Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-22

ana the cneeemen are
thrifty ranchmen and
farmers who can't be
stampeded and whose
homes can't be jumped
nor appropriated" The obliteration Of those
trails and the consequent disappearance Of tho
cowboy and the cattle "drives" deprives the
west Of its most picturesque feature, one that
has but recently been recognized in literature
and which has given to the language some OF
its richest and most expressive words and
phrases.
Those trails were historic land marks, the
first ones only half century younger than the
discovery Of the now world by Columbus, but
they were not blazed by cowboys. That In
teresting and intense character had not yet ap-
300 years later he simply approved the course
of the early path6nde.s, and following in their
footsteps rounded up for himself truly aston
ishing amount Of notoristy. which IL often mis-
taken for fame.
The first of these trails-thers are seven that
may be considered historic-started from the
west. and was made by Francisco Vasquex dc
Coronado, one Of Cortez's generals, whom he
started out to seek the 'seven citics Of Cibola"
In the Kingdom Of Ivivirs." or course every
vestige Of the trail made by the celebrated
Spanish explorer and his little band OF follow
Grated centuries ago Yet the exploits Of those
seekers after gold must ever stand a. the
grandest recorded in history. 1t was only forty
years after Columbus landed on San Salvador
that Coronado began that perilously lonely
march. Remorseess time and destructive a.
we'll as rehabilitatinR elements have probably
30 altered the face Of the country that COro-
nado would not recognize Q foot OF 1t, though
he had passed over it twice. Mr.. Ingalls, writes
as follows OF this first pathfinder Of the plains:
l. = 00A
Mexcans he marched northward from Cuiecan,
then the limit Of spanish dominion, on an err
rand OF discovery and spoliation. Crossing the
mountains at the head OF the ella river he
reached the sources Of the Del Norte, and con-
tinued northeasterly into the Mississippi valley,
descending from the piainsto the pralries. CROSS
ing the present area of Kansas diagoually nearly
to the fortieth degree OF north latitnte At the
farthest point reached in his explorations he
erected high cross of wood with the inscrip-
ton francisco Vasquez, the Coronado COM
mander Of an expedition, reached this place
Very recently some excavations upon farm in
Atchison county. Kansas. at a point near the
fortieth degree Of north latitude, have yielded
mp secrets Of n civilization antedating any thing
now known on this continent, proving the truth
of Mr.. ingalls, conclusions and the statement Of
another writer, who said, Coronado probably
looked upon the Missouri river about where
Atrhison stands, from which point he turned
back from his bootless mission disappointed
and heart-broken man."
COronado's Trail.
That Coronado made such trail, his corrs-
spondence relates. To Mendoza in Mexico he
wrote of the sweet wild fruits he found aud
snid II crossed mighty plains. sandy heaths
smooth and wearisome and bare OF wood and
as full of crooked-backed oxen a. the mountain
Serena Of Spain IL full Of sheep" Coronado's
crooked backed oxen were the bison. commonly
miscaAed buffalo. which have now entirely dis
appeared from their native haunts, which were
always east OF the Rockies.
About sixty years later than Coronado, Don
Juan de Ouate made almost the same mar,h,
and Penalosa followed him IN 1862 They were
all alike bent upon gold hunt and secondarily
wished to plant the Jesuit cross where the In
dams wouldn't pull IL up. The Indians refused
to be civilized. though, and made signal fires Of
the crosses and targets OF the self-sacriAcinE
missionaries. Trail blazing has always been at
tended more or less with discomposing incl
dents OF that nature.
The next pstbhnders OF the Western part OF
the continent were Lewis and Clarke, who In
1904 commenced their remarkable Journey OF
exploration and adventures across the CONT
nent They crossed the Kaw-er Kansas river
at Kansas City and journeysd north to whore
Atchison now stands, and then went on toward
the sunset, where
! westward the Oregon nows and wallewsy ana
Owyhee."
Traces OF this trail are still visible. thOulh
both the Missouri and Kansas rivers have
changed their course considerably since then,
The Santa Fe trail is the most notable of the
seven. An old army of3cer. In speaking Of
these old trails receutly. expressed sincere re.
greet that in the encroachment of civilization
these landmarks were slowly but surely being
effaced The Santa Fe trail was a wagon road
established by act Of Congress in 1925, and in
| june Of that wear Mai. Sibiey set out TO survey
| IL starting from Independence. Mo-. and Roins
on west to santa Fe. Nm. The line OF this trail
| can be traced almost in its entirety by the
Santa Fe railroad. which follows almost exactly
| the old survey. at has a history that never
! can be fully written. because the men who
| know most about Il are miehtier with the
sword than the pen" said the army otfiosr
! whose service has been largely on the frontier.
! where he had much TO do with the establish.
ment Of new forts and military roads,
| Yea he continued. as he grow loouacious
"the santa Fe ia easily the most noted. ana
/ donbt not it Follows much the ssme route n
| that travelled by Coronado. Il il the natural
ontIet over the mountaina from New MEXICO.
which territory he had explored fully. Thc
landmarks which broke the monotonv OF ~
trail in the early part of the century are roina
ranidlv. Chotea1's Island II now Riyen over h
| a slaughter pen. Pavnee Rock and Point Of
Rocks scenes OF terrible Indian battles. and
once covered with names Of national rsnown In
| military circles have bean ouarried 20 the leve
| s.,-C:.L ...-~ =. ...kl~. 81 80