Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-09-08
By J. W. FOLEY.

Before the Civil War, San Antonio
was the supply point for the city Of
Chihuahua, Mexico, to which place
merchandise was transported by mule
teams. The wagons were very large
protection many wagons would travel
entrain. Besides the drivers there
would be a mounted escort OF many
men who would act as scouts during
the day, and as guard for the train
at night. Two large mules would be
at the tongue, and then four abreast
three times. The driver would guide by
lines reaching to the front lead mule
on each side.
We have seen men in the days of
the cowboy in the Bad Lands who
thought they could drive teams of four
horses over difficult places, but the
Mexicans who drove these 14-mue
teams were the most remarkable we
ever saw. At times, where the road
would be in narrow valley, the mules,
four-abreast, would appear to double
up so close together that one would
think they were one animal. When
travelling on the prairie the army pe0-
pie, that is the Americans, only made
one march a day, excepting water was
a great distance apart, In which case
the days march would be divided
one from dark until early daylight
when, after short rest, another
would be made until water was reach
ed.
Mexican System.
The Mexicans always divided the
days march, starting at early day and
stopping about 10 a. NJ. for breakfast
and to Craze stock, then after two or
three hours rest, another march
would be made until near dark. Many
of the Mexican men, on these long
trips, took their families along, and
the women did the cooking. The food
carried was most simple. 1t consist
ed of -four, red beans and jerked beef.
The -four would be baked, as needed,
into tortillas, an unleavened bread
patted out by hand until thin, and then
baked on a griddle heated before the
fire. The atmosphere was so pure and
dry that fresh beef cut into strips
and hung on bushes in the sun would
cure, without salt. This was called
"jerked" beef 1t was always a part
Of the Mexican's ration.
savory Dish.
Pounded up, and stewed with red
beans, chilli, flour and a little tallow,
it made most savory dish. No for
age was carried for the animals, for
grass was plentiful. besides all the
space in the wagons was required for
merchandise. Ten to Is miles was the
average distance made in day, ex.
cepting when water could not be got
ten. The usual time for round trip
from Chihuahua to San Antonio was
six months. What delightful life as
the weather was never too cold or too
warm. Such primitive life in this
country is past never to return. 1t
was a grand free life and made men
of courage and manhood.
The route from San Antonio was a
trife south of west to Fort Bliss, a
distance of 700 miles, where the trains
would cross into Mexico at El PasO,
meaning the pass, which was then the
name of the town in Mexico, now call
ed Juarez. The town on the American
side was then known as Franklin. TO
safeguard the long route chain of
military posts had been established
between San Antonio and Franklin
which, commencing about Is miles
from San Antonio, were known as
lnge, Clark, Hudson, Lancaster, Stock
ton. Davis and Fort Quitman.
The southern pony express crossed
Texas from the northeast and after
crossing the Great Staked Plains join.
ed this route at Fort Stockton, and
continued along the route to the Rio
Grande and up that river to New Mex
leo and on to California.
(TO be continued)