The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05
OLD SANTA FE TRAIL
RELICS OF THE OLD sIx-MIIE HOUSE
IN SOUTHERN KANSAS.
Once Famous Emigrant Route-Ro-
mantle Tales-Marks of Travel
: Yet Visible on the Plains.

democrat.
Four or five miles south of this little city,
sn the edge OF Lord Scully's dominions, is
an odd stone building. standing alone in the
midst of the prairie. 1t is forsaken lonely
and forgotten, yet a wealthy railroad man
sent an artist here from a far Eastern city
40 make a sketch of it, preparatory TO a
painting. wfch is TO adorn his library. The
building is the Six-mile House. once one of
the famous structures west of the Missis-
sippi and known to every traveller by the
old Santa Fe trail, which was the grand
trunk thoroughfare for westward travel
across the continent On it's walls are cut
hundreds of names, including scores which
would be recognized by newspaper readers
OF the older generations Il was famous
stopping place on a famous route, and hun
dreds of emigrant wagons-the great white
canvas-topped prairie schooners-found it q
delightful rendezvous before entering on the
long Indian-infested course across the level
plains westward.
The Six-mile House was one of the first
buildings erected in Kansas. and was about
twenty miles from Council Grove. the gath
ering spot of Indian chiefs when a meeting
with the whites was to be he'd. The huge
wagon trains which started out from the
Missouri river at Westport, now Kansas
city. found il delightful camping place
on their westward way Near it are the
famous Diamond Springs. clear gushing
waters bursting forth from the hillside in
The green prairie and the finest water 10
be found along the trail. The springs are
still there, but the old stone house is fall
ing INTO ruins, and, although one OF the
Sunfower States most remarkable relics,
viii be but a pile of rocks after a short
time longer. When 1t was in its glory it
was necessary as a protection from the
Indian bands. q family
and party of emigrantS found Ii pres
ent refuge in time of need" The strong
and the whole structure, with its fort-like
appearance. gives evidence of the great use
1T was 10 the travellers.
A MIGHTY HIGHWAY.
The Santa Fe trail was the greatest over
land thoroughfare. 1t was opened in 1922,
and for forty-five years was the highway
of travellers between the East and the
West. 1t was eight hundred miles in length
and rose so gradually from it's eastern
terminus at Westport, now Kansas City,
Until it reached the Rocky mountains, that
81 seemed perfectly level. Not bridge was
built on its entire course, and as the wind
blew and rains washed the soil away the
wheels of the big prairie schooners made
huge burrows in the dark, brown soil. On
the decllvfties these are most noticeable.
OFF across the pasture lands near the Six
yet be distinguished, but the rapid breaking
up of the sod is driving away even these few
"reminiscences Of those days.
The trail went west and then southwest
from Kansas City to Council Grove, thence
turning a little more sOutherly to strike the
Six-mile House and Diamond Springs. Next
IT headed off nearly west TO a huge sentinel
rock near Dodge City, which was the OBJ
5ective point for miles around. This huge
rock stands alone in the midst OF a great
level expause of buffalo grass clothed plain.
IT is two hundred feet high and has ad-
joining pieces of stone or even a mound of
earth. Around II the emigrant trains
camped, and in its sides are carved deep
the names OF those who sought its shelter.
1t is one OF the most wonderful formations
of the pr-airies, and is not eXcelled even by
those of the Garden of the Gods for strange
ness.
Leaving Sentinel rock. the trail went due
west until il entered Colorado, and then
turned southwark across deserts and along
side mountains. until it came into New
crossed the Rocky mountains, winding
down into the western terminus. Santa Fe.
The emigrants VINO through long weeks of
travel had suffered the anguish of their
desolate condition were rejoiced when San
IA FEES adobe houses came in sight. They
imagined that all now remaining was to
dig gold and grow rich. They soon found
out their mistake. but that did not stop
hundreds more coming over the same
All along the trail were cached or hid
Gen i'm huge mounds TO protect them from
indians supplies of various kinds. These
seemed that starvation was their lot.
A ROMANCE OF THE TRAIL
Out in central Kansas lives yet the hero
fne of one of the most romantic of adven-
lures an incident in the history of the
trail. One of the great caravans OF fifty
wagons travelling together for protection,
was midway across the State when two
young people who had made each others
acquaintance since starting became deeply
in love. But their perspective wagons were
far apart and they found little time for
love making. One day the girl rode OFF
across the prairie to gather the white wind
flowers that bloom here and there in the
sod and did not notice that she was out
OF sight of the trail. Suddenly an Indian
band came between her and her friends
and she a prisoner.
Her lover was wild when few hours
later he found that she was missing, and
Immediately set out TO track her and her
assaiants. Going a few miles he came TO
the fresh Indian trail and knew what had
happened. He set out TO overtake the par
~ alone and followed the trail until mid
afternoon. when it led him near the Sentinel
rock.
Climbing to it's towering height he saw
off TO the southeast a moving band OF horse
men, and these he pursued. coming near
enough 10 that II was the right party.
He waited until night and then crawled a
quarter Of mile through the grass to get
near the camp. His sweetheart was bound
by the fire and the Indians were smoking
a
tended taking her to some larger body, per-
haps to the chief down in what is now the
Territory. The Arkansas river was near the
camp and the rescuer was compelled TO
slip into its water course and so get on
the opposite side when the Indians
stretched out between him and their
captive.
Cautiously reaching the girl. he freed
her and both climbed down the bank &c
the water, in which they waded and swan
for mile. Then they reached the bank
and hid in a clump of sunfiowers.
The Indians soon missed the girl, and
for two days sought the runaway, but IN
vain. The lovers had managed the second
night to reach Sentinel rock. and then, be-
ing on the trail, fearlessly set out to join
their friends. After this adventure, OF
course, they were married at once by a
priest who was In the party. and after
making a competence in the far West
they returend TO Kansas 10 reside. The
husband has passed away, but the wife Is
stin living on the claim which they took
their homestead
\ RAILWAY COURSE POINTED OUT
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway
followed the old trail for hundreds OF miles
1t strikes 1t near Great Bend, thence goe:
on the cd right of way for long miles
across the plain. One OF the former presi-
dents of the road had once made the TRIP
over the trail as a prospector, and he al
ways declared that the first follower OF the