The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-06-22

where neither man nor beast could get
subsistence. Their statements have PROV
ed false in every particular, as we have
thus far found the country well watered,
the soil good, everything yielding an
abundance of the mos nutritious grasses,
with a great sufficiency OF wood for al
the purposes of the traveller"
Colonel Marcy, on page 10 Of "Marcey's
Red River of louisiana" says of the
Wichita mountains:
There are a vein of quartz, greensboro
and porphyry running through the granite
similar to those that characterize the
gold-bearing formation of California, New
Mexico and elsewhere. This fact, in con-
nection with our having found some small
particles of gold in the detritus along the
bed of Otter creek, may yet lead to the
discovery of important aurferous depos-
its in these mountains. Among the border
settlers of Texas and Arkansas an opin-
ion has for long time prevailed that
gold was abundant here, and several eX-
petitions have been organized for the
purpose of making examinations, but the
Indians opposed their operations, and in
every instance, l believe, compelled them
to abandon the enterprise and return
home"
In 1S42 MAJOR Van Dorm was sent to es-
tablish a mil tary depot near the Wichita
mountains. In his report to Adjutant
General Wit'ters he says:
Il have established the depot on Otter
creek. There is a sufficient growth Of
timber hereto build, should it be deemed
advisable to do so, the principal species
of trees being walnut, of large. healthy
growth The creek is the assemblage Of
many springs and the water is clear, linn
pid and good"
The camp was named Camp Dedzimin-
ski, and the earthworks are yet plainly
visible. They are at the point on Otter
creek where the survey Of the Oklahoma
City & Western railway enters the val
ley.
In 1884 Colonel Henry Dodge visited this
region, and L.uetenant Wheeock, who
was charged with the duty Of reporting
to the depa- ment upon the incidents OF
the journey, says:
Country exceedingly beautiful soil
good, water abundant, graz ng excellent
Height Of ,hese mountains from 200 to
1.5O0 feet"
After moving westward across the
north fork Of Red river and into what is
now Greer county, Lieutenant Wheelock
continues:
We had net with little or no game
for several Gays, and found most excel
lent fare in the dishes of corn and beans
which they Toyish Indians) dress with
buffalo fat. They served US this literally
and for dessert gave US water melons and
wild pums. Our men purchased good
corn, dried horse meat and buffalo meat
Again, referring to the Indians living
in what is row Greer county, lieutenant
Wheelock saws:
"To our tat surprise we have found
these people cultivating quite extensive
fields of corn. pumpkins, melons, beans
and squashes."
AS Colonel Dodge's command approached
the Washita valley probably about md
way between Chickasha and Anadarko,
Lieutenant Wheelock's journal thus de-
scr.bes the country:
They (Comanche Indian guides) point
ed to their village at several m les dis
tance, in tn midst Of one Of the most
> enchanting valleys that human eyes ever
looked upon. The general course Of the
, valley is from northwest to southeast,
, several miles in width, with a magn.h-
cent range of mountains rising in the
stance beyond"
r on Octobe: % 1858, Major Van Dorm,
writing from Camp Radz minski to Ma
: jor Emory, Of the First Cavalry, says:
You VIII find the country on Cache
, creek most suitable for a military post
7 1t is heavily timbered with the finest tim
I Der for building purposes 1 have seen in
, the country. The water is good near the
T mountains md the scenery S beautiful
In addition to all this, it is on the slope
Of the Wichita mountains, and well pro
; tected from northers."
n On November 22. 1858, Daniel c. Major
4 writing to Major Emory Of his trip from
: the present site Of FIT. Sll to Camp Rad
; ziminsk, sa IS:
=. I'VE pursued a course nearly west, and
!. came close 10 the base of the Wichita
utaries of Beaver and Cache creeks, In
e most Of which was abundance of good
c water, whilst the banks were covered
!. with a good growth of timber. l might
hI say much in favor of the main Beaver
I and Cache creeks-of the fine land, gooC
d water as wei as timber the abundance
v Of game and many other advantages"
E Did homeseekers ever have a more in
viting country to invade? DID gold seek
= ers ever have more fiattring reports Of
: the country about to be prospected?
But many will ask did the army off,
Z GERS faithfully describe the country? Az
, ter a personai inspection we are prepared