Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-21
LANDMARKS WITH A HISTORY
wyomIng Women Begin Movement
to Preserve Their Identity
and Records.

The club women of Wyoming who re-
Gently marked the old stage trail near
Laramie with a granite shaft and who
put up an imposing monument on the
California trail along the North Platte
at Casper began a movement which in
all probability will be taken up in other
states traversed by the stage coaches in
early days.
The rapid obliteration OF some OF the
old stage trails has made 1t imperative
to hasten the work Of Identification. Old
stage drivers have been called upon TO
identify many of the points of interest
and the location Of stage stations along
the various trails. At Julesburg, Colo,
the old station where Jules and Slade had
their combat, a fight which later resulted
in the loss OF Jules ears, has been identi-
field and will be preserved. 1t has been
proposed to have the governor set aside
Independence rock, on the California tran
in Wyoming. as national monument.
This rock was a famous stopping place
in early days, and is covered with the
names of thousands of early day trans
continental tourists, scratched deep into
the granite.
Besides the main trails across the con-
tInent there were many other stage trails
that had much to do with making the
west, but whose course will soon be lost
II some means is not taken to mark
them. The old Smoky Hill stage trail
across Kansas and eastern Colorado TO
Denver is practically wiped out, owing
to the settlement of the plains This old
trail penetrated the heart Of the hostile
Indian country and was the scene OF
many exciting adventures in the COS, but
even the old Smoky Hin drivers have
difficulty in tracing the route today. The
same is true OF the several routes to
Deadwood, every foot Of which is replete
with historic interest.
The main line of stages across the con-
tInent was several times shifted on ac-
count Of Indian depredations. The most
sweeping change was made in 1862, when
Ben" Holiday, the genius Of the over
land stage business. moved the line sew
eral hundred miles south and effected the
change without missing n I..lil or delay
/ ing a passenger. The old line followed
| the North Platte and the Sweetwater,
over South pass, and the new road led
/ by way OF JulesbuTg to Denver, north
| from Denver to Fort Lupton, thence
across the Laramie plains, in southern
Wyoming, and then due west through
Bridger pass, where the old trail was
Joined and the journey continued to Salt
Lake. s.- -
Most of the stage stations and other
buildings erected along these old stage
trails fell into ruin long ago, but there
are few structures worth preserving.
The easiest means OF Identification Is by
the natural monuments marking most OF
the trails. Chief among these is indie
pendence rock, which is said TO have
been named by the celebrated explorer
Captain Bonneville on account Of Its
solitary aspect, rising as 1t does inde-
pendent Of all other rocks in the vicinity
Fremont and other explorers mention the
rock many times. When the tide Of Cali
fornla gold seekers began flowing across
the country the rock was favorite camp
ing place. As early as 1A7 emigrant'
gathered at the rock TO celebrate this
Fourth OF July, 1t being on record thai
about loo California and Oregon emf
} grants gathered there to celebrate 1nde
pendence day. Old wagon hubs WERE
loaded with powder and placed in th'
crevices of the rock, producing explO
sions that sounded like the work OF ;
, battery Of artillery.
Many of those who died on the wa!
across the continent were buried in tn,
vicinity of Independence rock. AID thei
epitaphs can still be read on the granite
Probably the most impressive funeral hell
there was in 1862. on July Of that yea
I a large number Of emigrants had gatheret
there for a celebration, when a trail
. came in bearing the body of q younI
man who had been accidentally kille
, while cleaning his rifle that morning
n The celebration was deferred. and in tn
= afternoon a Masonic funeral was he'll
!, for the young emlgrant. who was burie
at the foot of the great rock. Genera
, Fremont was among those who carve
: their names on Independence rock, a
u, were many Of the old trappers and fu
traders on this account. as well as o
account Of the prominence OF Independ
|, enee rock as a stopping place in the stag
;, coach days, it has been proposed to hav
: the rock set aside as a national mOnu
ment. under the act Of congress givin
the president power to segregate sue
{ places Of interest in the public domain
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