Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-03

announcer instrument OF the series OF
letters dealing with the famous Santa
Fe trail is submitted by James King
Of Ottumwa, who has covered the trail
at divers times when young man
as a teamster and wagon master for
a company carrying freight by wagon
over the Indian country. This is the
first letter from Mr.. King for several
weeks and will be found of interest
Editor: Please permit me to resume
my notes of my experience on the old
Santa Fe trail in 1866.
In your issue of August %, | parted
company with you at old Fort Dodge,
but did not speak of our last days
experience in approaching the fort.
It was a lovely October morning that
we broke camp on the famous dry
route, or cut off, to make home drive
for the coveted goal. | said in my last
note that sent two men ahead to Sc
lect good camping ground. Our thir-
sly stock travelled along cheerfully and
we soon reached the summit of the
eastern foothills, west of which flowed
the thrice welcome waters of the great
Arkansas river.
Crossing the foot hills, we began
the descent into the valley below. The
trail was hard and the grade percept-
IDLY in our favor Everyone appeared
to be impressed with a new sense of
feeling. Even the poor, tired mules
and horses appeared to imbibe new
ward for about mile, when I rode
of to the right to an elevation and
training my field glass along the trail
westward I could discern in the dis
lance blue line which appeared like
q border on the western horizon.
I could also see the old familiar
sibla tents (of army fame), rearing
their canvas domes above the stock
AIDES of Fort Dodge. I waved my hat
In recognition of my discovery and
Immediately a shout went up from the
drivers. The whips were cracked and
encouraging words were spoken to the
jaded mules. We drove at an increas-
ed pace and soon came 10 an incline
about a half-mile long, on reaching
the top Of which we beheld in the dis
lance the great Arkansas river flow
ing through sandy waste, getting its
rise in the snow-capped Rockies and
finally mingling with the great father
of waters We were soon in camp
close to the bank of the river near
good grazing ground for the stock. An
orderly was sent out from the fort to
inform us of the treacherous quick
sand spot prevailing in some parts OF
the stream, so that we might govern
ourselves accordingly.
We camped almost in the same spot
where our train of prospectors camped
in 1859, six years previous.
Smith, the assistant wagon master,
who had taken sick en- route, was i'm
mediately removed from the wagon to
a sod house inside the stockade where
he was given such medical attention
as could be procured on the far-away
frontier at that time. Under the kind
treatment and being relieved from the
jolting of the wagon, Smith began to
recover rapidly. At this point we
found waiting for us business agent
Of the firm, who greeted us all with a
hearty shake and pleasant smile and
informed us that he had come through
on the overland stage and had been in
Dodge four days waiting there until
we came. He gave Stanley a letter
from the firm instructing him to pass
the Cimmeron crossing and across the
river at the old Fl Aubury and take
the Aubury route, as this was the
most feasible route and would take us
north of the Comanche Indian coun-
try. The business agent informed us
that he had money and instructions to
pay us all one months wages, which
he did. though we had no use for cash
then.
Our wage was SIS month and plen-
ty to eat. This was great contrast
with army pay of $13 month and
nothing to eat. We remained at Dodge
two days to do some wagon and har-
ness repairing and as the boys called
it, a general greasing up.
The troops at the fort consisted OF
one company of infantry and two of
cavalry and was commanded by a
captain whose name has passed from
my memory. The genial captain prov
ed himself to be a good entertainer
and conversationalist, a true soldier
and q gentleman and our business
agent invited him to become our guest
at meals while we remained at the
fort.
I rendezvoused the first night in the
hospital with Smith and the following
day he was able to get up to the over
land stage station and meet the boys.
Here he informed our agent that he
did not deem it expedient to go On to
Santa Fe on account of his physical
condition but that he would return
to the states via the overland stage.
The stages east and west bound
were due there with their cavalry es-
corts about midnight that night and
all arrangements possible were made
for Smiths comfort on his return trip
east. At this stage in the game the
then famous "Parson' Brownlow
came to the front with the demand
that each man shell out ten dollars as
fund to defray any expenses incur
red by Smith on his return trip. There !
were forty-two transfers, one wagon
master and four extra men, making |
a total of forty-seven men. Every
man wed with his fellow man to see
who would get his ten spot in the
hands of the "Parson'' first and in less
time than it takes me to write it, the
"Parson" had s47O of the green stuff
in a wad in his hand. l know Of sew