The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-15
cended to the river bottom, with hind
wheels chained, over rocks where only


wheels chained, over rocks where only
mules could have kept their footing,
CROSSED the stream and gone into camp
near by. A short distance from the
camp the river formed large pool and
about dusk l saw flock of wild ducks
fly over and drop into the pool. Think
ing l might be able to add duck to our
menu took shot gun and started for
the pool. On nearing it l found there
was no cover and so laid down and crawl
ed for some distance, and when raised
my head to locate the ducks an arrow
whizzed by, coming from the dense woods
on the opposite side of the pool. l at
once lost all interest in the ducks and
turning tail crawled toward camp until
l felt it was safe to get on my feet. l
have since regretted that l did not get
that arrow as souvenir, but then had
no ambition to be pin cushion for an
Indian marksman. 1t might we'll be
called an arrow escape. A former pay
master with the same team we were
using was attacked by party of Indians
at this very place and one of the mules
was wounded.
With MAJOR Prince I started on trip
to Fort Davis, AGO miles from San An
tonic, but on reaching Fort Lancaster
had an ill turn and it was decided l
should remain there, and Major Prince
60 on, pay off the troops, and l would
join him on his return. I was the guest
of Capt. Stephen D. Carpenter and
wife. Capt. Carpenter was Maine
man, and my grandfather, Timothy Pills.
bury, married for his second wife his
sister, Miss Rebecca Carpenter Of Houl-
ton, who was then living in New Dan
vile, Texas.
Fort Lancaster was situated on pla-
teau looking down on the valley of the
Pecos river, its course marked by trees,
while back of it were bare hills. 1t was
late in November and there was no veg
citation of any kind, and one could hard
|. ly imagine more desolate and dreary
looking place. When l got better l was
furnished with an easy riding mule, that
did not trot, but "loped," and used to
take daily rides in the vicinity, and the
river often brought to mind one of John
Phenix's stories in which he spoke of a
grave on the bank of the Pecos river,
marked with a board bearing these
words: Here lies the body of jeans
Hambrick, who was accidentally killed
by the discharge of Colts pistol, one OF
the old-fashioned. brass mounted kind,
and of such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
In due course of time Major Prince
returned from Fort Davis and we start
ed on the return to San Antonio. Our
first camp was in a place as dreary-
looking as that we had left behind, and
when | woke the next morning and found
only the sky overhead and no one in
sight | was somewhat bewildered FOR a
time. 1t seems that the tents had been
struck, wagons loaded and everything
ready to move on while l was sleeping
the sleep of the just. On another morn
ing we emerged from our tent to find
the ground covered with snow and sat
on our camp stools before the fire to eat
breakfast. 1t was en- this trip that we
spent Christmas in camp on the Medina
river as related above, and l think it
was my last trip to the interior before
joining the Utah army and crossing the
Plains, which is another story.
C. A P