Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-11-17
TAINTED THE SPRING.
HOW WHISKY GAP, wy, GOT ITS
PECULIAR NAME.
The Frontiersmen's Fable that the Mountain
Stream was a Fountain Of Youth Dispelled by
the True Story Of the Blending Process

overland train days of the early six
ties-have shrugged their shoulders at
the mention OF Whisky Gap for nearly
40 years. This is the place, according
to their belief, where real " tirewater"
gushcd out of the rocks in beautiful
mountain spiing to quench the thirst
of Il whole company of Uncle Sans
trained Indian fighters. "lt was
nothing but pure spring water" they
say;"a veritable fountain OF youth"
Colonel c. c. Coutant, the author OF
a history OF Wyoming and the pioneer
days OF the West, has learned the true
story of Whisky Gap to be somewhat
different from the fountain of youth
fable. According to historical record
OF the early days along the govern
ment overland trail, Whisky Gap re-
ceived its name in 1862 during the
building of the overland stage route
from Denver to Salt Lake City and
the Pacific Coast.
The people of Denver had long been
working to secure the regular overland
stage route, then connecting the East
and the West. In 1862 Ben Holiday,
a veteran stage man, became proprie-
tor of the great overland line, and he
agreed upon route running through
Denver to the West. He decided to
discontinue that part of the road run
ming up the North Platte and the
Sweetwater rivers and across South
Pass, Wy. The many Indian difficult
ties experienced on this route were the
inducements to abandon it.
The new trail led by way of Jules
burg, Colo, to Denver, and on over the
established wagon road to Fort Lup-
ton, and north across Laramie Plains,
then due west through Bridge Pass,
Wy, joining the old trail leading
across the country to the Pacific
Coast. The change was made during
the summer of 1862. All the rolling
stock, horses and other property OF the
company were gathered at the station
just above DEVILS Gate, in central Wy.
oming. Company A of the Eleventh
Ohio cavalry, with Major O'Farrel in
command, was the detailed escort at
the time.
During the first day the long line Of
coaches, wagons, horses and mules
made IL miles from the station where
the property had been gathered. The
route chosen was directly south from
the Sweetwater river. The camp Sc.
lected vas in gap in the mountains
where there were a fine spring and
plenty Of wood for cooking purposes.
Shortly after going into camp the
major discovered that quite number
of his soldiers were intoxicated, and
he at once sent for Lieutenant w. H.
Brown, who was officer of the day,
and informed him OF the condition of
many of the men and gave it as his
opinion that some one was selling
whisky in the camp. The command
was doing escort duty not only for
stage stock and stores, but also for
number of emigrants who had availed
themselves of the opportunity for safe
conduct over the plains.
Lieutenant Brown received orders to
search all wagons, and if he should
discover whisky to destroy it. Taking
a corporal and three or four men, he
commenced the search for the contra
band article and found at last barrel
OF whisky in an emigrant wagon. The
officer ordered his men to roll the bar
rel out of the wagon. knock in the
head and empty the contents ON the
ground. This was done, but it
chanced that the spot where the whis-
ky was emptied was just above the
spring, and the fiery liquid went pour
ing down into the water supply of the
camp.
The soldiers saw what was going on,
and they rushed forward with cups,
canteens, buckets and camp kettles to
save what they could OF the coveted
"spirits." Many man stopped over
the spring and drank almost without
breathing until he was drunk.
One soldier who had succeeded in
getting full canteen from the spring
paid his respects TO Major O'Farrell at
the headquarters tent, assuring his
commanding officer, with maudlin
mien and many a "hic," that that
was the finest spring he had ever seen
and the very best water he had ever
tasted.
Major O'Farrell was apprehending
an attack from the Indians that night,
and the,.condition of his men fairly
disheartened him. He saw at a
glance that even a small band OF saw
ages could make successful raid on
| l.. ~ Al 4