treasure-good health.
He is doing well with his bank; his
energy and intellect would enable
him 10 do we'll anywhere. be
! j79.uBHi RETROSPECTIVE. 70 HsA ~
Las Vegas was the first village we
reached In New Mexico. At this
point an express arrived with the
| commission of brigadIer-general for
our commander who, up to that time
was colonel of the first dragons. He
also received some dispatches, one
! informing HIM that our government
intended to retain New Mexico and
California, and he must "naturalize"
the citizens as he conquered them
and ne desired me to have the order
executed, being lawyer; l asked
to see the order. 80, 49, :.
1t was from the adjutant-general-t
good soldier, but no lawyer. I tolt
the general that naturalization was
legal term, and required many thing:
we could not avail ourselves of 1st
|, "a court of records End, willing ap
!, plicants ETC., none Of which were
here. By my advice he caused th'
J, entire mass-men, women, children
! =
donkeys, dogs, sombreros, squieI
sabe dss real and chile colorado t
, be, assembled and, with, upliftet
: hands, all were sworn to, support ou
II government; thence to Santa Fe, ant
conquest was complete.
/ Although progress and improve
, ment caused by tue avalanche Of emf
} grafton Kansasward. has changed tn
t aspect of the plains, yet many point
: are recognizable along our line o
march in 1s46, the Santa Fe roa'
: pursuing the same trace-the waite
E courses, bluffs and rocky point
t along the Arkansas valley, especial
the grand old Ration, which not eve
t steam has changed. These constant
i ly and wildly recalled that nobI
0 army of gallant youths, and the ques
0 ton was constantly recurring. wher
: are theY2'' Alas the sad answer
e ever the same; more than two-third
!, have crossed the cold, cold rlvei
{ What of the widows and orphans an
the spared remnant? I have neve
asked Uhy their meritOrious service