The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-10-22
WASHINGTON IRVING IN OKLAHOMA

Indiana will let him stay at home.
WASHINGTON IRVING IN OKLAHOMA
Guthrie, o. r., Oct. 10. 1896.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
notice in your Oklahoma Outlines OF
Sunday the 18th, suggestion that some
one ought to study the route of Washing
ton Irving and his party in their journey
through Oklahoma, and portrayed by him
in his Tour Of the Prairie"
/ have carefully read this book twice,
with both old and modern maps before
me. in the effort to trace his route, and
give you the result, as follows:
Mr.. Irving, in company with commits
sioner of the United tSates to treat with
the western Indians, a gentleman from
Philadelphia, and foreign count, with
guides, Indian scouts and a company OF
rangers, left Fort Gibson on the morning
Of Oct. 10. 1882.
They pursued their journey in north
westerly direction along the east bank OF
the Arkansas to point just north of the
mouth OF the Cimarron river, which ne
refers to as the RED Fork" After reach
ing this point they discussed their route
and he says they planned it to ''cross the
Arkansas just above the mouth of the
Red Fork, and then to keep westerly un-
til we should pass through grand belt of
omen forest called the Cross Timber,
which ranges north and south from the
Arkansas to the Red river, after which
we should keep a southerly course to the
latter river"
On ,he 18th they crossed the Arkansas
river just above the mouth of the Omar
ron and encamped in b dell, enclosed by
limestone bluffs, one-haif mile west OF
the river.
On the 10th the journey was resumed in
westerly direction and on that night
they encamped either on Camp creek.
which is a tributary of the Black Bear,
near the northeast corner of Payne coun'
~. or on Mail creek, which runs in the
opposite direction, into the Cimarron. and
just within the present boundaries OF
Payne county. Here they remained in
camp for two days, resuming the journey
on the 18th and on the night of the 18th
encamped on Saltwater creek, near the
present site OF Saltwater.
On the Goth the journey was resued IN
westerly direction ON the south side OF
Saltwater creek, through very hilly,
brushy country and they passed within a
short distance Of the peculiar monument
formation which may be observed on the
road from Orlando to Saltwater. on the
crest of a hill, about six miles from Or
laudo, which attracted the attention OF
Mr.. Irving and to which he gave the name
| of "Ciiff Castle
On the same day they came in sight OF
the Cinlarron and here the author de-
scribes the wooded cliffs on the south
bank CT the Cimarron. and four or five
miles northeast the present site of Guth-
RE.
On the night Of the aoth they encamped
near Bear creek southeast of MuihalI
Early in the forenoon they came 10 Eph-
ram creek or Skeleton, which they could
not ford on account of the steep banks,
and had to travel upwards some two
miles before they could find a place where
they could cross. From here they travel
ed III southwesterly direction and cross
ed the Cimarron at the southern exrrerni-
" of the large bend between Guthrie AMI
Klngfsher, and jest north OF the post
office of Downs.
Their track from this point to the South
Canadian river is shrouded in very great
obscurity The author speaks OF going
IN a southwesterly direction all OF the
time. and traversing a wooded country.
The time occupied in passing from the
Cinsrroa 10 the North Canadian vas
three days Had they beer going n a
southwesterly direction continuously, the
Journey would rot have occupied more
than a day and half at the outside nor
would they have trayessed any timber TO
speak of.
He also refers 20 being within DAYS
| tourney of ne east boundary Of Texas.
He also states that they crossed stream
between the Ciu1ar-on and the North Ca
madam where there was a very Ene beaver
dam Had they been going In south
westerly direction 10 such stream would
have been crossed He also Gays the
country OF their left was covered with
blackjack timber and on their r-ght was
open prairie. 1 think. beyond any quss-
ton, after crossing the Csmarrcn they
bore eastward and found the beaver dam
which he refers 20. ether Or tie Cotton
wood or upon the Deep Fork. and THAI N
| passing from the Ctnarroa TO the North
Canadian. they pursued a zie-zsg route.
and that this explains the time occupied
| Fl making the trip. His reference 70 the
boundary % Texas may De easily explain
e5 from the FAC; fha; al thai tine TIE o1e
4 aun6rsi;h meridian. which formed tse
boundary lire betsee= Mexico ard th-
United States WAS supposed 20 s~ ~hsrs
! the rs1ety-esga.n rners1iau = GOV. ShsCa
would be Esa- tn lire Of the Rock Islzad
1 railroad a. nos located.
| Mr.. Irvings scc0ua; % TIE eirecti07s 2,
erree5tzely confused tH7oasa sbs entire
book. ard he ms, have been srls.1s from
memory Itss certain tAss tEs main par
/ % the journey between the Ctzls-rSn al
North Canadian szs Al The 5EScsIoz .
TIE timber country ard tie osez prasTss.
and tbs nas. have bean near ihs yEkss -
/ Ire % the Santa Re Railroad.
TIE fur,aernos. po.E; vess reached ~