Griggs courier., 1895-09-06
THE RIDING RECORD.
a TRADITION OF THE DAYS OF THE
SANTA FE TRAIL.

CT the traditions OF tho little city of In.
dependence. which until the days of the
railroad was the eastern terminus of
the Santa Fe trail, the following story
was told:
In the old days of the Santa Fe trail
the freighters made one round trip q
season. The Americans very generally
wintered at Independence, while the
Mexican traders naturally put in the
same season at the town Of Santa Fe.
In the spring the teams were made up,
the wagons loaded, and the long cara
vans OF prairie schooners, with their
white tilts and from to IL yoke of
oxen. began moving out ON their long
voyage across the plains.
As was stated, these outfits made only
one round trip per season, the Mexicans
getting rid Of their freight ut Independ-
ence some time along in midsunmer
and loading mp again for Santa Fe,
while the Americans threw of their
first load at Santa Fe and reloaded again
for Independence.
Along in the late forties an enerRetic
character named Frank K. Aubrey came
from New Yorks to Independence
bought lot Of teams and started into
business as freighter. Such was his
push and vim that he made two trips q
season, starting out from Independence
IN the early spring and winding up his
second round trip at that point rather
late in the fall. Aubrey piled up great
deal Of money at the business and set
such an energetic example that he was
soon recognized as leader.
With all bis business thrift and vigor
Aubrey was also what one might call
"a sporting character Tho distance
from Santa Fe to Independence was
about 800 miles. One day while dis
cussing freighting and the length Of
time it ought to take to cover the dis
tance between Independence and Santa
F'e Aubrey made the rather bold asser-
tion that he could start alone OH a sin.
gle horse and push through to Independ-
ence in eight days himself.
A dispute arose, and the result was
that Aubrey offered to wager S5, 900
that he could start ON Thoroughbred
horse he had, Of unusual speed and bot
tom, and with the liberty to buy such
horses as he might need on the way, and
SO remount himself as often as he had q
chance, and he in Independence at the
stage station in less than eight days Of
"a hours each from the time he left
Santa Fe. The money was covered and
the wager made.
Aubrey started and was in Independ-
cnce, Mo-, in just 2 days aud 10 hours
from tho time he said goodby to Santa
Fe. He had remounted himself twice.
Then q second wager was made. The
parties who had lost the e5, 900 with the
bold New Yorker. after considerable
dickering, managed to make q wager Of
$4,000 q side with Aubrey. This time
he was to 60 from Santa Fe to 1ndepend-
ence, q run of 800 miles, in six days.
It was at the best season Of the year.
There were no rains. while the grass
was good and the trail as bard as q
pavement Aubrey had the same liberty
to remount himself as often as he came
upon o horse that he preferred to his
own. But ho was not permitted to ar
range relays Or post horses in advance
along the trail. Indeed he had no time
wherein to make these arrangements
even if he had desired to and they had
been allowed.
He started out Of Santa Te the even
ing Of June day. It was Sunday. Tho
Mexicans locking on argued success to
the daring rider from the holy character
Of the day. All he had with him as
provender was little dried beef. He ex-
pected to get food at the Stage stations
along the trail Saturday afternoon Of
the same week he rode into the public
square at Independence. winning the
race by five hours He was just days
and 10 hours riding the 800 miles, and
had used II horses. He had had two
brushes with Indians, and had been
chased by them at the Cimmaron cross
ing Of the Arkansas, and again at Paw
nee Rock. He escaped, however, with
nothing worse than an arrow through
his arm.
It is related that when he slipped
from the saddle at Independence he
hadn + slept wink for sc hours. By
ISLANDERS asserted that he was sound
asleep the instant he touched the ground
Aubrey was carried into the hotel and
put to bed, and never opened his eyes
again until Monday morning about q
O'Clock. He then came around as fresh
AZ daisy and as hungry as wolf He
routed out the cook Of the hotel, made
him come down to the kitchen and cool
him something to eat He won $l5, ,00C
On these two races, and in the last one
made record for long distance riding
never surpassed.
lust to show how such q man Of stee,
and zeal may end. it might be added
that Frank x. Aubrey was Stabbed K
death in . brawl in Santa Fe danc>
hall This was some i've years after hi
great ride. Old plainsmen will tell you
however, Of the exploits Of Aubrey, and
he IL reverently mentioned with sucl
worthless a. Sublette. Kit Carson, Bez
Holiday and old Jim Bridger.-Wash
ington Star.