The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-12-17


county, Kan, as the cars pass swiftly
westward, the tourist from his plate
glass window may look upon the local
ity of the once famous ford of the Ar
crossing. The two routes to Santa Fo
here diverged. That by the WAY of tho
crossing was over the sand desert, 81
called in the days Of the commerce Of
the prairies, which was relatively de-
void Of water In the droughtiest times
the oxen would frequently drop dead III
their Jokes from the terrible torture Gt
thirst. The Arkansas at the ford is Wdo
and generally but Il few inches III depth
Il was, therefore, an excellent place 10
make the passage Of the stream.
The other trail 10 Santa Fe followed
the Arkansas river to Bent 5 fort, where
it crossed spur Of the Rocky noun
tains, a mach longer but safer journey
for the caravans, for there was, If
course, always an abundance of wafer
the grass generally good, besides some
timber existed i'll spots on the banks Of
the stream.
The boundary line between the Unit
ed States and NV Mexico ran north
and south through the Arkansas river
at the Cimarron crossing, and that point
the American troops changed places
with the Mexican, the former returning
eastwardly in escorting the caravans,
while the latter made their way back
through Mexican territory to Santa Fe.
Cimarron crossing was famous spot
for attacks by the Indians on the freight
caravans, the government trains, the
overland stage, or any outfit passing
along the old Santa Fe trail in the long
ago, before the railroad was regarded AZ
possibility even. One of the most IN
equal in point Of numbers and tierceness
of the numerous attacks occurred III tho
spring Of ls6j, i'll which several promi-
neut Kansans We're participants.
Major Rodney Smith, paymaster
United States army, who was ON one Of
his periodical trips to pay the troops
stationed at the several military posts in
the department of the Missouri that
were located On the Arkansas river at
the date specified above, encountered tho
notorious Satanic, war chief Of the Ki0-
was, and above "a thousand Of his blood
thirsty followers at CimArron crossing,
holding his own against such fearful
odds until bis brave little party wero
rescued by detachment of cavalry hur-
riedly sent to his relief on the second
day Of the fight.
The gallant band IF men who did
such remarkable work in defending
themselves against tGe horde of tho
worst savage cutthroats on the plains at
that time was composed of the paymas-
ter, who was the ranking officer and III
command; Major A. p Shaw, now in
Topeka; John Il, Jones, now in Okla
hCma; Jack Angle, Ed Doyle, Tom
Smith and IA small escort of enlisted
men of the Fifth United States infan-
try, which had been furnished at old
Fort Lyon, the last post in tho upper
Arkansas valley.
Having completed his duties at Fort
Lyon, Major Smith. with his compan-
ions, escort and strong box, left there
ON Wednesday morning Immediately
after IA very early breakfast, intending
to make Fort Dodge the next post on his
route where the troops were to be paid
When the party, who We're III excellent
spirits, had Travelled about 80 miles
along the broad old trail, trapper we'll
known to the major, hailed him and i'll
formed him that the kiowas We're out
hx-f l,at
nate fiend, Satanic, their war chief and
advised him to keep good lookout for
an ambuscade or IA direct attack from the
old he devil. He told the major further
that the savages large band Of them,
had congregated in the sand hills south
of the Arkansas, near Cimarron cross
ing, and were watching for "a favorable
opportunity to pounce upon some freight
caravan, government train, the overland
coach, or any outfit that promised them
plumber and few scalps
The paymasters little command
camped that night under the high bluffs
bordering Sand creek, putting out dou-
BILE guards and exercising every precau-
ton to prevent IA surprise, but there was
no disturbance Of any character except
ing the usual hideous concert of howl
ing wolves, not an Indian was seen nor
heard, nor We're any signs discovered 10y
the scouts indicating that they had been
proving around
The next morning the journey was re
sumed, every one now especially Vigl
liant for the first appearance of savage
but everything went along smoothly uu-
til they We're within a few miles of
Cimarron crossing. There one of the ad-
vance guard, who was mounted ON a
magnificent American horse, and who
had ridden IA few miles farther ahead
on the trail, came dashing back and re
ported to Major Smith that an immense
number of Indians, rugged ont in all
their war parapherDalia, were right ON
the bank of tho river, and evidently pro-
posed to prevent the command from
proceeding any farther. He said that
they had their guns unslung, their robes
off, their lances We're poised their bows
strung and they were prancing about on
their ponies, certainly getting ready for
"A fight
Upon this intelligence the major
closed mp his small column, and, send
ing his scouts on, kept all his force on
the alert III momentary expectation If
hearing the Wild ringing warwhoop Of
the bloodthirsty Kiowas echo over the
prairie. The sayages did not make their
appearance then, however, and the now
excited little command arrived at Cnn-
AKRON, crossing long before dark