The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-24
A KANSAS EXPRESSION.
CURIOUS ORIGIN OF A PECULIAR
PHRASE USED IN THE WEST.

| PHRASE USED IN THE WEST.
Following Toms wheelbarrow" Is =
Term That has Become Very Common.
Who Tom" was-It Means That .
Man Has Done Wrong.
Among the scouts who accompanied
Gen. Sheridan during the campaign
against the Indians in the winter Of
1850, who were attached to headquar-
tiers IN the capacity of ccuriers, selected
for their courage and knowledge of saw
age methods, was Tom McFadden, who
made a record for himself, and was one
of the scouts sent out by Gen. Sheridan
TO bring ''Sa-tan-ta" in as hostage
when the villainous old savage was sit
ting on his horse apart from his great
band of allied warriors on a knoll. con-
templating whether TO attack the troops,
who were in battle array one morning
in front of Fort Cobb, and who was ex-
tremely impudent. McFadden was after
ward one of Gen. Miles scouts in his
wonderful campaign against the Indians
in 1871.
Late in the fall of 1867 McFadden and
two other trappers established a camp on
the Paradise, about two miles above its
junction with the Saline. They had re-
markable luck, and in short time had
accumulated a large lot of pelts. furs,
! buffalo hams and elk and deer meat.
They possessed but one small team of
horses, and their supplies running low
they concluded to go to the then embryo
town of Ellsworth, on the Smoky Hill,
which had just been started on account
of its proximity to Fort Harker, then the
most important military depot and post
on the plains. 1t was also the nearest
trading point for the many hunters scat
tered along the rivers and streams of the
/ wilderness Of central Kansas, and about
seventy miles from McFadden's camp.
So Mac and one of his partners hoofed it
into the new town, intending to hire
teams to bring their meat and skins to
the railroad, TO purchase their needed
supplies, including poison-the most nee
essary article of all their wants-with
which to kill wolves
FINDING THE BARROW.
Arriving at Ellsworth they vainly en-
deavored TO hire teams. but all in the
region had been employed by the quar-
/ teTlnaster's department at Fort Harker
in hauling hay from the various grass
camps" in the vicinity, so ther had to go
back, as they had left their only other
partner alone in camp with but few
rounds of ammunition and the Indians
anything but friendly. The railroad. at
the time of their arrival at Ellsworth.
was running a train to what Is now
Bunker Hill, then only water tank sta
ton, to which point they shipped their
supplies, as it was some miles nearer
their camp, intending to pack the most
needed articles on their backs and return
with their own team in few days for
those things they could not take along.
After arriving at Bunker Hill and
dumping their supplies on the little plat
form, dreading to start out on their long
tramp loaded down with what they must
take, intending to store the rest in some
secure place until they could come for
them, McFadden happened to see a pile
of wheelbarrows belonging to the rail
road company piled bottom side up along
the track, and with the inspiration that
Is born Of genius he turned to his part
ner and said, Dan, this darned question
of transportation is settled right here.
for here is a vehicle that looks as if it
was constructed for our special purpose
at this ticklish juncture."
So, waiting until the station men were
out Of sight, they proceeded to load up
one of the fortunately discovered wheel
barrows with their supplies, which in
cluded among many smaller things 200
pounds Of -four, and away they went
across the high prairie toward their
camp. Their route went over a smooth
country until they neared the breaks"
of the Saline, and then it required a
good knowledge Of the region to find q
passage through the precipitous lime
stone bluffs which characterize that por-
ton of Kansas.
FOLLOWING THE TRAIL.
1t is difficult matter, or rather was
in those early days, for ''tenderfoot" to
find his way down into the valley of the
Saline, as it is the most lumpy region in
that part Of the state Knowing the
whole country well, Tom and his part
ner struck for the nearest point on the /
river. satisfied that with their unique
means of transportation they could 80
down the bluffs anywhere and cross the I
stream where wagon would not dare
TO attempt it. At last the fortunate
hunters arrived at their camp, tired,
bu1 with their supplies intact.
The next season that immigration 4
which grew 70 be phenomenal in so short |.
a time began to seek the beautiful and .
tempting valleys of the tributaries of .
the Saline, and of course the only route .
TO the coveted localities was through the .
rough country north Of the Union Pacific /
III Kansas, and the starting points the /
stations of the road Bunker Hill was a I
favorite initial point on account Of its
to the Paradise" valley, and .
McFadden's wheelbarrow trail. which .
vas still plainly visible, was taken for F.
the wagon track of some preceding I'M /
nj grant, which all persistently followed, /
and, naturally, too. only TO be suddenly I
brought up all standing at some mac /
cessible bluff down which it was impoS-
sible to go.