Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-04-28
On THE PLAINS.
py FRED j. HAMILTON.

An accident had happened on the night
express train coming INTO Buffalo, and a
good many of the boys wlo were going
west were compelled to stay over. l sup
pose there were a dozen or so who had as
sembled in the hotel arlor, and among
them "Old Tom" Gregg Everybody knows
Tommy Gregg, who is one of the veteran
drummers i'll the clothing trad. Tom is
pretty well in years now, and although fair
ly well off he has never been married. He
still aticks to tie road with the pertinacity
of n knight erraut, fer the simple reason
that he cant leave it alone.
Whenever Tommy is asked how long he
has been drummer he saws 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
cant tell whether he is in dead earnest or
is joking
BE that as il NAV, Tommy was the life
of the party, and tie accident sugge ted
the recital of several experiences under
somewhat similar circumstances. Short
and interesting stories were toll of how
several of the smart young men had got
ahead of time even under more trying
circumstances than commonplace rail-
road collision.
One Renaissance brought up another.
perience. The old fellow, for he must be
well into the ti(ties, took drink. laid down
his cigar, and said.
swell, boys, I've told many yarn; in my
day, but there's one subject upon which |
have purposely kept silent. | 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 II little afraid
shpull ln down nc bn Il pfpSt in
the business-nOt even excepting Dick
Chapman yonder, who Mt present holds the
champ;ons belt Tor knocking out the
truth"
well, Tommy. You so ahead" remarked
Ed Green, who is Ill the suSpender, or, as
he calls it, the 'stletcber' 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 it was too late to set a
notary pubic TO swear linn on his Aft
davit.
"But this yarn is :.uc. logs" responded
Gregg. earnestly, "and that's why I'm
shaky on the credit you'll give it. Here
goes, anyway:
at was in the year 1851. l was commits
stoned by st. Louis house to take charge
of a wagon train, consisting of four wagons
with n four mule team to each, to carry a
general carg" Of clothing and furnishings
to several suIcr posts along the dry trail
OF the Arkansas River, taking in the mill
tary posts betwetns Fort Hays, Kansas and
Fort Union, New Mexico. 1t was rough
job, but there was lots of money in it both
for the firm and myself, for | had the priv
ilege of buying all the buffalo robes could
get on my return journey, and for n cup OF
molasses, few beads and tobacco, | could
buy from the Indians and the soldiers for
mere Song No. l robes beautifully en-
broderad with beed-work that would sell
readily il st. Lou S at from 81 to 81 ;
apiece goods for which the buyers could
easily get double the money.
"The firm had aiven me a letter to the
Deputy Quartermagtcr General of the De-
paItment of the Missouri, which was then
commanded 10y Gen. Hancock, who had
his headquarters At Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas. requesting that | be furnished
with such military protection as the rules
of the service allowed. The goods were
sent by rail to LcWenworth. where | was
TO hire my wagons, mules, and drivers, and
buy one or two seryiceable repeating rifles
Tor additional secLrity
1.-The 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 TO come into st. Louis to bny them
and cart them back at their own risk.
"The experience was exciting and tasci-
mated me, for was then young fellow,
robust, full Of energy, and the opportuni-
t. promised me not only plenty of excite
ment but lots of profit as well.
General Easton, tho deputy Quarter
master General. Endorsed my application,
and said probably wouldn't need it until
! reached Fort Hays, near Hays City. at
that time the terminus OF the Eastern Dr.
vision of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Much to my annoyance most of my
Transfers were 'geasers' (MeXicansl, of
whom engaged four, and two white men.
The NleXicans wanted TO get back, and |
thought it might slve little money by
hiring them. The two white wagon boss
es wouldn't move under $75 per month and
raions. To these terms was compelled
TO assent.
"Weil, We got our train into pr,tty good
shape and reached Hays City, about three
mites from the fort i'll AS man DAVIS. After
that We struck Ellsworth Guy, one OF
those portable settlements composed prin-
cipally of traders, toughs, saloon keepers.
and dozen 'emporiums of fashion patron
lied by the frontier dudes of those times.
They mentally oyerhauled my stock
and fixins. and said I'd have no trouble i'll
getting them off my hands, provided l had
trouble with The Indians. Then l pre-
senled my letter to the commanding officer
at Fort Hays and got my first set back.
"He said he hadn't any cavalrymen to
SPARE, as tie service needed all the force
he had, but if | didn't mind taking along
two infantrymen who had charge of de-
setter they would give me their services
until ] got to the next post at Monument
Station, twelve miles away. / consented
and it took us two days TO make those
twelve miles aud most of the time the SOL
ders and their p isoner were soaked with
liquor. However, they were toleraby good
natured over their tin cups, and no harm
came of it. On approaching Monument
Station, which was under a bluff, We came
across coil of about thirty rattlesnakes
partially embedded in the soil, where they
had hidden for warmth, for it was in the
month of November and bitterly cold.
They were partially torpid, but Those which
were in tie inner coil slowly unwound
themselves on our approach
ave fired several shots into them, and
tn result was that sections of rattlesnake
We're sent FIXING in all directions, The