The scientific details of our trip will probably be published in proper form and time, by the savans interested. In regard to these, my object has been simply to chronicle such matters as made an impression upon my own mind, being content with what cream might be gathered by an amateur's skimming, while the more bulky milk should be saved in capacious scientific buckets.
Professor Cope, the well known naturalist, of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia, received for examination and classification the most valuable fossils we obtained, and to him I am indebted for a large amount of most interesting and valuable scientific matter, which will be found embodied in chapters twenty-third and twenty-fourth.
The illustrations of men and brutes in this work are studies from life. Whenever it was possible, we had photographs taken.
The plains, it must be said, are a tract with which Romance has had much more to do than History. Red men, brave and chivalrous, and unnatural buffalo, with the habits of lions, exist only in imagination. In these pages, my earnest endeavor, when dealing with actualities, has been to "hold the mirror up to Nature," and to describe men, manners, and things as they are in real life upon the frontiers, and beyond, to-day.
W. E. W.
Topeka, Kansas, May, 1872.
CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGES. | |
| THE OBJECT OF OUR EXPEDITION—A GLIMPSE OF ALASKA THROUGH CAPTAIN | |
| WALRUS' GLASS—WE ARE TEMPTED BY OUR RECENT PURCHASE—ALASKAN | |
| GAME OF "OLD SLEDGE"—THE EARLY STRUGGLES OF KANSAS—THE | |
| SMOKY HILL TRAIL—INDIAN HIGH ART—THE "BORDER-RUFFIAN," | |
| PAST AND PRESENT—TOPEKA—HOW IT RECEIVED ITS | |
| NAME—WAUKARUSA AND ITS LEGEND, | [25]-35 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| A CHAPTER OF INTRODUCTIONS—PROFESSOR PALEOZOIC—TAMMANY SACHEM—DOCTOR | |
| PYTHAGORAS—GENUINE MUGGS—COLON AND SEMI-COLON—SHAMUS | |
| DOBEEN—TENACIOUS GRIPE—BUGS AND PHILOSOPHY—HOW | |
| GRIPE BECAME A REPUBLICAN, | [36]-54 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| THE TOPEKA AUCTIONEER—MUGGS GETS A BARGAIN—CYNOCEPHALUS—INDIAN | |
| SUMMER IN KANSAS—HUNTING PRAIRIE CHICKENS—OUR FIRST | |
| DAY'S SPORT, | [55]-63 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| CHICKEN-SHOOTING CONTINUED—A SCIENTIFIC PARTY TAKE THE BIRDS ON | |
| THE WING—EVILS OF FAST FIRING—AN OLD-FASHIONED "SLOW SHOT"—THE | |
| HABITS OF THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN—ITS PROSPECTIVE EXTINCTION—MODE | |
| OF HUNTING IT—THE GOPHER SCALP LAW, | [64]-74 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| A TRIAL BY JUDGE LYNCH—HUNG FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT—QUAIL | |
| SHOOTING—HABITS OF THE BIRDS, AND MODE OF KILLING THEM—A | |
| RING OF QUAILS—THE EFFECTS OF A SEVERE WINTER—THE SNOW | |
| GOOSE, | [75]-83 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| OFF FOR BUFFALO LAND—THE NAVIGATION OF THE KAW—FORT RILEY—THE | |
