Gilpin observer., 1904-05-12
As YEARS AGO
A FEW REMINIsCENsEs OF A TRIP
ACROSS THE PLAINS AT
THAT TIME

THAT TIME
1n our meanderings yesterday we met
Mr. Perry A. Klien. and the date May /
being mentioned, he stated that 40 years
ago on the 18th day OF May he and eight
cen others had arrived in this state, and
becoming reminiscent be gave US few
memories Of his trip.
Forty live years ago the 18th day of
May, party OF nineteen arrived in what
is now the state of Colorado.
/ The party consisted of seventeen men
and two ladies', was formed in st. Louis,
its members of different parts of the
western states, five being from Canada.
They took passage on the steamer, IT. L.
McGill"to Fort Leaven worth, wherethey
fitted out prairie schooners, four in
number, and set sail for pixies Peak or
Bust" The propelling power vas four
teen yoke Of oxen. most OF them were
young and and being unused to wear
wooden collars, taxed the patience OF
the party to the utmost until they be-
came reconciled to the situation.
There was lots of fun, but, of cource it
was not appreciated then as when they
arrived at their journeys end and sat
around the camp fire, on OF yokes, and
talked over the experiences OF the fifty
nine days trip.
Those who make their first trip to
Colorado in Pullman cannot imagine
what hardships tho early pioneers ex-
perienced in those days in crossing the
plains, which were then inhabited only
by Indians and Buffaloes, at times suf.
fering for the want Of water, sometimes
travelling at night whom it was cool, and
resting in the day time, building cordu-
roy bridges across gullies with young
cottonwoods that were dragged in from
some distance, to accomplish required
the greater part of the day, then again.
guarding against raid from the Indians
who were then very numerous, though
not very troublesom, yet they needed to
be watched as they looked with suspis-
ion upon the white mans advancement
which they believed to be trespassing on
their country. Buffaloes; yes. the party
was often surrounded by thousands OF
them for days. Got tired Of looking at
them. Horace Greeley, when he crossed,
thought he saw million of them one
day. Buffalo meat is fine, at least we
thought SO when we had nothing else
but SOW belly, dried apples, beans. flap
jacks, home made biscuits and black
coffee, using buffalo chips for fuel.
After many days of travel and hard
work the party came in sight Of the OBJ
ject they had in their minds ever since
they started-Pike's Peak-which at a
distance OF some fifty or seventy five
miles appeared like small cloud rising
from the western horison, increasing in
size as it came nearer.
Cherry Creek was finally reached
twelve or fifteen miles from its mouth
and following it down the party came to
what is known as Capitol hill, and
camped few days on the bottom, where
the Union depot OF Denver now stands.
Here on tho first nights camping in
Denver, the party was treated to gen.
uine old fashioned Indian var dance.
The Arapahoes had fight with the
Utes the day before and were victorious
which they celebrated all night long in
grand style. The noise they made was
horrible.
Denver City, as it was then called,
contained only few log cabins and a
number Of tents.
In those days il anyone had told US
that in forty five years half dozen rail
roadswould spin across the then Great
American Desert" and through the
mountains, and that towns and cities
with populations Of from two TO ono
hundred and fifty thousand would be
built 10 the territory, we would have de
clared him insane.
Kansas Territory was then thinly
settled; the last settlement we saw was
Fort Riley. From there on YOU might
say it was terra incognita.
sometimes look with astonishment
At the great change that has taken place
during those years. The Territory, which
was 6rst named Jefferson. has become
state Of the first rank, and who can tell
what 1t will be at the end OF another
forty five years.
OF our party Of nineteen I am the
only one left. Several remained only
few weeks. got home.sick and returned
to the States Of "Americs," 90 tho OK.
preston used to be; some stayed q year
or 20; one was killed by the Indians, and
one died in Denver few years ago.
Ihave often wondered, while It got to
bs the custom to erect monuments to