Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-11-09
THE OLD OVERLAND TRAIL.
It Has Soon Many Exciting Episodes Of
the Road.

The overland trail running from
Independence, No., to Santa Flo is
simply an elongated graveyard. This
old route has long since been aban-
doncd, for railroads now traverse
the. vast extent of country, the Apa-
ches are practically subdued and the
old fashioned swinging stage coach
es that stood the bullets of savages
and desperadoes as we'll as the buff
lettings of the wind and weather
have fallen into innocuous desue-
tude and decay. Men who were kill
ed or died ON the trail We're simply
pulled to one side, and little mound
of earth with pile of stones at the
head is all that marks the last rest
ing place of those whose bones lie
moldering in the dust.
On the trail near Wagon Mound
there is u spot beneath which lies
all that was earthly of Jules Bur-
roughs. Ho was II gentlemanly high
wayman ana held up coaches, way
laid travellers and robbed promiscu-
ously with decency and gentility
that was as unusual as it was
strange. One of his most daring OK
ploits occurred in the fall of 1868.
Burroughs stationed himself on
horseback in u couleo, OF depression
in tho prairie, near tho Cimarron
crossing, and as tho coach swept
around Il curve the occupants were
startled by the figure of masked
man, mounted, who, with six shoot
er in each hand, called out sharply,
Halt and get out of the stage!'
Passengers and driver first thought
of protesting. but a shot laid one of
the horses low, whoreupon seven
half scared individuals stepped out
OH the prairie and threw up their
hands, as they were politely re-
quested to do. The highwayman,
covering them with his right hand
weapon, with his left hand pulled
little sack OF bag from his belt, and,
tossing it to tho first man on the
left, said: "Place that over your
head, please, and then raise your
hands again. Don't make any at
tempt, gentlemen, to better your
for the first one who
makes II move will be dead man in
less than Il second" No. 1 placed
the bag over his head and raised his
hands as before. No. was treated
likewise, and so on until the seven
were served in tho same manner.
"What have you done with your
watch?" said he to the fifth one in
line. II have no watch" was the
II know you have none
now, but you had one short time
ago. What have you done with it?"
II never had one, surlily replied
the prisoner. Are you a lawyer"
inquired Burroughs. yes" Then
I forgive you for lying, for that is
part of your profession. But by an
of your vest button
holes and your vest pocket l am
that you had a watch less
than ten minutes ago. Now, where
is it? Tell me quick!' The lawyer,
for in truth he was a lawyer, saw
at once that his captor was as
shrewd, if not shrewder, than he
was, 80 he made no more efforts at
concealment, and answered frankly:
II tossed my watch and chain out
of the window when you halted us.
1t is lying over there in the grass.
II thought so, said the robber
"Please remove the lit
tie bag that conceals your handsome
features, step over to the spot and
pick it up for me-" The lawyer did
as requested. He watched an oppor-
tunity to make dash, if possible,
to catch the highwayman off his
guard, but the latter was not of that
kind and actually pierced the un-
happy lawyer with his lynXliko
gaze. When the valuable timepiece
was placed in his hand, Burroughs
made a polite bow to the owner and
it back to him. Take it"
said he, with sarcastic grace, land
keep it in remembrance of your no.
BILE loyalty to your profession. No
lawyer can afford to toll the truth,
and l admire you for your faithful
ness to the cause" -Denver Field
and Farm.