Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
AUBREY'S GREAT RIDE.
Remarkable Journey on Horseback Across the
Western Plains
Kansas City New

Among the deeds of early life in the
west the famous ride of T. X. Aubrey from
the plaza of Santa Fe to the public square
of Independence, Mo-, as physical
achievement stands without any equal.
Indeed, it is doubtful if the history of the
world can present parallel to that great
ride of 800 miles, through a country over
run with hostile Indians, large part OF
the distance being through sandy deserts
and leading across rivers, mountains, and
prairies, with only the sky for a covering
and the earth as a resting place.
An old resident Of this city who used 80
know Aubrey very we'll, in conversation
recently, said:
"When 1 first met Aubrey, about 1848,
he was young man of So, the perfect
picture of health and strength. Short,
rather heavy set, weighing about 100
pounds, he had an honest, open counte-
nance, ard was one of the rising men of
the plains. He was a French-Canadian,
came to st. Louis in 1910, and very soon
afterward engaged in business as Santa
Fe trader, making trips to Santa Fe from
Independence, Mo, and spending the
larger part of his time in the saddle. He
was noted horseman, md spared neither
man nor beast when on q journey.
Everything he did was done with rush.
aubrey made two ridts alone from
Santa Fe to Independence. The first
was on wager of $1,000 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-fi miles to Council Grove, carry
| ing his saddle on his back, before he
! found another. 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 at
tempt beat Aubrey's record. He deter
| mined TO beat it himself, ana On a second
wager he left Santa Fe in 1851 and gave
the severest test of human endurance [
have ever known.
81 was On my way to Santa Fe Git was
thirty years ago. with train of
twenty five wagons filled with Inerchan-
disc, and knew nothing of his design.
When we were at the Rabbit Ears, about
100 miles from the old Spanish city, we
saw q man approaching in a sweeping
gallop, mounted On yellow mare and
leading another. AS he came nearer,
mistaking US for Indians, he whirled and
retreated fifty Or sixty yards, then turned
to take second look. Our wagons
coming round mill proved that we were
friends, and, by putting spurs to his
steed, he dashed past, merely nodding
his head as the dust few into our faces.
1t was great surprise to me for Aubrey
to treat friend in that style, but wLon
reached Santa Fe I understood it.
Every moment was precious. 1t was the
supreme effort of his life. Night and
day he rushed on. Six horses dropped
dead as he rode on them.
"His own beautiful mare, Nellie, the
one he was riding as he passed our party,
and one of the finest pieces of horsefesh
I 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 differ
ent points on the trail. No man could
keep up with Aubrey. He would have
sacrificed every house in the West if
necessary, to accom- plish his design.
It was not money he was after but fame.
He had laid wager that the trip would
be made in six days.
Sat the end of five days and thir-
teen hours, exhausted and faintlng, he
was taken from horse that was tremb-
ling from head to foot and covered with
sweat and foam, at the southwest corner
of the present square of Independence.
He sank into stupor from which ne was
not aroused for forty eight hours"