The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-11-25

There a, 90 the northern part Of
Barron county, q stream which beam
the rather unenFiable name Of deep
ton creek. Usually Il Il only q dry.
crooked rdvine. cDursing through =
pretty valley. II got its name In this
way In September, 1871. before there
was 3 settler within ten miles Of De
ceptiOn creek, and when those within
forty miles were few, the writer. 10
c Impany with Hon. d. n. Heller,
now Of Great Bend, and c. W. Pres
colt, now living IN New Mexico, made
q tour Of this region on horseback.
/ The country was full Of buffalOes. and
on the way out AFR. Heller shOta calf,
| fom which we cut as much steak as
would last us for q couple Of days.
Mifages were 70 be seen in almost
every direction, giving the country
here = Wierd and fantastic appearances.
Our supply Of drinking water was ex-
hausied long before noon, bat we
pushed on, for at no great distance
ahead Of rs, lust across the Cheyenne
bottom, there was q small lake which
Mr.. Heller had visited q few months |
before. Its waters came gradually |
into view under q cloud Of mists. On /
its farther shore we saw an Indian /
encampment. with its smoke, Wig /
VANS and horses. Those who have /
had like experiences will not be sur
prIsed to learn that the lake was dry.
and the Indians, smoke, wigwams
and horses were mere decisions Ofthe
mirage. But here from the north
came the pretty valley aud its water
course, and the adjacent hills present
ed what were decided to be- unmistak-
able evidences Of springs. The party
separated into three divisions one
for either side and one for the middle
OF the valley. Ifany one found water,
b was to signsl the others. But the
mirage made all other motions indefi
nate or neutrality-suspicious.. Before
the head Of the valley was reached,
the sound Of HeiZer's carbIne was
heard from among the trees on the
creek bank. AS quickly a. our
thirsty horses could carry ~. we join
ed him, 10 find that he had given q
gray wolf q snmmersault. Together
we proceeded TO the head Of the creek,
and sat down under q spreading elm
FOR dinner. Our buff5lO steak wa
orOiled, and eaten with dry camp
biscuits. IL was suggested by Mr..
Heller that this creek ought TO re-
;ieve name, and the writer proposed
hat in view Of our experience, Il be 4
allied Deception creek. The name
q fixture.
In the spring Of 1875 the writer 0
gain visited this section. The cOun- 3
~ had been settled. Taking dinner +,
With q thrifty farmer whose comfort
lble residence stood not far from our
lining room of 1871, remarked on Z
he PECULIARLY Of the name of the 4
'reek "Yes," said my hOst, I'VE have n
ried TO change il, but these old Indian
lanes stick" How / asked did
ne creek get its name? 81 don't |
nov. but the oldest settlers say that n
good many years ago the Pawnees II
nd CheyenDes had q battle on the :
'heynne bottom below here. The
'awnees were getting the best Of Il, y
Ghen the Cheyennes pretended to re- Z
reat up Blood creek, but crossed over =
he ridge and went down this creek,
nd took the Pawnees i'm the rear. So :
hey deceived them, and from that
be creek was called Deception creek"
Doubtless when the centennial his
Dry Of Kansas is written, the histOFi- n
n will find this among the best :
authenticated legends OF Barton
ouuty.-Prof. COICgW tH Manhattan Il