The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-10
TALES OF


AZ ;susez ever which some OF the
most marvellous rides have been
effected by men whose powers Of
~.sa,ancs have never been excel!ed In
h.storS.
Is~xnce riders rs the days OF the Com
80 az The Prasries'' was r. X. Aubrey.
xs,s ren.arEab.e fests IN THIS particular
-. eerrslnlv never been excsFied. x they
s.xe even ever been eQ1aied, which 10
xesnstui.
anhrsy sas a Scoteh-canadian by birth
- .~ufsrated direct from Queo@c 10 sns
ss.no.s West He was a man OF education.
s.xarenfIy. for I find that he was the
.usse< Of orr or two nerstorsoas articles
- tourney and sojourn in California.
~ss~s were published in one OF the early
sssoaxInes OF the country. about the time
- the discovery Of gold on the Pacific
~.s.s He had also travese6 extensively
nroush The then almost iuaceessib bic re-
ssar Of what IS now the territory Of Ari-
sona. and from him was first learned tae
,.es tat the saysgss OF that remote
us,;ear country employed gold bullets in
earring their crude firearms.
Ger Marcy net r. y. Aubrey In ,sfs,
~ha had fsst returned from California.
"a en- route crossed the Colorado near
az ontyes OF the big canyon. where he
1orrnss Marcy. he exchanged ieaden for
rot.ea rife balls and that these Indians
IA nat have the slightest idea of she reia-
~. value Of the TWO metals.
The first ride Aubrey attempted was in
go ~. made a bet that he could cover
sae distance from Santa Fe, y. 81, TO In
srnaudence. Mo. over the trail. in eight
Ssys. II Is 7es miles between the two
reia,s via the santa Fe trail" as the
hrirht caravans travelled *. and by that
,cu,e. on q wager Of 81 600. Aubrey was 10
Gde.
Aubrsy succeeded in winning. making
liz destination, the Jones house in In
I1penaence, three hours Before the ex-
srstion OF his time. During this. his first
IA be killed a number of horses. the
soztn Of one when Within twenty-five
niles OF Council Grove. compelled him 10
vslk 10 that place, carrying his saddle on
his hack where he obtained another ami
nal and continued his wonderful ride.
This feat Of Aubreys was regarded as
IRE greatest ride ever made by any one
ia ancient or modern times, and he be-
zane the hero OF the incipcnt border
,ovn. Independence, where he was fefed
and made the lion of the day. His fame
soread throughout the entire West, includ-
lax California, where he was Well known.
Although people marveled much at the
vcnderfgl endurance OF the man. ard
the remarkable time I'm which he had made
The trip stll Aubrey himself was not ut
ill satisfied with H. lie determined TO
break tina, record. and the following sea-
con be made another wager. OF $500 In
gold. that he would succeed 10 doing SO.
He accomplished his record-breaking
dash ACROSS tie great plains In the mar
vicious time # only I've days and thirteen
s4ss ufsfn hn
hctsl, the Jones house, where he had rid
den TO on his former trip On :his one.
when he reached that hcsteiry he was per-
teetiy exhausted and In fainiing concii-
tim. his horse qnisefins from head To foot
saa white with foam. Aubrey was lifted
from the back of his faithful animal by his
friends and carried into his room in the
house. where he lay in a complete stupor
soT I'VE days.
SIX harses which prsyioiis 30 starting
,ism saata Fc had been stationed at Is
taacss yssylng from twenty-five to fifty
a1iles sisns the route. fell dead under him.
50 terribly fast did he force them ON. He
Possessed a beautiful mare, Nelly. a IA
sostc animal. notes for her speed and en-
ea'snee. but she expired at the end OF the
first TO miles.
Aubrey was Killed by Mai. Richard
Ntghtman. a volunteer officer of the
Mexican war. and at the time OF the
tragedy WIS publishing "A paper In Santa
Re HE and Aubrey had been warm
friends for years. After his second great
tide Aubrey lef, Santa Fe for California.
and upon his departure for that region.
Wsish,man published an account OF his
friends leaving which, however, did not
a, all meet with Auhrey's approval. Upon
The iatter's return 90 Santa Fe in 1854 he
aad Neightwan met. 81 course. adjourn
e 10 saloon. where both ordered whis-
r. bat before either had time TO raise
'hetf glasses to their mouths. Aubrey said
10 Weightmsn: why did you publish that
Id lie about my going 10 CALIFORNIA;"
The manner in which AabreJ put the
question anGcrcd Maj. Weightman. and he
sarew bis whisky in Aulsrey's face. Au-
erey reached fer his revolver but before
Dc eonld draw II Weightman sprang upon
him and plunged his bowie knife into Au-
efey's heart. killing him instantly
Heightmaa WIS. of course, acquitted OF
TIE charge OF murder
Aubrey lies buried in an unknown
gave
Or his last great ride he rode day ana
NAH, stopping only long enough 20 leap
nem his tired animal and spring on 10 a
Nsss one. He made more than 20 miles
every tweuty-four hours and all the sleep
. ''NS sEEttsatTI OUT tnFcs hours dur
'as she entire i've days Auhrey's ride
eM7sec that famous one recorded In the
on English legends az the outlaw, Dick
sarp'n, from London IN York.
"eigatnlan Vas n dApper little fellow.
extremely polite and aYahie prff.ug him
- upon ''nrSG family" connections. and
assys HsoYtsd 4 Are cane lie had s
snaa rpslnd ball SO head hald an top.
hsa' hair. ilor.d complexion. ard small
Fs'ung. deepse; eyes. He was q man NJ
ne ability 4 fierce Scutherner and de-
iehsieT q slavery. He VAS pucky. he
s poor as De was proud. q high liver
80 me tastes ard habits az a millionaire
SO u" purse AZ "a pauper. lie resided
a'caissu- an.. Cor several wears: was
s ferofdtr Tsp NHN or two terms ana
4 candidate Ter reelection IA ISL. bat
"a aeteatet Whtn deprived az MS ofr =
vas u'cral5Y re,,rCi - cxtrefulties
.sa's'sn Nas ! most gallant officer tn
~ @exlcae var. ard when hossfitles conn
.o~oel aeiNf p iae North and tho South
Ninea ihe Confederate forces. wl'h
80 al tss sywpaihics were enlisted ~
'esFa'ic battle nf Wilson's cre=k. a.
= @ead g h'- essaGe, he Was KILLED. as
very summit - BLOODY tisi.'' three
- pse9-t hiss s-a,v. lie ana Gen
- - is3s Ri'htn thfr'v PAGES ~ each other
s-sA1 we're 2gsssi nf ~ sha ft.ss ara fEEF