The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-17
FIND EARLY RELIC
Pendant Dropped by COroHado's
Followers Picked Up.
MissOurian Tells How Wagon
Bed Springs We're Named.

Dodge City, Kan. Jan. I1-Within
a few days there will be presented to
the Kansas State Historical society at
Topeka a relic that investigators be-
lieve was dropped by early explorers
who crossed western Kansas before
the esta bIishment of the union. The
relic is a metal pendant. apparently a
religious symbol, which was picked
up near the Wagonbed Springs in
Grant county about twelve years ago
by a son of Mrs o. s. fowler, who
owns the ranch there. Col. John r
Cook, soldier and plainsman. induced
her to send ii to the historical society.
and she gave it to him to send. He
brought it to Dodge and asked ex-
Mayor Gluck to decipher the inscrip-
ton which can be family seen.
Mr.. Gluck says the medal was used
in the time of Louis the Fourteenth,
and believes it may have been drop
ped on the plains by some member of
Coronado's expeditions on their hunt
for the land of Quivira, over 800 years
ago.
Picture of Christ on Relic.
The medal was badly corroded
when found but by careful work the
inscription and characters on the face
have been uncovered and can now be
made out with magnifying glass. On
one side is what appears to be fig
ure of the Christ, full length, in flow
ing robes. with a crown upon his head.
On the reverse side the inscription,
which appears to be, 20 Marie Con-
que sans peghe priez pour nous qui
avons reccurs vous-'
In connection with the Wagonbed
Springs near where the medal was
found, Col. Cook believes he has
found the origin of the name which
has puzzled him for some time. The
Springs are on the dry Cimarron route
of the Old Santa Fe Trail, in what is
now Grant county. Col Cook is one
of the oldest settlers in western Kan
sas and says that for 50 years he has
tried to find out the origin of the
at the Springs SO years ago
next June when he followed the Trail
from Point Rocks with a band of buff
falo hunters.
How Springs Are Named.
But Mr.. fowler has just told Col.
Cook what he believes is the true
story of the way the springs came to
bear the name. He says that fifteen |
years ago a Mr.. Boyd of Missouri |
anne to visit him. Mr.. Boyd was a |
California gold seeker and crossed the |
plains in '49, taking the dry Cfmar- |
liver at point near where the town
If Cimarron now stands.
Mr.. Boyd's story was that it was
long, dusty trip of two days and two
maroon and without water When the
parties arrived at the springs they
Usually laid over two days and the
women in the party had a general
wash day. When leaving the outfit
ing stations at West Port and indie
'endence. Mo, il was customary for
ach party to take with it an extra
wagon. dividing its parts up among
he wagons in use, a wheel here, the
ongue there and the bed taken apart
nd distri buted likewise. --4s=.
In Mr.. Boyd's party this extra wag-
n bed was sunk in the springs in or
er to give a supply of clear water,
nd when the party moved on it was
ecided to leave the wagon bed in the
pring. The result was that the COM
anies following the Trail soon came
, refer to the springs as Wagonbed
prings and the name lasted long af-
sr the wood of the wagon bed had
cen worn away.