Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-12-27
EARLY cHRIsrMAS.
Two PIoneen Tell Some Thrilling
Stories,

CnrIstmas without the universal
Christmas tree. the giving and receiv-
ing Of beautiful presents. the elaborate
family dinner and the public spirit u
generosity and checrfulness, would
back 10 the Christmas of forty years
ago, we would find all these enjoy.
mehts missing. and most strenuous
life confronting Us.
II perhaps may he interesting 10
some to learn of the conditions OF the
west and how Christmas was celebra,.
ed In the year OF 1888
| ID. T. Evans. pioneer who now re.
sides In Albuquerque. tells of the first
Christmas he spent In the west in a
very interesting manner.
In the fall of 1888 a party of four.
myself included. crossed the Missouri
river bound for Pixies Peak. We had
not gone far when we came t. the
Sovenworth on the Fort Laramie road.
and got in company with several boys
from Kansas. When we arrived at the
Platte river we found a party of men,
who Joined our party, making 1t num-
Der thirty-four men. We marched up
the Platte river to where Denver now
stands. During our march We increased
the number Of the party to $50 men,
two women and six children.
We were divided into three camps
--one called Aurora, now called Den
yer. another three miles up the river
| called Idaho, and the other four miles
| farther up, known as Placerville. Au-
rora was situated between the Platte
and Cherry Creek rivers. This camp
had $50 people and could boast of hav-
ing one woman and all the children.
the family OF Richard Wooton, Sr. The
other woman was In the Idaho camp.
The boys used TO dress up on Sunday
and go to the the two camps to get q
glimpse of these two members of the
fair sex. and we would pay them az
much respect as II they were queens.
Just previous to the Christmas Of
this winter. we held al election in our
tents and cabins for the purpose of
electing two delegates to congress. A
man by the name of Bennett was elect.
ed to represent us In congress and a
man named Graham was elected to
represent us at the legislature at To.
peka. We paid their way there and
back. When our case was presented
at Washington and ii was explained to
them that we had marked out a terri
tory at the western end Of Kansas,
where Colorado 10 now located and
that We had called 1t Jefferson, they
wanted to know how many families
there were. Being told there were but
two real families. they said we were
only hand of pr0spsctors and that we
were rather premature.
1T was at this time. almost Christ
mas. that tine first house was built on
the .dgher ground. where the city hall
stood before 1t vas burned down two
years ago. We made up our minds to
build new town. Az Camp Aurora
was In danger of being flooded in case
Of high water some wanted to call this
new town Fremont. others wanted to
call II Kit Carson. and different names
were suggested when | said. why not
call 1t Denver. after the governor of
Kansas at that time 10 was agreed
to put 1t to vote. and the result was
that the town was called Denver and
has retained that name to this day.
On Christmas day the boys in our |
camp wanted change from the accus-
toned fare Of meat, winch we had in a |
great variety but no vegetables or /
other desirable food. Ii was discovered |
that some OF the boys in the camp had
some New Orleans molasses. After
talk we prevailed upon
them to let us have a half gallon. for
which We paid the small sum of IS. So /
We started In on our Christmas feast |
of elk, deer, antelope, mountain sheep !
md turkey, touched on with pancakes
and molasses. But we Jared better |
han we anticipated. for an on train Of |
some twenty ar thirty oxen arrived |
rom Taos. With load of onions and |
iour. This timely load OF supplies
completed the Christmas feast. We
lad to pay enormous prices for the
supplies. Flour was worth $,5 per 100
sugar 81 per pound and coffee
he same.
We had very little reading matter
hat winter. think we recsived three
iifferent papers and only twelve copies
IF them. W. made contract with
nan to carry our mail from Fort Lara
ME. paying him eighty cents a letter
each way.
Tvs did not have the brilliant effect
Of the modern Christmas. but We en-
joyed them because of the fascinating
connected with them
Col. J. l.. Morris Tale.
Another story Of a more exciting
Ian .l.... IL