The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-20
BIRTHSTONE.

q
dividing line between Kansas and Col
orado. the time. the summer Of 1866,
whom the plains Indians east Of the
Rocky mountains were in general out
break against the whites. a large wag
on train. under charge Of that veteran
and noted freighter Pete Ouray. was on
its way westward TO Salt Lake City.
At that time the plains stretching be
tween eastern Kansas and the Rocky
mountains were barren waste. un-
broken by abodes of civilized men save
an occasional military or trading post,
and the stations of the Ben Holiday
overland stage line. Civilized men
might cross and even hunt on its drcaTy
expanse, but it was regarded as . fit
home only for Indians, buital0es, ante
lopc and coyotes
The train had proceeded SO far on it
Journey without nisadventure. The
grass was good. and there had been nc
Indian attack Signs of the hostilcs,
however were not wanting. and some
were ominous enough But two OF
three DAYS before, the frcightcrs had
come up with a wagon train which had
left Kansas City little ahead Of them.
10 was dismal sight The mules
were gone. and the wagons a plundcred
wreck. The teamstcrs lay about dead,
all scalped and mutilated with every
freak of savage barbarity.
All this tended 70 produce reflections
the reverse Of cheerful in the minds OF
tine finders. After burying in one grave
the mangled bodies, the teamsters re-
turned % their wagons. and the train
moved on.
But scenes even as appalling as this do
not long depress men accustomed C
ever present dangers The expedition
was strong i'm men and equipment, and,
90 guard against surprise by Indians a
yiciant watch was kept night and day.
IL happened that ON this June day
after tine MONDAY halt, three men whose
duties did not call chem 10 the Wagon
seats fingered after the train moved on
10 let their horses grazc ON the luXWiant
new grass.
/ have said horses. To De exact, there
were two horses and mule The mule.
an important figure in my story. was tho
special saddle animal Of Frank Sanger. q
daring Young rider. who was making his
third trip across the plains "Bnm.
stone. thcauimalsnamc. indicated both
the quality Of its temper and It's peculiar
yellow color
Birthstone bad joined the expedition
i'm this wise: a lauk. discouraged hooking
Nissourian brought him to the wagon
train as it was about leaving Kansas
CITY. Them man wanted badly 60 sell. and
offered the beast at "a price far below his
seeming value llcshowcd proper vouch.
ers of his ownership and Pete Oufay
bought the animal for song
When Pete tried 90 use the mule, hc
thought that he hal paid far too much.
lie first hanessed him in team, but no
sooner did the traces begin 90 draw than
the beast fell to kicking and plunginS,
and finally turned short round and
faced the wagon lie SO mixed up the
entire eight mule team that parts Of the
harness had to be cut to get them clear.
lie was excused from further service as
draught animal, and remandcd for the
time being To- halter
He kicked. struck and biz at whom OF
whatever was about him. There seemed
10 be mo- bounds 10 the reach of his hind
LEGS and his accuracy in locating hls
boofs IL was commonly believed that
he could kick round a corner That he
was worse than useless Joe Duhbs was
free to assert. as hc came innpinS from
the corral. holding his knee with both
hands and hunting tor q revolver. ho
WAS yowiug. n the first transports oI
main and rage. to kiu the maicvolent
brute. which had assumed look of eX'
tre,ne innocence to lure him noarcnough
for telling kick. but Birthstone lived
and kicked on sorencly lle had a dcs-
unv to fulfill that no husterlngs OF M
niriatcd teamstcr- could avert
Bi.spur Bill who claimed 20 be a
bronco breaker. offered To- ride him. III
make a saddle mule of him, or git broke
mn a-tryin'." he said. with an air of de
termination. as hc posed heroically III
Mexican pautaloons. set of 10y spurs IKE
rising SUNS
All hands turned 20 and helped. and
Birthstone. with much ado was saddlcd
.,d hri3i.d Four men hcld him 1911
got in the saddle
"Now turn him loose. boys. he said
Tn. men al the mules lead let 30.
Brimstones head went down 90 his fore
LEAFS his back rounded and he went into
the air When he came back to eartI'
Bill. who had gone some feet higher
remained astridc the HIGH corral fence nee
80, unlcn me- nad iaiicn, ana winch "c
seemed 10 prefer to his late seat IN the
saddle Birthstone kicked for him hope
fully. whereat Bill slipped down on the
other side. and. with clankns spurs.
made rapid tracks for safety
FOR time after this no one undertook
:. handle the yellow mule. which hved
al ease. toiiing not In the long day 5
march. except TO follow leisurely the
wagon towhich he was tied. Pete Ouray
became disguised 81 don't know what
10 do with the brute, he said Il hate
10 give up for useless young mule WIN
as fine p'ints as he has.
lie made this remark oFrank Sanger
The two were looking at Birthstone, who
stood tied to a wagon. and with head
erect and a white CLEAN IN the corner OF
his eve was waiting for whoever might
come near. A beaten path which circled
behind him at least ten feet beyond ms
heels was religiously followed by every
one who passed.
Sell him 10 the Mormons when we
get 10 Salt Lake City, said Frank II i
serve 'em both right.
"S'pose give him TO you 10 rider
Thank you for remembering me-
said Frank, "but don't need him Inc
horse have suits me.
IL know it, Frank, but jes' look at the
matter squar now. You know we can
be carryin' along idle stock tins way,
We've got TO put him 10 some use ana