The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-02-03
a Run From
Conanehes.
BY Clarence PulleD.
EE3$-3&-3e3G-3&-3&
Copyright, 1881

"IHEN in the early 7Os Edgar Cat
w lett. fresh from college, came
from his New York home to Texas for
the purpose of starting a cattle ranch
he was just 81 years old. 1t was his first
visit to the Lone Star state, and he wise
~ waited to learn something of the
country, its people and their ways be-
fore investing. He soon found out that
the best ranges near the settlements
were all taken up, and that if he wished
TO secure ranch cheaply he must push
out beyond them to the westward. He
heard much of the staked plain, vast
stretch of high prairie lying between
the forks Of the Brazos in Texas and
the Pecos river in New Mexico, and he
determined to make hunting trip out
into this country, where perhaps he
might find good range on which to
start his ranch. For this purpose he
went to the little town of Venadita.
then on the far border, bearing with
him aletter Of introduction to William
Garter, the principal merchant of the
place. Carter received him cordially
and gave him full information as to the
best routes to take and the outfit he
would require, and with it warning.
There is danger from the Indians
always on the staked plain:' he said.
1T is the ranging ground of the Co.
manches and Kiowas, and if you should
fall in the way of band of these In
dams they will attack you if they can
do it without too much risk
But I thought these Indians were all
Cd reservations under guard?" said
Eatlett.
"'Oh, they've made treaties and moved
their lodges to eservation-that's
true" said Carter. "But it doesn't
make much difference. The bucks stay
Oh the reservation enough to draw ra-
tons and get their yearly presents.
They get passes from the agent to go
out and hunt, or slip away without
leave, and then they're ready for any
deviltry that offers. The troops and
rangers and cowboys together can't
keep them from stealing horses and
taking white scalps, and many a lone
herder, hunter and emigrant outfit is
wiped out with none to tell the tale.
You'd better see if you can get Sam
Bronson to 60 with you. He's good
aman every way, and he knows the
Astaked plain and the Comanches as
well as any man in Texas"
The same day the merchant intro:
'duced Catlett to Sam Bronson. The
man was of different style from the
red-shirted cowboys, who with wide
brimmed hats, leather chaperidos and
faring spurs rode into Venadita now
and then for spree, and sometimes
"'shot up" the town. Beside these pic
turesque, dashing riders, silent, unas-
Stunning Sam Bronson, in his plain suit
of California overalls stuff, looked un-
romantic and commonplace. But when
Catlett on the next day saw Bronson
with his rifle knock the spot through
the ace of hearts on playing card
mailed to tree at so yards away, firing
&offhand, he decided that here was the
man he wanted. Two days later they
made their start for the staked plain
on horseback, driving pack mule car
rying blankets, flour, bacon, salt, COT
fee and ammunition for a months trip
For fresh meat they depended upon
game, for these were days when the buf-
falo roamed the plains, and, once away
from the settlements, it was seldom
that a herd of these shaggy-headed
beasts ora band of graceful antelope
was not somewhere in view of the two
hunters.
The staked plain, where now the cat
tie and sheep Of many ranchmen pas
ture, was then an arid, unpeopled
prairie. Tie water courses which cut
the plain are commonly dry except for
q few hours following heavy rains, but
there are springs and water holes
which the buffalo and the Indians, but
only few white men, knew about, at
the time of which I write. It being
July, the beginning of the rainy season,
the springs were flowing freely and
the water holes were full-but Bronson
/ knew that the showers which made the
grass green and covered the prairie with
flowers brought the Comanches, sure
of feed for their ponies, from the reser-
vation, seeking human prey and booty;
and, without showing anxiety, he noted
every sign that might Indicate their
presence. Il. 81.
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