| CENTER-POST OF THE UNITED STATES—OUR PURCHASE OF HORSES—"LO" | |
| AS A SAVAGE AND AS A CITIZEN—GRIPE UNFOLDS THE INDIAN | |
| QUESTION—A BALLAD BY SACHEM, PRESENTING ANOTHER VIEW, | [84]-98 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| GRIPE'S VIEWS OF INDIAN CHARACTER—THE DELAWARES, THE ISHMAELITES | |
| OF THE PLAINS—THE TERRITORY OF THE "LONG HORNS"—TEXANS | |
| AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS—MUSHROOM ROCK—A VALUABLE DISCOVERY—FOOTPRINTS | |
| IN THE ROCK—THE PRIMEVAL PAUL AND | |
| VIRGINIA, | [99]-111 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| THE "GREAT AMERICAN DESERT"—ITS FOSSIL WEALTH—AN ILLUSION DISPELLED—FIRES | |
| ACCORDING TO NOVELS AND ACCORDING TO FACT—SENSATIONAL | |
| HEROES AND HEROINES—PRAIRIE DOGS AND THEIR HABITS—HAWK | |
| AND DOG, AND HAWK AND CAT, | [112]-123 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| WE SEE BUFFALO—ARRIVAL AT HAYS—GENERAL SHERIDAN AT THE FORT—INDIAN | |
| MURDERS—BLOOD-CHRISTENING OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD—SURPRISED | |
| BY A BUFFALO HERD—A BUFFALO BULL IN A QUANDARY—GENTLE | |
| ZEPHYRS—HOW A CIRCUS WENT OFF—BOLOGNA TO LEAN ON—A | |
| CALL UPON SHERIDAN, | [124]-141 |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| HAYS CITY BY LAMP-LIGHT—THE SANTA FE TRADE—BULL-WHACKERS—MEXICANS—SABBATH | |
| ON THE PLAINS—THE DARK AGES—WILD BILL | |
| AND BUFFALO BILL—OFF FOR THE SALINE—DOBEEN'S GHOST-STORY—AN | |
| ADVENTURE WITH INDIANS—MEXICAN CANNONADE—A RUNAWAY, | [142]-160 |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| WHITE WOLF, THE CHEYENNE CHIEF—HUNGRY INDIANS—RETURN TO HAYS—A | |
| CHEYENNE WAR PARTY—THE PIPE OF PEACE—THE COUNCIL | |
| CHAMBER—WHITE WOLF'S SPEECH, AS RENDERED BY SACHEM—THE | |
| WHITE MAN'S WIGWAM, | [161]-176 |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| ARMS OF A WAR PARTY—A DONKEY PRESENT—EATING POWERS OF THE | |
| NOMADS—SATANTA, HIS CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT—RUNNING OFF | |
| WITH A GOVERNMENT HERD—DAUB, OUR ARTIST—ANTELOPE CHASE | |
| BY A GREYHOUND, | [177]-191 |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| CHARACTER OF THE PLAINS—BUFFALO BILL AND HIS HORSE BRIGHAM—THE | |
| GUIDE AND SCOUT OF ROMANCE—CAYOTE VERSUS JACKASS-RABBIT—A | |
| LAWYER-LIKE RESCUE—OUR CAMP ON SILVER CREEK—UNCLE | |
| SAM'S BUFFALO HERDS—TURKEY-SHOOTING—OUR FIRST MEAL ON THE | |
| PLAINS—A GAME SUPPER, | [192]-208 |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| A CAMP-FIRE SCENE—VAGABONDIZING—THE BLACK PACER OF THE PLAINS—SOME | |
| ADVICE FROM BUFFALO BILL ABOUT INDIAN FIGHTING—LO'S | |
| ABHORRENCE OF LONG RANGE—HIS DREAD OF CANNON—AN IRISH | |
| GOBLIN, | [209]-219 |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| A FIRE SCENE—A GLIMPSE OF THE SOUTH—'COON HUNTING IN MISSISSIPPI—VOICES | |
