The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-05

crossed the cattle trail leading to Texas
Here were encountered the long herds OF
Iexas cattle, which used to stampede when
they saw the wagon trains and cause the
nerders much annoyance. Buffalo herds on
the prairies further west were more dam
serous, as they would sweep down like a
ton OF an entire wagon train IL it were a
snort one But there was always the COM
pensation OF hunting the buffalo, and the
travellers never missed It.
A THOUSAND MILES NORTHWEST.
Almost as great as the Santa Fe, but not
so well known, was the Oregon trail which
was in way an offshoot OF the older
course. 1t turned north along the Kansas
river, then UP the Blue from Manhattan
little cemetery on the Blue still contains
the headstones put up by travellers by this
long route to the far Northwest.
Reaching Nebraska the trail took the
course Of the Platte and crossed the plains
beside the stream much as the Santa Fe
trail further south remains alongside the
arkansas. Then, following the North
rate 1t went TO Wyoming and reached
week or two for refreshment and replen-
isnment OF provisions, before entering the
wild and barren Rattlesnake hills, near the
center OF wyoming, whose caverns and ra-
vines Afforded hiding-paces for the red
SKINS When the hills were passed the trav
eIers came TO the Sweetwater river, and
followed 1t where ii broke through the hills
forming the South Pass This is long and
fedious climb. and the appearance OF Fort
halI Wnere more provisions could be OBJ
tanned. was blessed sight. Later comes
Fort Boise in Idaho. and then along the
Snake river they entered Oregon when the
journey was ended.
The Oregon trail was the most dangerous
OF all the overland routes. Indians were
so bad that IL was a government regula-
ton that one hundred armed men should
be In each company. The huge freight
wagons were part of the travelling cara
vans and the high prices of everything on
the coast made many a freighter rich.
More women and children went over the
oregon trail as farmers went to the North
west, while miners and young men bent on
speculation took the Santa Fe route. The
returning parties were always well loaded
with gold dust and the utmost care and
Gods country" again with the riches.
THE GREAT BLIZZARD OF 81.
The weather was one of the things that
one could safely predict in starting
across the Santa Fe trail. Sometimes 1t
would be mild Indian summer from De-
cember to April, and the trains could go
through easily. Again the snow would
be deep and nothing could prevent suffer-
ing. In the winter of 1857, according to
old timers who recall the history of the
trail with much satisfaction, there was
fine weather until January. Then sud-
denly a blizzard of sleet, and. later, of
fine snow swooped down ON the plains.
caravan of wagons was caught out
on what are now Marion county prairies
and made a quick turn back to the
S,x-mlIe House. They were not able to get
there, the storm blinded the horses and
made it impossible to reach the shelter.
Finally the wagons were drawn up in a cir
Gle and, as a protection against the wind
the blankets and horses were lined up along
the north side of the camp. The snow was
growing deeper constantly. and finally 1t
was decided to move the children and wom
en- TO the stone building for protection BY
carrying them one by one this was ac-
complished by morning, and all the party
was finally housed in safety. But the cold
so injured the horses that many OF them
died and the caravan was compelled to re-
main several weeks until new horses could
be obtained, when they went on TO the
mountains.
The Santa Fe trails full history will never
be written, because SO many OF those who
knew it in the early days are now passed
away. The little mounds along its course
have their tales of death and disappoint-
ment and the work of the settlers has
smoothed out the wrinkles in the sod made
by the hundreds of wheels. The Kansas Pa
cific railway was built through from Kan
sSs City to Denver in 1867-6S-69, and later
came the Santa Fe system, which now runs
its long express trains over the old trail.
and see here and there belated emigrant
wagon crawling slowly along, mere speck
in the vast expanse of plain, and wonder
why the occupants do not take the train.
They forget that there was a time when
the emigrant wagon was the height of lux
ury and the Overland Express was I'M
dreamed Of