Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-10-07
49, IS. = = = 3 3 9. = 3 X&.s
La Mddr6 D'OrO. /;
~ ALFRED r. CALHOUN. !


y
through western New Mexico and
whose line of examination lay into Ari-
zona, along the thirty-fifth parallel,
where a railroad is now built.
A wilder country than that was at
that time would be difficult to imagine.
Far apart there were a few wretched
United States posts called by courtesy
4'forts," but the Navajoes and the
Apaches-the latter under the famed
Chief Cochise-made it unpleasant trav-
cling through the lofty mountains and
across the sterile mesas that distinguish
that land.
Every man in our party walked with
his rifle at his back and his pistols in his
belt, and when we lay down on our
blankets at night our weapons were
within easy reach and our pickets were
as carefully posted as if we were in the
presence of an enemy, as indeed we
might be said to be at all times, for,
thoughswe did not often catch sight of
the willy savages, we had every reason
to believe that they never lost sight
of us.
La Sierra Madre, or the mother noun
tain, as the early Spanish explorers very
properly called the great continental
divide. or watershed, is crossed by sew
eral trails near the latitude mentioned,
the most noted being Campbell's pass,
so miles to the west of Fort Wingate.
1 had ridden ahead in this pass with
two troopers to make some topograph-
ical examinations and was about five
miles in the advance of the main party
when an exclamation from one of the
soldiers caused me to rein in my horse
and to ask the cause of the alarm
II saw an Injun, sir, up there in the
woods" said the soldier, indicating the
direction with his carbine.
In an instant were dismouuted
and watching, with our brides overEour
arms and our carbines ready.
After waiting some minutes began
to think the man was mistaken, and
was about to give the order to remount,
when horse plunged down the steep
mountain side, and a glance told me
that the remarkable-looking person on
the creatures back was neither Apache
nor NavajOe, but white man like our
selves.
This riders long hair and beard
looked to be as white as the snow on
the distant mountain peaks, and his
costume was a fantastic though de-
cidedly picturesque cross between the
dress of a Mexican and that of a north
west hunter
The pommel of his saddle, the but
tons on his: leggings. the stock of his
long rifle and the hits of his pistols
and knife fairly flashed with silver. He
was we'll mounted and rode in a way
that showed that the years that had
frosted his hair had not iessened his
wonderful skill as horseman.
He came fearlessly toward US and
shook hands, saying as he did so, with
the manner of an educated man: 'My
name is Levi Bronson; did you ever
hear of me before?"
I told Mr.. Bronson 1 never had heard
of him before, but to save his pride. for
the confession seemed to give him pain,
L added:. 81 am a civil engineer and
have not been long in this region
"a civil engineer?" he repeated.
what do you want in these noun
tains?' and he waved his hands about
him. and looked as if he thought me an
intruder. l told him that if he rode
back toward our party with me would
explain our object; at the same time l
expressed my surprise that any man
should venture into such a dangerous
territory alone.
Il know the Indians, and the In
dams know me-" said this remarka BILE
man. "T am to them the Silver Chief. a
great mfdicine man. who lived with
them and nursed them back to health
when they sickened before the men OF
my race came TO Stay and staEve them
All, 1 sometimes blush for the white
blood in my veins!"
There was strange CLEAN in his
eyes as he spoke. and / concluded thai
the stranger was not we'll balanced.
told him the object of our survey. which
Had the Pacific ocean for its objective
point and railroad for it's conclusion
but the information did not please him
at is folly to build railroad through
q Wilderness" he said. what is there
to support a railroad here?" and agar
he waved his long arms at the forest
covered hills.
/ told him that railroads had becom.
the pioneers of civilization, and thai
along their tracks farms and villages
and cities sprang up.
THAT may be in other places" h.
said, but it is impossible that rail
Voad should exist so close to Madrs
a'Oro''
'.Madre d'Oro?" 1 repeated.
"Yes: Madre d'Oro means the mother
of gold. Did you never hear of it q
1 confessed that 1 never had, and ex
pressed desire to be enlightened.
The old man eyed me for a few sec
onds in silence, as if judging whether
Svas worthy or not; then he shook hi:
head. and said:
1T is my secret. and do not know yo,
well enough to confide it."
1 bowed and we rode back to wher,
the engineer corps had formed a camp
Levi Bronson remained with us near