Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-13

guard Of mounted troops, Treaties OF peace
wore mnde every few months with the Co
manchos, Ampahoes, Choyunnos, Apaclios OF
tho Plhina and other mounted bands 1t nd
men, who had no respect for treaties, and re-
garded icAlously the settlers and adventurous,
moving In their numbering pralrio schooners.
and the stage ounches and mounted courlors.
through whose agency communication was
kept up between tho dihorpht forts and set
tied poiuta,
remember that in that year, twenty milcs
to tho west OF whero Junction City now
stands, some OF our own guards were Killed
by tho Choyomeu. and between that point
and Pond Greek. In extreme Western Kausaa,
we had had u halt DOZEN tiorce lights.
1anos White reached Dodge City on his way
West. and was there brought TO stop by
giorlcB.ot Indian dopredatlous. and no wns
pmdonty advised 10 so back TO his home In
Iowa. or to takc employment at that point.
hut among the ndycnturousspirIta he met at
Fort Dodge was Captain Baker, man OF
about i1rty-llyo, who had won hia title under
Forrest in the Confederate Army. AZ tho
breaking out Of the war. Baker, native OF
Tonnossec, was out in Western Colorado.
whore he .nndo the acquaintance aud irlend-
ship Of KIT Carson. Tom Tobln, pfolfor--after-
ward Northumberland OF Catsons regiment
and othor frontiorsmon whose liyos had
boon spcnt In that country. It was tho belief
Of Carson and his companions TINT gold, In
abundance, could 10 found along tho san Juan
and It's tributaries, aud subsequent events
proved that they wcro not mistaken. Dakor
was prospecting in this region when tho war
hetwocn tho States broke out. aud moved by
pa,riotlem, or, It may DO by tho love ofadvcn-
ture, that ilret gont him woat he decided 80
go hack and light tor his State. The close Of
tho war saw him poor. as 1t did many other
gallant icllowe, and It was with u view to
mending his fortunes that he was now max
Ing his way West.
White had served for three years In the
Union Army aud Judging nom HIS appear
ance, should say he was impclled to it by a
feeling OF duty. rather chan love of adycn-
tirc. But as with all true soldiers, the war
closed forever In 1865. Those brave follows
met as friends who had ueyor boon enemies.
Baker was a natural born leader, a nan OF
grca, force Of character. and with a bouef In
The gold folds OF tho San Juan, which no sue.
nceded In imprcssing on All with whom he
camo into contact. Like all frontier towns
ut that time, pojgO City was awarming with
advcnturere, most Of whom had fought or
ono sido or tho other during tho war, and who
having faced brave mon In baltic many time
wotp apt to regard with indifference IL MOI
contnmpt, tho painted braves who wcrc then
making travel SO dangerous on tho plainA
Captain Baker succcoded In gathering about
him some twenty OF these spirits all with !
little money. every one OF them owning !
horse. and ghlo to ride IL; each possessoi
OF two myoivcrN and rlno, with whose usl
no was entirely familiar, and all chnfns
under tho rcs,raint and mnnotony OF lilo IL
Dcdec City. AZ Baker's suggestion they pur
chased four mules and a wagon aud laid ii
supplies necessary to carry them across tn,
plains to Denver or capyon city. Colorad,
was not uion even named, or IN existence
and Manlsto and tho Garden OF tho Gods wer
nnknowo TO The world. Full Of hope, higl
spirits and confident OF their own ability :,
get away with any Indians Tint might have tn
tomerity to attack The outit, they elected Cap
tain Baker 20 the command OF tho expedition
and, following the course OF tho Arkansas
directed their march west towards that lam
whero eaeh iet certain no Should specdil
make a fortuna and rcturn 30 his own home
to be tho ensicd Of his less ambitious an
darns associates.
AZ that tmo tho plains wcrc covered b
herds Of banAloi there Is not ono left. Ante
lopc by thousands were over In Aight, AM
sometimes herds OF Wild horses dashe,
through tho camp. Despite tholr conadcnc
In their ability 10 keep ;he rrhlana at hay. 81
! os tho twenn-ono men wSr, kined and thrs