The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-07-06
The WASHINGTON
IRVING TRAIL
Route Followed by the Author
In 1882 to Be Marked.
ACROSS STATE OF OKLAHOMA

VOuuOOO Ou0U6 " ONl0UuUuUU
Work Taken Up by Daughters Of the
American Revolution - They vii
Also Continue Marking Of Santa Fs
Trail Where Il Enters Oklahoma.
This seems to mo to be the prom.
ised land. the land flowing with mill
and honey. On the rich heritage Of the
prairies will be fed herds Of cattle AZ
innumerable as the sands upon the
seashore, and the flowers that bedeck
the prairies will be a paradise for q
nectar loving being"
The speaker was Washington Irving
when he was crossing what Is now
Oklahoma during 1882 on his tour OF
the prairies. At that time there were
only Indian tribes in Oklahoma. The
Osages and the Pawnees used the
western section of the present state as
their buffalo hunting grounds, and i'm.
mense herds Of wild horses and buffa.
loes covered that area which in latel
years, through the efforts Of Captain
David L. Payne and his colonies OF
"boomers," was to be opened to white
settlement.
With the intention of beginning the
marking of the Washington Irving
trail across Oklahoma the Daughters
of the American Revolution during
their recent annual convention in Ok.
lahoma City appointed a committee OF
five women to direct the work and
also to plan for the preservation of
buildings and sites Of historic interest
throughout the state.
In carrying out plans to mark the
Irving trail the work will be pattern
ed, it is understood. after a similar un-
dertaking now in progress in Kansas,
where the Daughters Of the American
Revolution are marking the old Santa
Fe trail. In connection with the Santa
Fe trail it is of special interest to note
that the trail crosses the northwest
corner Of former No Mans Land, now
a portion of Oklahoma, and when the
ing that trail across Kansas it will be
continued in Oklahoma by another
committee Of the Daughters Of the
American Revolution.
Irving at Fort Gibson.
Washington Irving's first stopping
place in Oklahoma was at Fort Gibson,
at that time an important outlying ar
my post. He remained at the post
some time, writing his "Tales of Il
Traveller" in a tent just outside the old
parade ground.
Already the location Of Washington
Irving's tent at Fort Gibson has been
marked through the efforts of Colonel
]. S. Holden, who has spent practical
~ his entire lifetime at that place. A
marble tablet marks the spot, bearing
the inscription: "Site Of Washington
Irving's Tent. 1882. Erected by j. S.
Holden. 1909" The data that Colonel
Holden has collected regarding the
visit of the Irving party will aid the
Daughters Of the American Revolution
greatly in marking the trail.
During the same year that he visit
ed Fort Gibson Washington Irving
also travelled through the southwest
portion Of Oklahoma, in the Red river
country, and captured several wild
horses in what is now so Familiarity
known as the "big pasture" 1t is one
Of the richest agricultural tracts in the
southwest and was then a portion Of
the immense Kiowa-C omanche Indian
reservation, including also what is now
known as Greer county. 1t was a ia
vorite feeding ground Of buffaloes.
Irving crossed Oklahoma from the
northeast corner to the southwest, or
the North Fork, and was again within
fifty miles OF Fort Gibson on his back
trip when he reached the Arkansas
river. In marking his trail across the
state it will be necessary, therefore, to
have almost a double trail in the cen.
trail portion of the state.
OkIahoma's Santa Fe Trail.
To General Kit Carson Oklahomans
give credit for having a portion Of the
old Santa Fee trail across the north
western portion of this state. He es.
tablished former Camp Nichols, near
Mineral, in 1865, and the walls of the
old fort are still standing. Carson was
then a brigadier general Of United
States volunteers, commanding the
forces in New Mexico and southern
Colorado. The buildings at Camp
Nichols were constructed of native
stone and were in $ perhaps FIVE
years after the construction. With
Forts lara, Larned, Dodge and Camp
Aubrey. all in Kansas, Camp Nichols
formed a chain of military protection
to the great transprairie commerce
which passed to and fro over the his.