A Catholic priest and two eastern travelers, returning from Colorado,
are the only passengers in this coach. The seats are covered with sand,
and window sills drifted full. I brush a seat next to the river side
and prepare to write. Must tell you first that my wrap was handed me by
the porter, so if I was not in Colorado, it was.
The prairies are dotted with white thistle flowers, that look like pond
lilies on a sea of green. The buffalo grass is so short that it does
not hide the tiniest flower. Now we are alongside the river; sand-bars
in all shapes and little islands of green--there it winds to the south
and is lost to sight--herds of cattle--corn field--river again with
willow fringed bank--cattle on a sand-bar, so it cannot be quicksand,
or they would not be there long--river gone again--tall willow
grove--wire fencing--creek I suppose, but it is only a brook in width.
Now a broad, beautiful valley. Dear me! this field must be five miles
long, and cattle grazing in it--all fenced in until we reach
INDIANOLA,
one of the veteran towns of Red Willow county. The town-site was
surveyed in 1873, and is now the county seat. Of course its growth was
slow until the advent of the B. & M., and now it numbers over 400
inhabitants. "This way with your sorghum cane, and get your 'lasses'
from the big sorghum mill." See a church steeple, court house, and
school house--great herd of cattle--wilderness of sunflowers turning
their bright faces to the sun--now nothing but grass--corral made of
logs--corn and potatoes--out of the old sod into the nice new
frame--river beautifully wooded--valley about four miles wide from
bluff to bluff--dog town, but don't seem to be any doggies at
home--board fence.
CAMBRIDGE.
Close to the bridge and near Medicine creek; population 500; a flouring
mill; in Furnas county now. The flowers that I see are the prairie rose
shaded from white to pink, thistles, white and pink cactuses, purple
shoestring, a yellow flower, and sunflowers.
Abrupt bluffs like those of Valentine. Buffalo burs, and buffalo
wallows. Country looking fine. Grain good.
ARAPAHOE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account