Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-04-07

the law making the grant all the
buildings on the land are included in
the gift The state is given five
years in which to accept the grant,
but it is understood that provision
has already been made by the legisIa-
ture which enables Governor Stanley
to accept it at once.
The Reservation is in Ellis county,
100 miles from the west, north and
south lines of the state, and embraces
1900 acres of mostly level bottom
land, Big creek, considerable
stream and well timbered, flowing
along the north boundary for dis
! tance of fifteen miles. With the eX-
ception of the old military post build
ings, the land is as wild and unculti-
waited as when the Indian and buffalo
/ held undisputed sway. 1t is doubt
less as fine a body of land as can be
! found in the state. The U. =. rail
road touches the Reservation at Hays
City, thriving town, gaining name
during the military occupation for
deeds of lawleSSneSS, but now quiet
and orderly. The town is built UP to
the north line of the reservation and
a handsome iron bridge across Big
creek connects with the old post.
The old government bridge of heavy
| timber still stands few rods further
up the creek, but is in Il state of
decay and practically useless.
| The old post buildings are mostly
of wood and consist of officers quar-
ters, barracks. guard house, store
rooms, blacksmith shop and numerous
stables and sheds. The row of Off
GERS quarters must have been quite
elegant in their day, being finished
inside with hard wood, paint and pa
per. Along the north front, facing
the parade ground, covered veranda,
shaded by trees. runs the whole length
of the row of ten two-story cottages.
1t is not difficult to imagine the gay
scene when these quarters were occu-
pied and on special occasions the long
veranda was crowded with fair women
and brave men, while the troops
marched and countermarched on the
parade to the music of the fife, drum
and bugle.
A half-mile west of the post build
ings lies the post cemetery. The Or
derly ranks of graves, marked by
white headstones, are neglected and
oyergrown with weeds. In 1892 prep
aratiOnS were made to remove the
bodies to one of the national ceme-
teries, but a protest was raised on
account of alleged danger of small
poX and cholera infection from the
graves and the work was abandoned
In the summer of 1867 cholera invad-
ed the post and adjoining town, and
within a few days 64 men died of that
disease and were hastily buried in
the post cemetery. Smallpox also
prevailed at times and carried off
many victims. The State of Kansas,
which now falls heir to this historic
ground, might well beautify and care
for this neglected resting place of
men who died in her defense. Or.
perhaps the tender souls of the Peace
Society may desire to raise funds to
securely fence in these dangerous In
dian fighters.
The material for the post buildings.
except the stone, was hauled by OK
Teams from LedNonWOTUD, railroads
having then advanced only to the
Missouri river in their triumphant
progress from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific. The despofling hand of Time
and the ravages of thieves ana tramps
have left the old post deSolate Its
glory has departed never to return,
put in its place shall arise the tenn
pies of Peace and Learning, which
endure forever.
To Gen. Phil Sheridan is doubtless
due the credit of saving this body of
choice land to the people of the State
of Kansas. When, as commander of
the Department of Missouri, he was
petitioned to recommend the opening
of the reservation to homestead en-
try. he replied that when the millions
of acres of homestead lands in west
ern Kansas was occupied and culti-
waited, lie would do so. but not till
then That time never came whIIe