El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-02
REPORT OF RECONNAISSANCE
FROM FORT SMITH. ARKANSAS.
TO THE RIO GRANDE, TO FIND A
ROUTE. TO ESCORT EMIGRANTS,
AND TO CONCILIATE THE IN
DAMS
CONTINUED From Yesterday

May 25|Our road has kept the Ill
vide all day. as usual, was hrm ana
smooth: passes over gypsum lorna
ton. and many of the hills have been
entirely composed of it. At our camp
we had good wood and grass. but the
water is as usual where gypsum
abounds-far from being sweet.
We have seen many antelopes and
turkeys during the last few days. but
deer are becoming, scarceas we advance.
Buffalo tracks have been seen frequent
". but as yet none of the animals
themselves.
Nav give continued to follow the
dividing ridge today for thirteen miles,
when we came to a large lateral ridge,
running off from the main Divide,
which we followed. and did not dis
cover our mistake until We had gone
about three miles. when We encamped
on a branch of the Canadian
May CT Today. Sunday, in
accordance with a rule l have adopted.
we lay by. to give the men time to
wash and the animals to Craze and re-
cruit.
May 2S.-We retraced our steps back
to the dividing ridge this morning, and
placed a stake with directions to those
following. Ito keep on the left hand
trace Our road passed from here to
our camp upon high rolling prairie;
with no water or wood, and we were
obliged to turn from the dividing ridge
down to the bank of the Canadian. We
passed down over a gap in the bluns;
found good water. wood. and grass
May 29-The country We have pass
ed over today. near the divide, has
been principally a formation OF gyp-
sum and blue limestone lodges. in
which we discovered petrifications OF
oysters. and mussels. These are the
first fossils We have seen upon our
road.
We encamped on a branch of the
Little Washita: found wood and grass
abundant. The country between our
road and the two rivers Is much bro
ken by hills and ravines. which appear
to have been thrown up without the
slightest reference to finish or utility;
and am convinced that the only place
along near our route where a natural
wagon road can be found is directly
upon the crest of the divide. From
high ridge near our camp We can see
Antelope. or Boundary mounds. far to
the west.
Nav 3O.-Our road was upon the di-
viding ridge all day. and very firm and
smooth. but somewhat circuitous, fol-
lowing the windings of the divide;
this has generally been very direct,
travelled upon it, | have never seen a
better natural road. The country on
each side falling off towards the Ca
madam and Washita. leaves the crest
perfectly dry at all seasons There are
numerous small branches rising near
the road which the skirted with tim
Der and grass. thereby giving the trav-
eler an opportunity to encamp at al
most any time he feels disposed me
soil is unfit for cultivation, being
hard. gravelly sand, and very poor.
We left the divide near our camp. and
are upon branch Of tie Canadian; the
water. wood. and grass are good.
May 31.-This morning we followed
down the creek, and travelled for sever
al miles upon the Canadian; finding
this part of the road sandy. however.
We soon turned back, and came upon
the high prairie between two OF the
Antelope buttes. These hills are about
t5e feet high. of porous sandstone, ana
appear to be the result OF volcanic ac-
ton They rise almost perpendicular
" from the smooth prairie. are nat up
on the top. and present every indication
Of having been raised out of the earth
nv volcanic agency. They are near the
Tooth degree of longitude, and are
sometimes called the Boundary mounds
as being near the line formerly claim
ed by Texas as her eastern boundary.
We encamped this evening without
wood at some holes of water in the
prairie: we could nave found wood by
going six miles further. but our mules
were wearied anC I concluded to use
the buffalo chips" rather than drive
that distance.
June Taking the divide again this
morning. we marched fourteen miles
over a very direct and firm road. with
out i hill or ravine, until We reached
cur camp. upon a small lake on the
hixh prairie. There is an abundance OF
uever-failing water in the lake. and the
buffalo grass grows luxuriantly upon
its banks. This grass is very snort
aud thick; but animals are extrava-
santly fond of it, and it is very nutri-
tious. There are hills about mile to
the east of the lake similar to the Ante
lone buttes: these can be seen for a
long distance upon our road. and are
good landmarks. AS il is half mile
from the lake to the nearest WOOD L
vpuId recommend to travellers to throw
a few sticks for cooking into their
wagons before reaching here. we re-
reiyed a visit this evening from TOUR
Kiowav Indians. dressed in their war
costume. and armed with rifles. bows.
lances. and shields. They were on their
way las they told us) to Chihuahua.
Mexico. where they were going to steal
mules and horses. and expected to be
absent from here a year or more !
brought them into camp, presented
them with some tobacco and pipes,
gave them supper. and told them that
we were disposed to be friendly and al
peace with the kioways: that II was
the desire of their great rather the
president of the United States. to be or
nj
dren." This appeared to please them
and they replied that they would com
municate my talk" to their people
Who live forty miles north of here upoI