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[Contents.]
Some minor typographical errors have been corrected.
[List of Illustrations] (In certain versions of this etext [in certain browsers] clicking on the image will bring up a larger version.) (etext transcriber's note) |
THE WESTERN ECHO:
A DESCRIPTION
OF THE
Western States and Territories
OF THE UNITED STATES.
AS GATHERED IN A TOUR BY WAGON.
BY
GEORGE W. ROMSPERT.
DAYTON, OHIO:
United Brethren Publishing House.
1881.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881,
By G. W. ROMSPERT,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
| PAGE. | |
| [Frontispiece.] | |
| [The Prairie Fire] | [111] |
| [Indian Cruelty] | [131] |
| [The Mountain Lake] | [282] |
| [Scene in the Sierra Nevada Mountains] | [361] |
| [San Francisco Bay] | [386] |
CONTENTS
| PAGE. | |
| [Preface] | [11] |
| [Introduction] | [13] |
| [PART I.] | |
|---|---|
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| Start from Dayton—Coal-Mine—Indianapolis—IllinoisRoads—Springfield—Crops—Poor Water—MissouriRiver—Enter Iowa—Enter Missouri—Kansas City—DesMoines Valley and City—Western Iowa—Fourthof July at Lewis—Council Bluffs | [17] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Omaha—Homestead Land—Coming Onto the Plains—ColdWinds—Platte Valley—Republican Forks—FortWallace—Big Sandy—Old Battle-Ground—ArkansasValley—Irrigation Farming | [41] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| Arrival of Lesher and Wonderly—Our Start South—FirstBuffalo Herd—Cimaron River—Strayed Team—OldHunters—How to Hunt Buffaloes—WolfHunt—Prairie Fire—Herd at Ten-Mile Creek—Blizzard—Finda Frozen Man—Hide Season Ends | [73] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| Summer Trip Through the South—Indian Agencies—CanadianRiver—Lion Fight—Red River—DoubleMountain—Staked Plains—Pecos River—IndianSkirmish—Santa Fe, New Mexico—Return to theArkansas Valley—Description of the Plains—Mirage—Dangersof the Prairie—Wild Horses andHow Captured—Creasing Animals | [128] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
| Cattle-Business Explained—Branding Stock—Round-Up—Mavorick—Beef-Gathering—Stampedes—Tender-Feet—Stock-Raisingin Texas—Cattle-Trail—BuyingCattle from Trail—How to Enter StockBusiness—Sheep-Raising—Greasers—Texas Cattle-Fever | [168] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
| Cow-Boy History—Mustangs and Broncos—Cow-Boyswith Six-Shooters—Dodge City—Boot Grave-yard—PrairieMysteries—Dance-Halls—Sketch of BuffaloBill—Theory of the Plains—Trading-House—AntelopeChase—We Prepare for a Mountain Tour | [201] |
| [PART II.] | |
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
| We Start for the Mountains—Las Animas—Pueblo—ColoradoSprings—Manitou—Mineral Springs—WeAscend Pike’s Peak—Balancing Rock—Garden ofthe Gods—Devil’s Hole—Return to Manitou | [241] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
| Start for South Park—Ute Pass—Rainbow Falls—SouthPark—Bear Fight—Leadville—Sallie Ray—ChimneyGulch—Trout-Fishing—Denver—Cheyenne—BlackBitter Creek—Antelope Springs—Wolf Adventure—GreenRiver—Old Emigrant Road—Echo Canon—Utah—ParkCity—Ontario Mine—Quartz-Mill—Kindsof Mines—Prospecting—Start for Salt Lake | [274] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
| View of Salt Lake Valley and City—Tabernacle—Historyof the Mormons—Joe Smith—Came to Kirtland,Ohio—Brigham Young Converted—Located atIndependence, Missouri—Located at Nauvoo, Illinois—Joeand Hiram Smith Killed—Emigrated toCouncil Bluffs—Came to Salt Lake—Trouble withthe Government—Mormon Theology | [329] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
| We Leave Salt Lake—Reach the Sierra Nevada Slopes—Tunnels,Gorges, etc.—Reach California—Sacramento—SanFrancisco—Hotel Runners—Fruits—PalaceHotel—Chinese—Dennis Kearney and Party—DeYoung-Kalloch Tragedy—Chinese Bakers—CaliforniaClimate—Ships—Golden Gate—WoodwardGarden—Portland, Oregon—Washington Territory—Sailfor Santa Barbara and Los Angeles—Prescott,Arizona—Meet General Fremont—BigTrees—Return to Ohio | [356] |
| [WHO SHOULD GO WEST.] | [400] |
PREFACE.
