The Republican journal., 1916-09-14
San Antonio to St. Louis.
The Gulf of Mexico in a "Norther"
Steamboat Explosion on the Mississippi.

was sorry to go when the time came
to leave San Antonio. | recall the place
now, after lapse of So years. not as
pictured to me to-day-a city of tree
shaded streets and flower adorned pla-
zas, million dollar hotels, railway and
trolley lines, electric lights, etc, but as
a collection of Mexican jacals, and one
story adobe buildings, through which
meandered the San Antonio river; the
plazas bare and dust swept, frontiers
men on horseback and Mexican carts
conspicuous in the narrow, unpaved
streets, and over all the bluest sky
have ever seen anywhere. The hot days
had no terrors for me, and at night the
never-faiing breeze from the Gulf of
Mexico was refreshing, and no illumina-
ton could compare with the brilliancy OF
the moonlight. The air was pure and
dry, for no dew falls, and there were no
mosquitoes to disturb ones slumbers or
outdoor enjoyment. Of course there is
the reverse to the picture for those who
care to look on it. Fleas were as numer-
GUS as the sands of the sea, scorpions
and tarantulas not unknown, and out in
the country you must ware the rattle
snake. But in my case, at least, these
petty drawbacks did not detract from my
appreciation of San Antonio, or temper
my regret when Major Prince was order
ID I n
the 2nd division of the Utah army, then
preparing for the march across the
plains and through the Rockies.
Many of my readers, perhaps, never
heard of the utah war" and a few
words of explanation may be acceptable
here. The present State of Utah was
part of the territory coded to this coun
try by Mexico in l84S at the close of the
Mexican war. When the Mormon's
were driven from Illinois and Missouri
they migrated to the then territory of
Utah, which was inhabited by the Ute
or Utah Indians, whence the name of
the territory. Salt Lake City was found
ton held there asked in vain for admis-
sion into the Union Of the new State
Of Dessert" A territorial govern
ment was organized in 1850 with Brig
ham Young as governor. In 1857
he defied the Federal authorities and
troops were ordered to Utah to bring
him to terms. This was the first divis-
ion of the Utah army, and under the COM
mand of Col. Joseph E. Johnson it start
ed on the long march across the Plains in
the fall of 1857. The men experienced
many hardshlps. | have in a scrapbook
two illustrations from Harper's Weekly
of that time-one showing the troops
marching in noWstorm, dead horse
and an abandoned gun and carriage in
the foreground and the ether bivouac,
the men huddled around a fire in the
open and the sentinels on guard. In
connection with the pictures Harper's
Weekly said: "We read in the history of
Russia of immense journeys across the
steppes being und ertaken at various
time by enterprising generals. One or
two other Incidents of long marches by
armies across deserts are on record.
But if there is precedent for the march
of an army, completely equipped and
provided with multifarious and cumbrous
appliances of modern warf are, crossing
desert of one thousand miles in extent
we do not recall it."
Johnson's command was snoWed-in in
the Rocky Mountains and suffered Sc
erely. Fuel was scarce, and after the
ratlons We're exhausted the men sub
sisted on mule meat. And so early in
1858. officers and men were ordered to
Fort Leavenworth for a second division
to go to Johnson's assistance. The story
Of that expedition will be told later.
Our journey from San Antonio to the
coast was by the government ambulance
with its four mule team and at Indianoa
we embarked on steamer of the Morgan
line for New Orleans. Former trips had
been over a sea like molten glass with
dolphins playing IN the ships wake and
flying fish in evidence; but this time we
were to experience a 'norther" and
twentyfour hours of discomfort. No
attempt was made to serve meals during
the day and the only place where even
the well could find comfort was in the
staterooms and berths. The purser made
occasional rounds to see how we were
getting on, but finally we entered the
mouth of the Mississippi for the one
hundred mile sail up river to New Or
leans and all hands were on deck again.
We were in no hurry to leave New Or
leans; then, as always, most attrac-
tive city. The opera season was still on
at the old Orleans The alter and my even
angs were spent there, and visits at the
clubs and social engagements occupied
the days. But at last the time came for
departure and passage was engaged on
the steamer Falls City for St. Louis.
Those We're the days when steamboat
on the Mississippi and its tributaries
was at its height. Railroads had not
then divided the traffic. New Orleans
was the leading cotton shipping port of