The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-03-28
On The PLAINS.
DY FRED j. HAMILTON.

An accident had happened on the night
express train coming into Buffalo, and &
good many of the boys who were going
west were compelled to stay over. l sup
pose there were q dozen or so who had as
sembled in the hotel parlor, and among
them "Old Tom" Gregg. Everybody knows
Tommy Gregg, who is one of the veteran
drummers in the clothing trade. Tom is
pretty well in years now, and although fair
ly well off he has never been married. He
still aticks to the road with the pertinacity
of a knight Grant, for the simple reason
that he can't leave it alone.
Whenever Tommy is asked how long he
has been drummer he SAYS ever since he
was born-for he asserts that he first saw
the light in travellers trunk on the st.
Joe Mo- and Hannibal Railroad. lie
says this with so serious an air that YOU
can't tell whether he is in dead earnest OF
is joking.
BE that as it may, Tommy was the life
of the party, and the accident suggested
the recital of several experiences under
somewhat similar circumstances. Short
and interesting stories were told of how
several of the smart young men had got
ahead of time even under more trying
circumstances than a commonplace rail-
road collision.
One Renaissance brought up another,
and then Tom was asked to give his ex-
perience. The old fellow, for be must be
we'll into the fifties, took drink, laid down
his cigar, and said:
well, boys, I've told many yarns in my
day, but there's one subject upon which |
have purposely kept silent. l think it is
now about time to let her co. but why
have kept silent is because / have been
somewhat nervous about its moral effect,
that is to say, that | was little afraid /
should be set down as the darndest liar in
the businessmen even excepting Dick
Chapman yonder, who at present holds the
champions belt for knocking out the
truth"
well, Tommy, you 60 ahead" remarked
Ed Green, who is in the suspender, or, as
he calls it, the "stretcber" trade, and if
YOU can discount Chapman You must be a
daisy indeed"
Chapman said he had nothing to say.
and even ii he had II was too late to get a
notary public to swear him on his atii-
davit.
"But this yarn is true. boys, responded
Gregg, earnestly, and that's why I'm
shaky on the credit you'll give 1t. Here
goes, anyway:
stoned by st. Louis house to take charge
of a wagon train, consisting of four wagons
with tour mule team to each, TO carry a
general cargo of clothing and furnishing IS
to several sutler posts along the dry trail
oil the Arkansas River, taking IN the mill
tary posts betweens Fort Hays, Kansas and
Fort Union, New Mexico. 1t was a rough
job, but there was lots of money in il both
for the firm and myself, for / had the priv
ilege of buying all the buffalo robes Icould
get on my return journey, and for a cup of
molasses, few beads and tobacco, | could
buy from the Indians and the soldiers for
a mere song No. robes beautifully en-
broidered with bead work that would sell
readily in st. Louis at from ~ TO Sl2
apiece goods for which the BUYERS could
easily get double the money.
81 he firm had given me a letter to the
Deputy Quartermaster General of the De-
partment of the Missouri, which was then
commanded by Gen. Hancock, who had
his headquarters at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas, requesting that | be furnished
with such military protection as the rule IS
of the service allowed. The goods were
sent by rail to Lelvenworth. where l was
to hire my wagons, mules, and drivers, and
buy one or two serviceable repeating rifles
for additional security.
a. he venture was then a new one, and
few firms except government contractors,
sent their goods out in that way. The
general rule was for remote frontier GUS
toners 10 come into St Louis to buy them
and cart them back ut their own risk.
"The experience was exciting and fasci-
mated me. for was then young fellow,
robust, full of energy, and the opportuni-
~ promised me not only plenty of excite
ment but lots of profit as we'll.
General Easton, the deputy Quarter
master General. Endorsed my application,
and said l probably wouldn't need it until
/ reached Fort Hays, near Hays City, at
that time the terminus OF ths Eastern Dr.
vision of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Much to my annoyance most of my
teamsters were 'geasers Mexicans), of
whom engaged tour, and two white men.
The Mexicans wanted 10 ge. back. and
thought II might save little money by
hiring tuem. The two white wagon boss
es wouldn't move under SO per month aud
rations. To th Sc terms / was compelled
10 assent.
"Well. We got our train into pretty good
shape aud reached Hays City. about three
miles from the fort, IN as many days. After
that we struck Ellsworth City, one of
those portable settlements composed prin-
ep""s " ''""N'"' sO"bhn, saioOh- heepeiS'
and dozen 'emporiums OF fashion patron
lied by the fioAtIer dudes Of those times.
They mentally overloaded my stock
and fixn's, and said I'd have no trouble in
getting them oil ms hands. provided had
clar route. which metnt II / hadn't
trouble with the Indians. Then / pre-
scented my letter TO the com handing officer
at Fort HAYS and got my first set back.
HE said he hadn't any cayalrymsn to
spare, rs tie service needed all the force
ne had. but il ! didn't mind taking along
two infantrymen who had cha go of a de-
serter they would give mt their services
until J got 10 the neat post at Monument