Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-04-28


/ comical side, too"
"Serio comic" chimed in Ed Green,
"Thats knock No. l for Chapman,
anyway"
well, If you fellers never saw frozen
rattlesnake that isn't my fault" replied
Gregg. But as I'm telling this story, and
not you, I'll take the responsibility for &C
curacy. Monument Station was n one
horse post, consisting mainly OF adobe
shanties half dug in the ground. l did
little business with the sutler, but | got no
escort. We stayed there one night. II
was here got my first wrinkle in camp
life on the plains. Before leaving one of the
officers asked if | had good tent / said yes,
but wondered what earthly use tent would
be at such time of the year. He replied
that if l didn't want to freeze to death ]
shouldn't attempt to sleep in the wagon,
as, being new to the country. the exposure
would AFFECT me more rapidly than one who
was acclImated.
This was his advice: Eve tried it, he
said, and know what I'm talking about.
Get your tent out; pitch it i'll front of your
fire, say twelve feet away. Then should il
snow, get one of your Transfers to dig
, small trench about six inches deep, put
couple of buffalo robes in 1t, lie down and
have your men pack the snow tightly
around the outer robe above you; crawl in
and you'll sleep as sound rs top. You'll
find it a big improve ment on the wagon
bed room and you IL not catch cold so read
lily. You will have in addition what heat
your feet can get from the fire and you w II
be able 10 arouse yourself much sooner in
case of a surprise.
Il tried it do zen times or more, and
have always found it work like charm. !
never got froSt-bitten, nor have l had
rh or cot
in their first experience Of life on the
plains.
ITO make long story short, however,
my venture proved remarkably successful.
| visited Forts Hays, Harker, Zarah,
Larned. and Fort Dodge. There was no
such place as Dodge City in those days. l
had sold three fourihs of my stock, and
had had one or two skirmishes with In
dians, but, fortunately, the four soldiers
and a corporal who had been sent from
HarkGr aided me materially in keeping
them at n safe distance.
My EeXt stopping place was at Fort
Union, n. Nj. | had been out about two
days when my little party was surrounded
by gang of horse thieves, of whom there
were dozen, against myself and my six
IN IL. The Mexicans, with but one excep-
ton, turned towards. The time of attack
was about sunrise, and at first | thought
they We're Indians. Presently | recognized
they were white men. Following the In
dian fashion, they succeeded in stamped
ing the mules, after cutting the traces of
the harness 8. Our attention was principally
directed to the mules, which then formed
the most valuable part of our outfit.
"One of nv white teamsters was shot
through the right arm, which bled SO CO.
piously that thought he was a goner.
Placiug'a white handkerchief on the bar
rel of my rifle | signaled for a parley.
The leader lowered his weapon and
came forward, as splendid physical speci-
men of a man as l had ever seen.
"'Wot goods ave you got thar?
Il told him that | had small stock of
WOODEN shirts, drawers, and the usual kind
of clothing worn on the plains.
we hcerd tell, he said, as you was in
this section hereabouts, an We want some
o them clothes, an if yer don't part civil
We IL make yer
"Of course | had to let him take his
chol G Tnen at signal five of his men
covered us with their rifles while the rest
went to the wagon in which the goods were,
cut the bales and proceeded TO help them
selves. irving on the garments and leaving
their discarded clothing in the wagon.
This occupied not more than half an hour,
and then the five men were relieved and
too2e cry. Before saying ood-by the leader
said: That III ms arm, referring to the
wounded teamster, is in II bad way. Guess
if yer come TO my 'oss (picketed about fifty
away with the others I've got summat i'll
my saddle bag as II do him good. | was
struck by the mans evident sincerity and
accepted his offer of II small bundle of
he:bs. ] used it with great advantage
to the poor fellow, for it allayed the
inf ,mmatlOn. Judging by the condition
of the clotl es they had left they sadly
needed IL change of ralment. But the
strangest part of the story is yet 10 come,
for sewed up in the lining OF an old vest,
| found a small parcel containing nne dia-
monds. and about four ounces of gold dust.
The man had forgotten to take them in his
hurry to get away. Well, gentlemen, those
diamonds more than pl:d for the value of
the stolen goods.
The party were thorough desperadoes,
and was composed, as | afterward learned.
of desererS and miners wio were wanted
by the vigllantes ID Colorado aud New
Mexico.
"The mules returned mules, by the
way, always return to Il good thing-and
soon after We were met by troop of the
Tenth United States Cavalry, q portion of
which escorted us safely into Fort Union. "
"Well, and how much did you get for the
diamonds. Tommy" asked Chapman.
Exactly S122"
IS, ems strange to mo that they didn't go
for your money. TIats ths only suspi-
cous omission in the story" observed Ed.
Green.
at wouldn't have done EN- any good, be-
cause it was all in checks on the United
States Depository at Leavenworth, and
they couldn't have cashed them. Any more
queS ions, gentlemen?"-- Ci0thjer and Fiu-
Rishcr.