| IN THE SOLITUDE—FRIENDS OR FOES—A STARTLING | |
| SERENADE—PANIC IN CAMP—CAYOTES AND THEIR HABITS—WORRYING | |
| A BUFFALO BULL—THE SECOND DAY—DAUB, OUR ARTIST—HE | |
| MAKES HIS MARK, | [220]-235 |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| BISON MEAT—A STRANGE ARRIVAL—THE SYDNEY FAMILY—THE HOME | |
| IN THE VALLEY—THE SOLOMON MASSACRE—THE MURDER OF THE | |
| FATHER AND THE CHILD—THE SETTLERS' FLIGHT—INCIDENTS—OUR | |
| QUEEN OF THE PLAINS—THE PROFESSOR INTERESTED—IRISH MARY—DOBEEN | |
| HAPPY—THE HEROINE OF ROMANCE—SACHEM'S BATH BY | |
| MOONLIGHT—THE BEAVER COLONY, | [236]-249 |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| PREPARATIONS FOR THE CHASE—THE VALLEY OF THE SALINE—QUEER | |
| 'COONS—A BISON'S GAME OF BLUFF—IN PURSUIT—ALONGSIDE THE | |
| GAME—FIRING FROM THE SADDLE—A CHARGE AND A PANIC—FALSE | |
| HISTORY AGAIN—GOING FOR AMMUNITION—THE PROFESSOR'S LETTER—DISROBING | |
| THE VICTIM, | [250]-263 |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| STILL HUNTING—DARK OBJECTS AGAINST THE HORIZON—THE RED MAN | |
| AGAIN—RETREAT TO CAMP—PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENSE—SHAKING | |
| HANDS WITH DEATH—MR. COLON'S BUGS—THE EMBASSADORS—A NEW | |
| ALARM—MORE INDIANS—TERRIFIC BATTLE BETWEEN PAWNEES AND | |
| CHEYENNES—THEIR MODE OF FIGHTING—GOOD HORSEMANSHIP—A | |
| SCIENTIFIC PARTY AS SEXTONS—DITTO AS SURGEONS—CAMPS OF THE | |
| COMBATANTS—STEALING AWAY—AN APPARITION, | [264]-279 |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| STALKING THE BISON—BUFFALO AS OXEN—EXPENSIVE POWER—A BUFFALO | |
| AT A LUNATIC ASYLUM—THE GATEWAY TO THE HERDS—INFERNAL | |
| GRAPE-SHOT—NATURE'S BOMB-SHELLS—CRAWLING BEDOUINS—"THAR | |
| THEY HUMP"—THE SLAUGHTER BEGUN—AN INEFFECTUAL | |
| CHARGE—"KETCHING THE CRITTER"—RETURN TO CAMP—CALVES' | |
| HEAD ON THE STOMACH—AN UNPLEASANT EPISODE—WOLF BAITING, | |
| AND HOW IT IS DONE, | [280]-291 |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| THE CAYOTES' STRYCHNINE FEAST—CAPTURING A TIMBER WOLF—A FEW | |
| CORDS OF VICTIMS—WHAT THE LAW CONSIDERS "INDIAN TAN"—"FINISHING" | |
| THE NEW YORK MARKET—A NEW YORK FARMER'S | |
| OPINION OF OUR GRAY WOLF—WESTWARD AGAIN—EPISODES IN OUR | |
| JOURNEY—THE WILD HUNTRESS OF THE PLAINS—WAS OUR GUIDE A | |
| MURDERER?—THE READER JOINS US IN A BUFFALO CHASE—THE | |
| DYING AGONIES, | [292]-305 |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| "CREASING" WILD HORSES—MUGGS DISAPPOINTED—A FEAT FOR FICTION—HORSE | |
| AND MONKEY—HOOF WISDOM FOR TURFMEN—PROSPECTIVE | |
| CLIMATIC CHANGES ON THE PLAINS—THE QUESTION OF | |
| SPONTANEOUS GENERATION—WANTON SLAUGHTER OF BUFFALO—AMOUNT | |
| OF ROBES AND MEAT ANNUALLY WASTED—A STRANGE | |
| HABIT OF THE BISON—NUMEROUS BILLS—THE "SNEAK THIEF" OF | |
| THE PLAINS, | [306]-317 |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| A LIVE TOWN AND ITS GRAVE-YARD—HONEST ROMBEAUX IN TROUBLE—JUDGE | |
