The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-10-10
OLD WAGON TRAINS
There Used to Be Exciting Times
on the Santa Fe Trail.
TRICKERY OF THE REDSKINS.
They Employed All Sorts Of Ruses to
Plumber the Caravans and Murder the
Whites-A Bit Of Treachery and a
Battle With the Troopers.

AS the overland trade between the
American settlements In Missouri and
the Mexican pueblos in New Mexico In
creased in value following the opening
OF the Santa Fe trail the greater ne
cessity OF adequate protection for the
traders and their stocks was met by
both the United States and Mexican
governments furnishing military con-
yoys. The troops acted in a capacity
not unlike that Of warships guarding
merchant vessels from piratcal at
tacks, for no pirates were more per-
sistent or bothersome than the saw
ages OF the plains.
The usually left Franklin
and later independence and Westport
In the spring. United States troops
would accompany them to the caches
on the Arkansas river; then Mexican
troops would guard them to Taos, and
sometimes even to Santa Fe. The re-
turn trip later in the summer was
similarly protected. Sometimes two
trips each way would be made in a
year.
The presence OF troops usually kept
the Indians from making a direct as
sault on the trains. Even In his brav-
est moments an Indian has small rel
fish OF a fight on anything like equal
terms; consequently the savages devel-
oped their aptitude for treachery and
deceit
Every sort OF ruse their fertile brains
could devise was used TO separate the
various divisions OF a train or lure a
small part away from the main con-
voy, where It could be plundered and
the whites murdered without serious
danger to the attackers.
A favorite plan and n which many
times hoodwinked large parties into
suffering some loss was for a small
Party Of Indians to appear at the camp
with pr~otestations OF peace. For dip
lomatic reasons the reds would be hos
pitably received and their request TO
eat and sleep In the camp oftentimes
granted. That night the small party
OF Indians would attempt TO stampede
the live stock of the train. IL success
full n large force Of sayages would be
concealed near by TO aid.
Some ruses were far cleverer than
that. One which completely fooled n
Mexican officer and came near being
the cause OF his death was believed by
the traders TO deserve the palm. That
officer. Colonel viscarro. with 100
troopers, was ~escorting an American
wagon train through the foothills OF
what Is now southern Colorado when
a party OF Indians appeared and asked
for n parley.
The American traders refused the re-
quest. The Indians withdrew and held
a consultation. When the convoy
reached the Cimarron river the saw
ages appeared again. One rode for
ward with nm arrow tied t~ransversely
across the shaft Of n spear. a symbol
of the cross. Viscarro was a Catholic
and honored this novel banner. He
rode out and spoke to the brave.
IF the Americans will move aside
TO some distance we Will lay down our
arms and surrender" the Indian said.
Certainly. red brother" the colonel
replied. He ordered the wagons TO re-
tire beyond n ridge. Hardly had they
disappeared when a large force or
Indians rose from concealment behind
the sand dunes and poured a destruc-
tivc Gre into the Mexican ranks.
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