Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-15
KING RESUMES STORY OF TRIP ACROSS
GREAT AMERICAN DESERT IN SIXTIES

j Z = r. . r.
In the last article on the Santa Fe
trail by James King he told Of his party
finally reaching the main Travelled route
after many weeks of journey over the
waste places Of the southwest. Numer-
Gus incidents of interest have been re-
counted in the series since the begin
ming and the present fnstallment does
not lack in interest He tells Of meeting
friends shortly after taking the new
route and of getting surgical attention
for the former wagon master Stanley
who had been i'll from a wound rece1v'
ed as a soldier at Missionary Ridge. The
story follows:
In the story below. James King, a
pioneer Of the middle west, continues
the account Of his trip across the great
American desert with group OF
friends:
The trail. from it's merging with the
Aubury route, was well travelled but the
wayside was bedecked with the bones
of oxen and mules. which was evidence
that some poor dumb beasts had sue
cumbed to the hardships Of the desert.
There was an unwritten law on the
plains that crippled animal, if unable
to travel, should not be killed but in
stead, if should be left as near some
by the wayside on account Of disease,
should be taken distance from the
trail and shot This accounted to great
extent for the finding Of american cat
tie at times among the vast herds OF
buffalo that roamed the great plains Of
the west that was. 81
In the winter OF sc bull train be-.
longing to the firm Of Trunk Bros OF
Grasshopper Falls, Kans., got showed in
at Coon creek, twelve miles west of
Fort Larned, and running out of corn
feed. the cattle were turned adrift and
driven toward the Arkansas river In
search of pasture. That winter they
mingled freely with the great herds OF
buffalo and soon found their way as
far south as the Cimeron river and
Medicine creek. The following summer
some of them were found on the south.
ern buffalo range in the Comanche
country as far south as the Washata
mountains.
An American bovine would fatten
quicker on buffalo grass than the bison
and their meat became as tender and
sweet as that of the American buffalo
itself. When the proverbial wolf would
persistently dog the footsteps of the
bison for the purpose of bringing down
a calf or cripple, or hamstring one
of the herd, they always gave the OK the
benefit Of the doubt and rarely ever at
tempted to hamstring him, but the
red reaper Of the desert when hunting
buffalo. would find an American OK in
the herd. he would do and dare his best
to secure him as his prey, as he far pre-
ferred its meat to that Of the bison.
But let us go back to the trail. The
month of November was fast fading in
to the past and we were making good
time but Stanleys condition was no bet
ter. The RATION mo untains to our right
appeared as If we would have to cross
the range but the trail also changed to
a south western course and in the after
noon of lovely day. we could see q
great depression above which appeared
to float lazy fog as if undecided as to
the proper course to pursue to go up or
down. AS we approached the apparent
fog, it mirage like disappeared. we knew
not where, and before us not far distant,
lay. in the lap of nature. the beautiful
valley of the Red River, so graphically
described by the old desert pirate from
whom we had recently parted. 1t was
not long until we were for the first time;
fording the famous river. The stream at
this point was both narrow and shallow,
the current being swift and the water
as clear as crystal. 1t was bounded here
on the east by the foot hills through
west stretched level, grass covered
plain over which our trail crossed and
was lost in an opening In the noun
tains. They seemed the work OF an in
visible hand and upon their walls, the
mind might read This is the route to
Santa Fe.''
To the north rose the summit of Rat
toon mountains, whose snow capped
peaks appeared to kiss the sky line
while to the south was a much smaller
nest or range Of mountains covered at
the base by a thick growth OF ironwood
while further up they were
robed with a beautiful mountain cedar.
These we named the cinnamon noun !
tains because of our encounter the next
day with cinnamon bear.
The stock was turned out in charge
u herders to water, roll and nibble
what they might find before being given
their corn feed. Soon after going on
herd duty. one Of the herders rode rap
idly into camp and notified me that a
dust cloud appeared in the west and as
the old pirate had told us we had
naught to fear from Indians. Zig and I
were soon in saddle and galloping west |
ward to ascertain the cause Of the dust |
cloud. Little did we dream that we We're !
to ride straight into the arms of trends. !
On small elevation we stopped and
my field glasses ahead on the
trail to my great surprise, beheld a |
troop Of cavalry followed by two army !!
and thirty covered wagons
1rawn by SIX mules each. coming to-
wards us on the trail. We now increased
our speed and soon we drew, UP in
front of the troopers and with mill
.ary salute which was promptly re-
turned by both officers. we greeted each
other with an all around shake Oues-
lions and answers were rapidly asked |
md answered and when l informed !
Capt. Parker, which was the name of
10 oee;oor ~, char WOO nf Stop1ey'c III