Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-05-26


Rsss*N. kAs railroad. One car
stAIs9 [s1Wl conveyed the pas
sengers, three in
number, to this wilderness station.
We took up our bags and walked out
on the platform, There was no wait
ing-room; nor was there even solitary
hickman to whom we might appeal for
transportation. II hackmen there had
been, we could not have given him on
ders where to drive US.
The sun was setting. There was no
shadow of a hill or tree. Slowly the
prairie changed from green and brown
to pale yellow. and there We're no out
lines of irregularity to mark it's outer
circumference.
A few blanketed Indians stood about.
watching their supplies" with evident
anxiety. An occasional oath, borrowed
from the vocabulary of the white men
about them, was all the English which
they uttered or knew.
| No other building was in sight, save
a one-storied red structure just across
what is now, I suppose, the main
street in the city of Wichita, Kansas
In the doorway OF this red structure
above which was sign in black let
ters. Tavern" woman suddenly ap-
peared.
She beckoned to lis in the twilight
and seconded her motions by a shrill
cry OF Come over herer'
We obeyed, and entered the tavern.
Supper was soon provided at a long
board table, where we ate with the
cowboys and the freight hands. We
had corn bread, white bread. canned
vegetables and fresh pork, roasted and
fried. Black coffee was served in
cracked cups without saueers.
We were government employees on
our way to Fort Sill At Wichita the
railroad gave place to the stage line.
Before daylight we We're aroused for
breakfast, which was what was LEFT
of supper, made into hash. We. paid
our bill to the landlady. who wrapped
our greenbacks in a piece of bneEskin
and deposited them in a long. home
knit stocking which hung from her
apron band.
The stage-coach was drawn up to the
door BY four horses as gay and prane-
ing steeds as one could wish to see. The
vehicle itself, a stage-coach of the true
overland style, was large and strong.
with three seats beside the drivers.
The canopy, sides and cushioned seats
were of genuine brown leather
We started off at high speed. The
curly spring buffalo-grass seemed a.
soft as wool. The ground was nn-
broken save by the settlements Of tho
prairie-dogs, whose towns made almosr
continuous city on each side Of The
trail for many miles. The sauey in
habitants were out early. probably in
the interests of farming, standing
straight up and talking to one another
darling out Of sight down their aa3Fz
ways, and pesping out again as sud
denly.
The morning sun appeared, without
as he had set the night before
There were now and then little farms
planted with small peach-tleas.
From the doors OF dugonis. or ttnv
frame houses, half-dressea children
peeped curiously forth. On Ne snad
through creek and river. up slippprY
banks and on over the plains.
If this is staging" we said ssfhaa
good-by to steam cars for the prairie.
But our pleasant way, like MANY
another, was subject TO change At the |
end of fifteen miles we halted for a re-
lay. Our horses were foaming AMI
must be replaced by fresh ones Wo +
alighted at a small stage-line station
and were told TO take out our lnr- +
gage"
In six minutes we were ready Ia START
again. The four horses and leather
covered vehicle which had dashed opt
Of Wichita with Its pledge Of comfort
and rapidity, gave place to a dirty
two-mnle coach withcat
cushions.
The seats were high. and without
sacks save as we leaned eorner9fse
against the slender supports which
leld up the canopy.
Our new steeds were slow and stub
'orn. BY much fiogging from raw
Tide instrument, whose like have ney-
+ seen, they were induced to plod
long. They were thin in flesh. and
anne.
Now and then We saw early wild Gro
uses and canterbury bells. and the
oft, trailing sensitive plant. with its
ilken balls spattered with golden dust.
here were no more houses-only lev
!, unbroken plain. with an occasional
teep-banked stream, on whose margins
rev sperse fringe of cottonwood {
'ees.
A gray wolf trotted out OF the tim
CT and stared at US. Deer insthe dis I
tnce bounded away. while one solitary /