St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-07
AUBREY's GREAT RIDE.
remarkable Journey on Horse
back Across the Western

Remarkable Journey on Horse
back Across the Western
Plains.
Kansas City News.
Among the deeds of early life in the
West the famous ride of f. x. Aubrey
from the plaza of Santa Fe to the pub
lie square of independence, Mo-, as a
physical achievement stands without
an equal. Indeed, it is doubtful if
the history of the world can pre-
sent a parallel to that great ride of 800
miles, through a country overrun with
hostile Indians, large part of the dis
lance being through sandy deserts and
leading across rivers. mountains and
prairieS, with only the sky for cover
ing and the earth as resting place.
An old resident of this city, who used
to know Aubrey very we'll, in CONVEX
sation recently said:
when l first met Aubrey, about
1913, he was young man of thirty-five,
the perfect picture of health and
strength. Short, rather heavy set,
weighing about 100 pounds, he had an
honest, open countenance, and was one
OF the rising men of the plains. He was
French Canadian, came to st. Louis
In business as Santa Fe trader, max
ing trips to Santa Fe from Independ-
ence, Mo-, and spending the larger part
OF his time in the saddle. 'He was
noted horseman, and spared neither
man nor beast when on a journey.
Everything he did was done with a
rush.
aubrey made two rides alone from
Santa Fe to Independence. The first
was on wager of 81 900 that he could
cover the distance in eight days. He
succeeded in reaching his destination
three hours before the expiration of the
time. He killed several horses in the
ride, and it is said that the death
OF one horse on the way obliged
him to walk twenty-five miles to
die on his back, before he found an
other. He was the lion of the day at
st. Louis and Independence after this
ride. There were many powerful men
and many good riders in those times,
but not one of them dared to attempt to
beat Aubrey's record. He determined
to beat it himself, and on a second
wager he left Santa Fe in 1851, and gave
the SeyereSt test of human endurance
have ever known.
II was on my way to Santa Fe Git was
thlrty-Seven years ago. with a train of
twenty-five wagons filled with mer
chandise, and knew nothing of his de-
sign. When we were at the Rabbit
bars, about doc miles from the old
Spanish city, we saw man approach
ing i'll sweeping gallop, mounted on
yellow mare and leading another.
AS he came nearer, miStaklng us for
lnnlanS, he Whirled and retreating
fifty or sixty wards, then turned
to take second look. Our
wagons coming around the hill
proved that we were friends, and
putting spurs to his steed he dashed
past, merely nodding his head as the
dust flew into our faces. 1t was great
surprise to me for Aubrey to treat
friend in that style, but when | reached
Santa Fe understood it. Every mo-
ment was precious. 1t was the supreme
effort of his life. Night and day he
rushed on. Six horses dropped dead as
he rode them.
His own beautiful mare, Nellie, the
one he was riding when he passed our
party, and one of the finest pieces of
horSetiesh | ever saw, quivered and fell
in the agonieS of death at the end of the
first $50 miles. Several splendid horses
had been sent ahead and stationed at
different points on the trail. No man
could keep up with Aubrey. He would
have sacrificed every horse in the West
if necessary to the accomplishment of
his design. 1t was not money he was
after, but fame. He had laid a wager
that the trip would be made in six days.
cat the end of five days and thirteen
hours, exhausted and fainting, he was
taken from horse that was trembling
from head to foot and covered with
sweat and foam, at the southwest cor
ner of the present square of Independ-
ence. He sank into a Stupor, from
which he was not aroused for forty