Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-16

bOhE THEM D4OSONEhnb SAS-
TIOUSLY RECOMMENDING.
story has been often told of a prairie
schooner on which was chalked pixies
peak or bust" The vehicle broke down
and additional words appeared. Bust
ed, by thunder
- -nring day q band of mounted
indians making their way down the
Platte river not far from what is now
Lincoln. Neb., looking for solitary
wagon to attack and plunder-they
were not strong enough to attack q
train-saw one of the bucks deployed
in front coming back, evidently With
news of some kind. All pulled up in
the hollow between two plains rollers,
where they would not be seen, and
awaited the arrival Of their vedette.
When he came he told them that a
wagon such as never before had been
seen in that region was coming. ls
top was made of the same material as
an ordinary plains wagon, but very
much higher. and there seemed to be
three tops, one very little one in front
and two large ones back. But the
strangest thing about it was that there
were no horses, and yet 1t moved
moved faster than the ordinary wagon
with horses to draw it. The great spirit
must be propelling it.
The chief. dismounting. went to the
top of the roller. where he saw the
strange vehicle in the distance. 1t was
coming rapidly toward him. There
was the forward cover of triangular
shane and the two behind rectangular,
the bottom end being broader than the
top. The body and wheels were an
ordinary wagon. though larger than Its
kind. 1t was these three pieces OF can
vas that puzzled the redskin. ard the
| fact that the thing moved of itself
struck him with terror.
! While the Indians are wondering
what Manitou is riding in this strange
vehicle let US get aboard of her and
see what is going on there. She Is
simply a prairie schooner rugged with a
canvas jib and the two sails with
which schooners are equipped. Instead
of sailing over ocean pillows she was
riding the rollers of the plains. Over
the center of the rear axle sat man
working a wheel much like those now
used to steer automobiles.
This man was Abner Swift. the own
err of the veritable prairie schooner
Hearing of the difficulties encountered
by the argonauts of the plains. the
danger OF his wagon wheels collapsing
by means of the heat of the sun and
the dryness OF the atmosphere, the
fact that fodder for horses must be
carried in bulk. that the horses might
die and leave the wagon without mo
tive power. learning that the ground
to be passed over was a dry. hard sur
face without a stick OF timber on it
he conceived the idea of propulsion by
sails. He had bought the larges
plains wagon he could find. set upor
Il two masts and a jibbOom. fitted
them with sails and attached his owl
steering gear For a cover be had noni
except when not moving When lajt
up on account OF adverse winds or a
night the sails afforded ample protec
ton.
And so this man in search Of gold
having provisioned his land ship AM
put his family aboard. one bright Biorl
ing. when a fine breeze was BLOWN
from the southwest, hoisted sails a
Omaha and started for the land of tn
sunset.
; A crowd saw him of and previous {
loosening the brakes fred innumerabl
remarks at him.
What y goin' to do when the win
, blows dead ahead:''
Tack" was the reply.
See yere. stranger; don't y kno'
that one man and two or three boz