Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-24

| our MONDAY repast on the first day OF
this trip. After leaving Topeka, while
out on the prairie with no town or set
| Element in sight, the engineer signaled
for brakes. We were going to eat, but
whefea Away on, nearly I'm mile lie tR;-
the conductor led his flock streaming
| across virgin land.
| As this was my first meal away from
home, may have over rated its quail
ity. My hoyish verdict was that We had
very sumptuous repast. There was an
| abundance of meat, potatoes, turnips,
bread and coffee. In o common white
dish, placed in the center of the table.
were some oranges. These were the
first had ever seen and I did not know
how to so about eating them. Some one
showed me how totpeel one and part 1T
into sections. This was the greatest
treat ! had ever experienced I had an
other to take with me, and for that
meal paid Is cents.
n " n
THE next morning my eyes opened in
= astonishment at the unexpected
sight Of large delegation Of Indians
filling a coach that had come into town
during the night and had been attached
TO our train. Although it was my first
TO be a natural part of life, the effect
of all had heard from my relatives.
They. proved to be the Cheyenne, To-
Gated In the very country for which
was bound I even recognized the names
OF Little Whirlwind, Little Big Jake and
Red Lodge, of whom had often heard.
They made up delegation returning
to Darlington Agency from first visit
to the Great White Father at Washing
| ton.
walked up and down the aisle of the
car, feasting my eyes on the strange
sights. delightedly listening to the
strange tongue. Here in flesh and
blood were the heroes of my dreams. My
excitement attracted Red Lodge. Once
when was passing him he reached out,
grasped me and pulled me to seat be-
side him.
He set to- work to amuse the white
boy. Taking new bandanna handker-
chief from about his neck, and placing
1t over our heads as he bent to meet
mine, he murmured over and over again
the words, MY papoosel My papoose"
! was proud boy just then and wished
the boys back home were there to wit
ness my great honor. I was adopted by
an Indian brave and addressed as Vehu-
Gus, the equivalent Of Little White
Boy"
The journey to Caldwell passed all
too soon. There parted from my IN
dian friends and hunted up the stage
coach.
An old-time Concord stage coach,
drawn by four horses coming at fast
trot, was brought to sudden stop On
the stage road. was proud OF the fact
that this grand turnout was thus halted
for me, and I was raised to seventh
heaven of bliss as was invited to seat
beside the driver. From this vantage
| point, 6 feet or more from the ground,
had my first views of my empire on
the way to Red Fork Ranch.
The business of the ranch was trade.
My brother Ralph had a big supply of
flour. bacon, coffee, dried apples, soda
crackers. gingersnaps. which were
called "smacks" by the cowboys. and
sugar. and there was also small line
Of clothing. These were all traded for
furs or sold outright for cash. This es-
between Caldwell and Darlington
Agency. a distance Of 80 or 100 miles,
All supplies were freighted in from the
railroad at Caldwell. Kans.
| Our customers were cattlemen, cow
boys" mule SINNERS" bull whackers, "
Indians, United States troopers, outlaws.
stage coach passengers, and, in the later
days sheepmen.
All the cattle which came from Texas
on the way to Kansas passed by or tar
RED at Red Fork Ranch A man was
| truly "shorthorn" on the great plains
in the seventies and eighties who could
not say he had ridden the Chisholm
Trail and knew the ranch.
The first cattle drive made O clearly
marked path, which became more dis
tinct with each succeeding year, as the
| thousands of hoofs passed over 1t. Under
the influence of cutting hoofs and the
action of the winds, this path had be-
come, even on the levels, sunken road,
while at the fords and rises it showed In
deep cuts. These cuts were 100 yards
wide, while the roadway on the levels
was marked deep over widths varying
| from rod to 3. Once on this trail,
there was no difficulty In following it.
A herd of some 500 Texas longhorns
came up the trail to Red Fork Ranch
one Summers day, late in the after
noon. They were driven into the corral
by full outfit of cowboys. The drive
had been tiresome, and all hands looked
forward to this spot as haven of rest
for one night. Here the cattle could be
held In a corral and night-herd duty
dispensed with.
X X X X
| RT early DUSK, all STOCK hao been cor
i rallied, and the men descended in a
body on the cook and his evening offer
ing Of food All was jollity and good
feeling, for they were going to have q
night of and an evenings entertain
ment, consisting largely OF perform
ance on the violin by one of the outfit
His skill was attested to by his COM
rades, who proclaimed him "jim
darter."
The men came into the store and an
nounced the coming entertainment to
Ralph. OF course. he acquiesced, and
set about gathering an audience by
passing the word to nearby freighters
] and the men employed on the ranch.