been expected. The practicability of this method being established, the trade began steadily to increase, and in a few years a large amount of capital was embarked therein. Its initial point was first Franklin, some one hundred and fifty miles west of St. Louis; then Independence; then Westport-all these towns being on the Missouri River, and thus easily reached during the season of navigation. Here were found motley crowds-traders, outfitters, dealers in supplies of all kinds, tourists, invalids hoping to regain their health by a trip on the plains. drivers, and "roughs" in abundance. The covered wagons were drawn first by horses, then by mules, then by both mules and oxen, and were carefully loaded. Besides the merchandise, supplies for the men were carried-say, bacon, flour, coffee, sugar, and a little salt, it being expected that

one hundred wagons, and a "captain of the caravan" would divide them into four divisions, with a lieutenant to each. Every individual in the caravan was compelled to stand his watch at night, and this guard must have presented a motley assortment of clothing and arms. When all was ready, the start was made. Every night a hollow square and temporary corral were made with the wagons, and the camp fires lighted outside of this square. Across swamps, quagmires, and even rivers, the teams were driven, men being sent ahead to make temporary bridges over the first two. of brush or long grass covered with earth, and sometimes, for crossing streams, to fabricate "buffalo boats" of hides stretched over frames of poles, or empty wagon bodies.

The main route to Santa Fe will be described later on, but the trains sometimes

When the caravans were within a moderate distance of Santa Fe, runners were forwarded to send back supplies, engage store-houses, and make arrangements with the customs officers-arrangements not unlike, probably, those made with (some) customs officers in other parts of the world and in later days. And then, at last, the long valleys traversed and the high hills crossed, the goal appeared in sight. Loud cheers rang out, guns were discharged, and demonstrations of the greatest joy abounded on every side. I must quote once more from Mr. Gregg's enthusiastic description:

"It was truly a scene for the artist's

ENTRANCE OF THE CARAVAN INTO SANTA FE.

THE DON.

pencil to revel in. Even the animals seemed to participate in the humor of their riders, who grew more and more merry and obstreperous as they descended toward the city. I doubt, in short, whether the walls of Jerusalem were beheld for the first time by the Crusaders with much more tumultuous and soul-enrapturing joy.

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The arrival produced a great deal of bustle and excitement among the natives. 'Los Americanos!' 'Los carros!' 'La entrada de la caravana!' were to be heard in every direction; and crowds of women and boys flocked around to see the newcomers, while crowds of leperos hung about, as usual, to see what they could pilfer. The wagoners were by no means free from excitement on this occasion. Informed of the ordeal' they had to pass, they had spent the previous morning in 'rubbing up,' and now they were prepared, with clean faces, sleek combed hair, and their choicest Sunday suit, to meet the 'fair eyes' of glistening black that were sure to stare at them as they passed. There was yet another preparation to be made in order to 'show off' to advantage. Each wagoner must tie a brand-new 'cracker' to the lash of his whip, for on

driving through the streets and the plaza publica every one strives to outvie his comrades in the dexterity with which he flourishes this favorite badge of his authority."

Then were sold the domestic cottons, calicoes, cotton velvets, silks, hardware, etc., which had been brought across the plains; and the foundation of many a large fortune was laid in the handsome profits coming from this business. It suffered at times from the capricious and despotic behavior of the Spanish or Mexican authorities, and was closed in 1843 by them, only to be re-opened, however, in the ensuing spring. In 1841 the Texans, being at war with Mexico, sent an expedition into the country, which resulted most disastrously; and ostensibly, in reprisal for the treatment of their countrymen, gangs of men, under Warfield and McDaniel, made attempts to raid some of the trains as well as attack villages. One of these gangs was also guilty of the robbery and dastardly murder of Don Antonio José Chavez, in April, 1843, and the criminals were pursued, and most of them captured. Nor was the trade seriously interrupted by the Mexican war, for Santa Fe was taken by our troops in 1846, and an American Governor soon replaced the haughty Dons. Then it progressed steadily, and only the Indians seem to have interfered with it; and when the great iron roads began to push out from the Missouri, the starting-place moved farther and farther West. The forwarding establishment at the head of which is Don Miguel A. Otero, a highly respected citizen of New Mexico, and uncle of the Territorial Delegate to Congress, has made seven jumps in eleven years. It was, in 1868, at Hays City, Kansas. Thence it went to Sheridan, Kit Carson, Granada, La Junta, El Moro, Otero, and Las Vegas.

In

Of interesting incidents, sometimes pleasing, often tragic, there is large store, from which one has but to choose. either 1850 or 1851, F. X. Aubry, a young man of Canadian descent, rode, on a wager, from Santa Fe to Independence in five days and sixteen hours, his own beautiful mare Nelly having carried him, it is said, over one hundred and fifty miles. It is sad to relate that the man possessing the courage and endurance for such a feat was killed in a brawl in Santa Fe, September 11, 1854. In 1850 a United States mail party was cut off by the Apache and

Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri, between Kansas City and Atchison, was established in 1827. In 1829 Major Riley, with four companies, escorted a caravan as far as Sand Creek. Captain Wharton, with a smaller force, was on the trail in 1834, and large escorts under Captain Cook were there in 1843. In 1846, however, the first grand march was made (almost exactly where the railroad runs today), by the celebrated "Army of the West," under command of that fine old soldier, Colonel, afterward General, Stephen W. Kearny, of the First Dragoons. His force consisted of just 1658 men, including the First Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers, commanded by the famous Colonel Doniphan. Of this regiment, William Gilpin, the first Governor of Colorado (a brave and patriotic veteran, who has rendered most important services to his country on more than one occasion, and is now living quietly at Denver, and discoursing to his friends on the value of the Rocky Mountain Parks), was the major. It is curious to read in these days of the difficulty which the troops had in reaching the trail from Fort Leavenworth, there being no road; and then of the long march, conducted in detachments, each day's progress being recorded by Captain (now General) W. H. Emory, the engineer officer. The army was rather scantily supplied with provisions, and many of the inexperienced soldiers fell ill and died, but the survivors pushed bravely on; and having marched out of Fort Leavenworth on the 26th of June, arrived at Bent's Fort, then in its glory, on the 1st of August.

Still exactly on the old trail, the army turned south, crossed the Raton Mountains (being often obliged to draw the wagons up with ropes on one side, and let them down on the other), and, reduced to onehalf and then one-third rations, proceeded to Las Vegas, where the general, standing on the flat roof of a building, administered the oath of allegiance to the principal Mexican residents. It was understood that Governor Armijo would meet the Americans in a cañon some twenty miles from Santa Fe, and "welcome them with bloody hands to hospitable graves." The Don assembled 7000 men by proclamation, marched out, threw up some earth-works, and cut down some trees in this strong position, and thenmarched away again! When Kearny came on, with his little army in battle array, he went through the gorge and into Santa Fe without firing a shot, thus bringing to a close a most brilliant military achievement, and one of the most romantic and remarkable journeys over the old trail. A second force, under Sterling Price, afterward a noted Confederate leader, came over the same route later. He took command in New Mexico, and had more or less fighting until he returned, in the summer of 1847, an Illinois regiment and another from Missouri having replaced