DANGERS OF THE TRAIL—1865
DANGERS OF THE TRAIL
IN 1865
A Narrative of Actual Events
By CHARLES E. YOUNG
GENEVA, N. Y.
1912
COPYRIGHT, 1912
BY CHARLES E. YOUNG
Press of W. F. Humphrey, Geneva, N. Y.
H. DeF. Patterson, Illustrator, Geneva, N. Y.
PREFACE
I present this narrative of actual eventson a trip across the plains to Denver,Colorado, in 1865 and of life in the Far Westin the later sixties.
An interesting and valuable feature is amap of the country, made in 1865, byHenry Bowles of Boston, showing the oldPlatte River and Smoky Hill Trails of thatday before there was a railroad west ofthe Missouri River.
Everything is told in a plain but truthfulmanner, and this little volume is submittedto the reader for approval or criticism.
July, 1912
CONTENTS
| Chapter I—Young Man, Go West |
| Chapter II—Arrival at Fort Carney |
| Chapter III—An Attack by the Indians |
| Chapter IV—Denver in 1865 |
| Chapter V—A Proof of Marksmanship |
| Chapter VI—On to Leavenworth |
| Chapter VII—A Plucky German |
CHAPTER I
"YOUNG MAN, GO WEST"
Early in 1859 gold was discovered inColorado, and Horace Greeley, thewell known writer and a powerthroughout the country bothbefore and during the CivilWar, made, in the interest ofthe New York Tribune, ofwhich he was editor, an overland trip toDenver by the first stage line run in thatday. He started from Leavenworth, Kansas,and with the exception of Mr. Richardson,of the Boston Journal, was the onlypassenger in the coach. The trip was not allthat could be desired, for they met withnumerous hardships and many narrow escapes,as did hundreds of others who had precededthem over that dangerous trail, many neverreaching their destination—having met deathat the hands of the cruel Indians of the plains.[Pg 8]
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