The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-10-12

Two Trips Killed In = Brawi.
Not long ago the writer had occasion
to visit western Missouri. Among one
Of the traditions of the little city of In.
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
season. The Americans very generally
wintered at Independence, while this
Mexican traders naturally put i'll the
same season at the town of Santa Fe
In the spring the teams We're made up,
the wagons loaded. and the long cara
vans of prairie schooners, with their
white tits and from 8 to Is 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 Mexicaus
getting rid II their freight at lndepend,
euce some time along i'll midsummer
and loading up again for Santa Fe,
while the Americans threw off their
first load AT Santa Fe and reloaded again
for Independence,
Along III the late forties an energetic
character named Frank Y. Aubrey came
from New York To Independence,
bought lot of teams and started into
business as u freighter. Such was his
push and vim that he made two trips
season, starting out from Independence
in the early spring and winding up his
second round trip at that point rather
late III the fall Aubrey piled up great
deal OF money at the business and st,
such an energetic example that he was
soon recognized Us leader
With all his business thrift and visor
Aubrey was also what one might cali
IA sporting character. - The distance
from Santa Fe to Independence WAS
about 500 miles. One day while dis
cuSslng trei-htiug and the length o,
time 1T ought 10 take TO cover the dis
tance between Independence and SAINTS
tion that he could start alone Oh a sin
gle horse and push through 10 lndepend
ence III eight days himself.
A dispute arose, and the re,ulr was
that Aubrey offered 10 wager 5000
that he cuLid start on a thoroughbred
horse he had, Of unusual speed and bot
tom, and with the liberty to bug such
horses u he might need On the way, and
SO remount himself as often Ia he had a
chance, and he III Independence at the
stage station III less than eight days of
?. hours each from the time he left
Santa Re. The money was covered and
the wager made.
Aubrey started and was in Indepcnd
ence, Mo-, in just days and 10 hours
from the time he Sai1 soodby to Santa
Fe. He had remOunted himself twice,
Then second wager was made The
parties who had lost the -, 900 with the
bold New Yorker, after considerably
dlckering. managed ~ make wager OF
$40, 900 side with Aubrey. This time
he was To % from Santa Fe H. Indcpend
euce, a run If 500 miles, III SIX days
1t was at the best season ~ the year
There were no rains while the grass
was good and the trail as hard ~
pavement. Aubrey had the same liberty
to remount himself as often Is he CANT
upon u horse that he preferred To hi.
own. But he was not permitted TO ar
range relays or post horses in advance
along the trail. Indeed he had no tim,
wherein tn make these arrangement.
even If he had desired To and they haC
been allowed
He started out Of Santa F. the even
,,,r, - Il t.
Mexicans looking on argued success t,
the daring rider from the holy characte
Of the day. All he had with him d
provender was little dried beef He ex
pected TO get food at the stage stations
along the trail Saturday afternoon o
the same week he rode into the publ,
square at Independence, winning tn,
race by five hours. He was just day
and 10 hours riding the 500 mi les, an,
had used / horses. He had had tw,
brushes with Indians, and had beer
chased by them at the CImmaron cross
ing Of the Arkansas, and again at Paw
nee Rock. He escaped. however, will
nothing worse than an arrow through
his arm.
1t is related that when no slippe,
from the saddle at Independence h.
hadn't slept a wink for 50 hours. BY
ISLANDERS asserted that he was SOM,
asleep the instant he Touched the ground
Aubrey was carried into the hotel an,
put to bed, and never opened his eye
again until Monday morning about
O'Clock. He then came around as fresl
az daisy and as hungry a. a wolf II
routed out the cook Of the hotel, mad
him come down to the kitchen and cool
him something to eat. He won flj 90
on these two races, and in the last on
made a record for long distance ridir,
never surpassed.
Just to show how such a man Of ste..
and zeal may end, it might be addet
that Frank X. Aubrey was stabbed I,
death in brawl in a Santa F. dane,
hall. This was some five years after hi
great ride. Old plainsmen will tell you
however, Of the exploits Of Aubrey. anc
he is reverently mentioned with sucl
worthless as Sublette, Kit Carson. Rei
Holiday and old Jim BridXer Wash
ington Star.
His Own Figures.