| LYNCH HOLDS COURT—MARIE AND THE VINE-COVERED COTTAGE—THE | |
| TERRIBLE FLOODS—DEATH IN CAMP AND IN THE DUGOUT—WAS | |
| IT THE WATER WHICH DID IT?—DISCOVERY OF A HUGE | |
| FOSSIL—THE MOSASAURUS OF THE CRETACEOUS SEA—A GLIMPSE | |
| OF THE REPTILIAN AGE—REMINISCENCES OF ALLIGATOR-SHOOTING—THEY | |
| SUGGEST A THEORY, | [318]-329 |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
| FROM SHERIDAN TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS—THE COLORADO PORTION OF | |
| THE PLAINS—THE GIANT PINES—ATTEMPT TO PHOTOGRAPH A BUFFALO—THINGS | |
| GET MIXED—THE LEVIATHAN AT HOME—A CHAT | |
| WITH PROFESSOR COPE—TWENTY-SIX-INCH OYSTERS—REPTILES AND | |
| FISHES OF THE CRETACEOUS SEA, | [330]-350 |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | |
| CONTINUED BY COPE—THE GIANTS OF THE SEAS—TAKING OUT FOSSILS | |
| IN A GALE—INTERESTING DISCOVERIES—THE GEOLOGY OF THE | |
| PLAINS, | [351]-365 |
| CHAPTER XXV. | |
| A SAVAGE OUTBREAK—THE BATTLE OF THE FORTY SCOUTS—THE SURPRISE—PACK-MULES | |
| STAMPEDED—DEATH ON THE ARICKEREE—THE | |
| MEDICINE MAN—A DISMAL NIGHT—MESSENGERS SENT TO WALLACE—MORNING | |
| ATTACK—WHOSE FUNERAL?—RELIEF AT LAST—THE OLD | |
| SCOUT'S DEVOTION TO THE BLUE, | [366]-376 |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | |
| THE STAGE DRIVERS OF THE PLAINS—"OLD BOB"—JAMAICA AND GINGER—AN | |
| OLD ACQUAINTANCE—BEADS OF THE PAST—ROBBING THE | |
| DEAD—A LEAP FROM THE LOST HISTORY OF THE MOUND BUILDERS—INDIAN | |
| TRADITIONS—SPECULATIONS—ADOBE HOUSES IN A RAIN—CHEAP | |
| LIVING—WATCH TOWERS, | [377]-386 |
| CHAPTER XXVII. | |
| OUR PROGRAMME CONCLUDED—FROM SHERIDAN TO THE SOLOMON—FIERCE | |
| WINDS—A TERRIFIC STORM—SHAMUS' BLOODY APPARITION AND | |
| INDIAN WITCH—A RECONNOISSANCE—AN INDIAN BURIAL GROVE—A | |
| CONTRACTOR'S DARING AND ITS PENALTY—MORE VAGABONDIZING—JOSE | |
| AT THE LONG BOW—THE "WILD HUNTRESS'" COUNTERPART—SHAMUS | |
| TREATS US TO "CHILE"—THE RESULT, | [387]-395 |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. | |
| THE BLOCK-HOUSE ON THE SOLOMON—HOW THE OLD MAN DIED—WACONDA | |
| DA—LEGEND OF WA-BOG-AHA AND HEWGAW—SABBATH MORNING—SACHEM'S | |
| POETICAL EPITAPH—AN ALARM—BATTLE BETWEEN AN | |
| EMIGRANT AND THE INDIANS—WAS IT THE SYDNEYS?—TO THE | |
| RESCUE—AN ELK HUNT—ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP—NOVEL MODE | |
| OF HUNTING TURKEYS—IN CAMP ON THE SOLOMON—A WARM WELCOME, | [396]-415 |
| CHAPTER XXIX. | |
| OUR LAST NIGHT TOGETHER—THE REMARKABLE SHED-TAIL DOG—HE | |
| RESCUES HIS MISTRESS, AND BREAKS UP A MEETING—A SKETCH OF | |
| TERRITORIAL TIMES BY GRIPE—MONTGOMERY'S EXPEDITION FOR THE | |
| RESCUE OF JOHN BROWN'S COMPANIONS—SCALPED, AND CARVING HIS | |
| OWN EPITAPH—AN IRISH JACOB—"SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST"—SACHEM'S | |
| POETICAL LETTER—POPPING THE QUESTION ON THE RUN—THE | |
| PROFESSOR'S LETTER, | [416]-428 |