Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-12-08
F|FTY.S|X YEARS
IN SANTA f
Interesting Life
Story Of Charles
L. Thayer.
THRILLING ADVENTURES
Of Border Days in South.
west---Crossed Famous
Trail.

Probably nobody has better
knowledge of the eventful history Of
Santa Re during the past half century
than Charles l.. Thayer, a white
haired octogenarian now living in re-
tirement at his home on Cerrillos
Street. Mr.. Thayer has resided in
this city continuously for fifty-six
years, and was a familiar figure on
the streets up to few years ago. He
Is now spending his declining days in
comparative ease after a rather
checkered career.
When in reminiscent mood he can
spin yarns by the hour of incidents
that happened when Santa Fe was a
military post on the fringe of ciyiliza-
ton and the territorial form of gov
ernment was new in New Mexico.
His memory is tickle as regards dates
but he can recall some of the stirring.
scenes which came under his observa-
tion as if they were of recent occur
renee.
The story of his life is one fraughi
with many thrilling adventures. He
was born on August s, 1923, at Mil.
ton, Massachusetts,, suburb of Bos.
ton. While still youth he harked
to the call of the wild and was lured
to the west. In 1S49 he was located
at New Orleans. That was the mem
orable year of the discovery of gold
in California. He listened to the
tales of fabulous wealth of the yellow
metal which spread like wild fire and
he Joined in the maddening rush to
the far away bonanza land. He took
passage on Mississippi River steam
boat bound for st. Louis and upon ar
rival there boarded another packet
plying the navigable part of the Mis-
souri, River. Cholera was prevalent
in this country at that time and the
dread disease caused an appalling
number of deaths before it was finally
stamped out. The plague broke out
on the second steamboat he was
aboard and twenty-three of the pas
sengers and crew died and were
buried in the stream before it reach
ed the landing at Ieavenworth. Mr.
Thayer fell victim of the wasting
disease and with nine others was re
moved to the army hospital there or
the ten he and another man were the
only ones to come out alive. The
other patient who recovered was 2
Mr.. Klene who is believed to be liv
ing somewhere in the southern part
of New Mexico
Came to New Mexico Via Santa Fe
Trail.
When Mr.. Thayer regained his
health and was strong enough to re
sumo his journey westward he jOine,
a caravan leaving Leavenworth ove
the famous old Santa Fe trail. The
caravan consisted of 120 wagons ant
was consolidation of four freight
trains travelling together so as tc
repulse any attack by hostile In
dians. This was several years before
the stage coaches came into commits
sion and mail was carried by the pom,
express. The wagons were drawn b,
oxen instead of horses because Of
their endurance and five yokes of the
plodding animals were usually hitch
ed to each wagon. In August of the
same year the caravan pulled int
Santa Fe and stopped in front of the
old Exchange Hotel which is still
standing at the southeast corner o
the Plaza. After resting up for two
weeks from the tortuous trip over
land, MIR. Thayer proceeded to r.
Paso which was then called Paso de-
Norte. He had agreed to meet P
friend from Texas there who woul6
accompany him to California.
Robbed Of All Belongings Except
Clothes.
While waiting for his companion he
was robbed of everything he had ex-
cepting the clothes on his back and
what little money he had in his pock.
cts. The Texas friend failed to put
in an appearance and he was forced
TO go to work now that he was left
almost penniless. In June of 1850 he
was induced to- return to Santa Fe
and abandon the idea Of going to
California by an acquaintance named
John r. Wells, a faro dealer who
some how or other had acquired the
title of major. He was prevailed up
on to come here. under the prom
ise OF securing more congenial EN-
ployment than he then had Major
Wells was desirous of having a
trustworthy companion on the trip
because he had in his saddle bags
$4,000. They provided themselves
with three mules, two Of which to ride
and one to carry their baggage. They
covered the distance of something ov
er three hundred miles in six days.
Dona Ana was also military post
at the time, troop OF cavalry being
stationed there. Upon their arrival
at that place they halted day to
give the mules a much needed rest,
While at the fort one Of the soldiers
learned of the amount Of money be-
ing carried and plot was Matched to
steal It. The scheme was to attack
the two travellers at the Point Of
Rocks on the tornado del Muerto, AMI