It is the object of the author, by this volume, to place before the people a brief history of the western states and territories through which he traveled in a late long overland tour, together with a sketch of the customs and occupations of the people in all the parts described. A journey by wagon through so much territory, by so many unknown, has furnished the author with knowledge that will be of so much value to persons who think of going West, and more especially to those who intend trying their fortunes in the regions of the setting sun, that he feels himself somewhat in duty bound to reduce it to print. Many fabulous and speculative histories have been written of the same country; and, with prejudiced pens, they have been deceitful records. Far from this is the motive of the present writer. And he hopes the fruits of his labor will prove valuable to persons who intend relying upon the merits of the West for a future livelihood as well as those who intend journeying thither merely for health, speculation, or pleasure; for to all such this work is respectfully dedicated.
Dayton, Ohio, May 1, 1881.
INTRODUCTION.
Ever since there was an East there was a West, and from the fact that the great race of humanity had its birth upon the highlands of Asia, the latter has always been a land of discovery, into which the boldest of an overpopulated country must make the first strides, contend with the greatest dangers and exposures, and break the first soil. The great pair of Eden have wonderfully multiplied; and their posterity, like a mighty wave, is fast flowing toward the western horizon. This great emigration has been a continuous seige of adventure; and many a worthy life has been lost while opening the road that must soon bear the broad marks of civilization. Many volumes contain the records of humanity; and the most interesting and touching part of man’s career is the frontier life, which has been a continuous battle in the wilderness ever since the first back was turned against the eastern sky. What a glorious thing it has ever been that for every difficulty there has been a surmounter, and for every wave a rider! What a treasure to the world was he who first plowed the foaming Atlantic and moored his bark upon the shores of the great America! The event has proved one of necessity for the support of the growing millions, and is a lesson that for every creature there is a home. The mighty rivers that flowed so long in vain through the East of this golden land now bear upon their bosoms mighty ships, laded with the produce of the soil. The little streams that rippled so long unheard upon their pebble beds, have all kissed the ruby lips of civilization; and the splendid soil that yielded so long to the savage tread, has at last found a husbandman, and fields of golden grain wave proudly where the roots of the mighty forests have long since decayed. But, like every other country, the first part found has been the first overdone. One half of the world knows not how the other half lives; and, likewise, thousands who live in the civilized and improved East are perfectly ignorant of the great country lying west of them. True, the land has been crossed and the history written; but the accounts have been so varied that many who have a desire to find new homes and breathe purer air, feel quite a delicacy in putting everything they have to so uncertain an adventure. Many examples of families seeking their fortunes in a land of which they have not even the most limited knowledge,—or into which they have been betrayed by the misrepresentations of those who value money in their own pocket higher than comfort in the poor man’s family,—and returning in perfectly destitute circumstances, have proved this fear to be well founded. Nearly all the histories that have been written of the land now in view were got up by land-sharks, or by persons who took a single tour through the country, often on the train, and not seeing one eighth of the country of which they write, nor stopping long enough in a place to learn the ways and customs of the inhabitants, nor testing the soil, climate, and general prospects of the country upon which the emigrant must rely. Far from this method has been the means of this author’s information, which he wishes to place before the people in the present volume. With a deep conviction of common duty, every line is marked; and the many facts gathered by so much peril and exposure will certainly be a valuable fountain to all those to whom this work is dedicated.