Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-10-14
ON THE TRAIL
OF THE UTES.
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BY Franklin Welles Calkins.


Henry Vesey, went to the south
west, from Denver, in 1859. Searching
for gold, they penetrated into the
heart of the mountains near the New
Mexican boundary
Here they Struck pay dirt built
cabin, and set to work in the early
fpring. They worked with pan and
shovel and rudely constructed
rocker, and for some months had a
good piece of gravel all to them
selves.
Their "diggings" were some dis
lance above their shack. After the
manner Of mountaineers, they had a
secret cache for most of their valu-
ables, and they left their domicile
each day with the latch-string out
and with food Hospitality set upon
their rough table as an invitation to
the passer-by to help himself.
However, no one came that way I'M
til about the first of June. They then
returned one evening to find a stranger
in possession Of the cabin. His pony
was picketed outside and the man lay
upon their bunk, sleeping the sleep
of exhaustion. He was Mexican, of
the Spanish race. and dressed as q
vaquero.
The prospectors went quietly about
getting supper of fresh meat, dough
boys" and coffee, and the stranger did
not awake until the dropping of a
tin platter aroused him. Then he sat
up.
'tBuenos dias, senores!" he said, but
Tim and Henry understood no word
of Spanish. They made signs to their
guest to 'sit by" and eat, and he COM
piled.
After supper the trio opened CONVEX
sation in the sign language of the
plains. By this means the gold-dig-
gers learned story of sad and tragic
interest, yet common enough in those
days.
The stranger related that he was a
resident of Taos, but owned sheep
ranch far across the Rio Grande, where
he and his son, lad of Is, had been
staying while his herders took their
annual holiday in town.
There, in his absence, the Utes had
suddenly fallen upon his buildings
had sacked and burned the rancheria,
and had carried his son off with them.
At first, upon discovering the smoke
of his burning buildings, he had sup
posed that his son had been killed.
He had lain in hiding until the Utes
were out of sight, and then had stood
sadly beside the smOldering ruins, I'M
:. \ 4, l1s~. e.. 1.
bones Of his boy.
He could find no trace of the lad,
either within or without the ruins.
The boy was a captive, subject to a
fate perhaps worse than death-slavery
and degradation
There was no rancheria, no help
within ten leagues, and in despera-
ton, with such arms as he had-a
dragon pistol and az ancient fowl
ing-piece-the distracted father had
set out upon the trail of the raiders.
This he had followed for three days
and nights, with little food and al
most no rest.
At noon of that day, and some eight
or nine hours, as he believed, behind
the fleeing Utes, he had come within
sight O; the prospectors' cabin. The
Indians had forded the stream with in
plain view; but they had crossed in
the night, and SO had passed unseeing
and undiscovered.
When he had finished his story, the
ranchero turned sad and wistful eyes
upon the wall, where hung an arsenal
Of double barreled rifles - and Colts
reyo,vers-such an armament as made
two nen, within their walls, formid-
able against a host.
But the prospectors had already ex-
changed glances, and they at once
signifed their willingness to follow the
Utes in his behalf, although they were
very doubtful that they should be
able to rescue his boy. They could
only promise to try.
With tears streaming upon his
cheeks, the ranchero shook hands
with them, and they swiftly set about
preparations for a long, rough chase.
with a fight against odds at the end
Of it.