Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-07-05

ride of 500 miles, through a country over
run with hostile Indians, large part of
the distance being through sandy deserts
and leading across rivers, mountains, and
prairles, with only the sky for q covering
and the earth as resting place.
An old resident of this city who used to
know Aubrey very we'll, in conversation
recently, said:
when. first met Aubrey, about 1913,
he was young man of 35. the perfect
picture of health and strength. Short,
rather heavy set, weighing about 100
pounds, he had an honest, open counte-
nance, and 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 a Santa
Fe trader, making trips to Santa Fe from
Independence, Mo, and spending the
larger part of his time in the saddle. He
was a noted horseman, and spared neither
man nor beast when on journey.
Everything he did was done with a rush.
Aubrey made two rides alone from
Santa Fe to Independence. The first
was on a 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 five 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 afrer
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 20 beat il himself, ana on a secoud
wager he left Santa Fe ia 1851 and gave
the severest test of human endurance 1
have ever known.
- was on my way to Santa Fe ut was
thirty-seven years ago. with train of
twenty five wagons filed with merchan-
disc, ana knew nothing of his design.
When we were at the Rabbit Ears, about
100 miles from the old Spanish city, we
saw a man approaching in a sweeping
gallop, mounted on yellow mare and
leading another. As he came nearer,
mistaking as for Indiana, he whirled and
retreatsd 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 flew into our Eases.
1t was a great surprise to me for Aubrey
to treat friend in that STYLE but when |
reached Santa Fe / understood it..
Every moment was precious 1t was the
supreme effort of his life. Night and
day he rushed on. Six horses dropped
dend MS 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 horsehash
ever saw, quiyered aud 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
emit points on the trail. No man could
keep up with Aubrey. He would have
sacrificed every house in the West il
necessary, to accomplish hia design
1t was not money he was after but fame
He had laid wager that the trip woulc
be made in six days.
AT the end of five days and thir
teen hours, exhausted and fainting, he
was taken from horse that was tremb
ling from head to foot and covered witt
sweat and foam, at the southwest corner
of the present square of Independence
He sank into stupor from which he was
not aroused for forty eight hours"