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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1899)
8 OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE. December 24 , 1809. rort Kearney , Oregon Route Among the frontier outposts of Nebraska none has a moro Interesting history than Fort Kearney. Established before the ter ritory wiw organized It wns a stopping plnco for the- thousands who Journeyed overland before the Union Pacific railroad was com pleted nnd was an assurance of protection to the pioneers who came to nnd homes on the wind-blown pralrlo. The buildings have lens since disappeared nnd the only reminders of the scenes of llfo that wcro once enacted there nro the stately trees that enclosed the quadrangle of the parade ground and the remains of the earth embankment which was thrown up during nn Indian scare. The Bite lies on the south moval of the other. It la but an empty honor at any rate. In a list of officers In command of the post at various times , which list la , however , unolllclal , the name of Philip Kearny appears ns fourth. This seems to bo nn error , for the "Biography of Major Philip Kearny , " published by his ndmlrlng kinsman. Major do Peystcr , mnkon no men tion of his visiting the fort In any capacity. This Major do Peyster presented to the city of Kearney Bomo years ago a bronze bust of Philip Kearny , which now rests on a bracket In the city hall the , only ornament of nn otherwise barren Interior. It Is noticeable that the family name was spelled "Kenrny" nnd the fort nnd city "Kearney " The I UOAD THROUGH THE RESERVATION-PONTOON BRIDGING IN FENCE. 1-nnk of the PIntto river , opposlto the city ot Kearney , but four m'llen to the cast , and the beauty of the grove attracts many pic nic parties during the summer. To reach the spot wo drive down the main street of the city of Kearney , cross the two short bridges of the channels , and then reach the mllo-long wooden structure that bridges 'tho ' Pintle. On the south sldo of the rlvor the roadways of the section of country In and around the old reservation nro lined with tall trees which give an air of long occupation quite unexpected In a western country. A mlle from the bridge the drlvo lies cast down a beautiful avenue of trees. For miles this double row of trees trotche uway , narrowing In the dis tance until the opening at the end of the vlstn looks llko a cleft In n mountain can yon. It Is fortunate that the reservation wns abandoned nnd opened to settlement , for this valley land Is very productive. Klrnt F rt ICoiiriu-j- . The first Fort Kenrnoy wns on the alto of Nebraska City , where a blockhouse was erected and flvo companies of troops win tered In 1847-8. This post was named after the doughty warrior , Colonel Steven Watts ICenrnoy , who commanded the expedi tion to the South Pass In 1815. This was the first regular expedition which penetrated so fnr west , and was made for the purpose of becoming better acquainted with the country nnd perhaps , too , to hnvo nn In timidating effect on the various Indian tribes which were encountered en the way. In the spring ot 1818 the troops which wore wintered at Fort Kenrncy wore ordered to Now Mexico and the post waa permanently abandoned , At this time travel to Oregon was just beginning und as the scanty population ot what Is now Nebraska wna huddled along the MtHsourl river , It became necessary to es tablish outpostB to protect emigrants from marauding Indians. Secretary of War Mnrcy ordered Colonel Chllds of the Mls- t-ourl Vilunteor to establish n fort at Bimo . point nt n considerable dletauco from the Missouri nnd on the south sldo of the Platto. Colonel ChlldH and his men moved up the Platte valley us fur us the ford known Rfi Cnraon's Greening nnd hoio decided to build the fort , Just opposite the point whcro the little station of Hilda now stands. It Is related that they begun work , but some two or three weeks Inter a freshet swept away the partially completed buildings. They then moved back about n mlle from the bank to higher ground , which place became the permanent location. The buildings wore of eod nnd udobo. Cottonwood saplings were brought from the Islands and planted to beautify the lonely spot. The post was nt llrst cnllcd Fort Chllds , but there Is no military record ot this nnmo. In this same year Major Huff succeeded Colonel Chllds and the post was then called Ftrt Kearney , Oregon Route , and wns referred to ns New Fort Kenrnoy. Nut Nniiifil AfttT I'lill Kriinu-y. When Nebraska wns organized as n territory In 1854 , It was called Fort Kenrnoy , Nebraska Territory. It has been i-tated that this post was named after Philip 1 Kearny "Fighting Phil" hut this Is Incor rect. It 'H true that Philip Kearny ac companied the South Pass expedition , but .only as second lieutenant , while his uncle , i Stephen Watts Kearny , was colonel , nnd It Is unlikely that the lieutenant would bo i I'onored Instead of his superior olllcor. , Furthermore Stephen Kearny died In Oc tober , 1848 , and It was In accordance with i established custom that the now fort should 1 bear his name. Resides the old Fort ; Kearney nt Nebraska City was named for him and the now post wan practically a ro- change was of course an error In recording. In 1858 Colonel May took command of the fort. Ho caused the old sod and adobe buildings to bo destroyed nnd replaced by better ones. A saw mill was set up nnd the cottonwoods of the Islands were cut nnd sawed Into lumber for the now build ings. This section of country was claimed by the Pawnees nnd Colonel Mny arranged a treaty by which the government gained possession of a tract ten miles square. This extended two miles west of the fort build ings and eight miles cast , to the present site of Lowell. On the north It extended across the river and Included numerous Is lands for many miles up and down the PIntto. Thcso Islands were especially val uable for the timer they afforded. In return for this the Pawnees were given the exclusive use of Nance county , their favorite homo , nnd were promised that schools would bo established for them and their children educated and Instructed In agriculture , Needless to ay , the promises were not ful filled. The .MIIHnry Honil. Previously , In 185U , a military road had boon established between Fort Leavenworth and Fort Kearney , and was also ceded by treaty. Fort Larnmlo was established In 1849 , and all supply trains to this post passed through Fort Kearney. When gold wns discovered In Cnllfornla , and later nt ' of seekers , together Pike's Peak , the rush gold gether with the Oregon travel , made n steady ( stream of travel through the fort. By 18GO , n dally singe waa established and the tele- , grnph line wns In operation. Stage ranches { or stations were established at frequent Intervals - , tervals , where homos and drivers wore exchanged - , changed for fresh ones. At this time the , fort was a scene of continuous activity and ( llfo there was both exciting and Interesting , At the beginning of the civil war the population of the fort was about equally ill- vlded In sympathy. There was naturally ] serlouu occurred. : some friction , but nothing A number of officers left the fort to go south and were afterwards heard from In the southern army. ' . , , . . . . , The worst of Nebraska's Indian fighting J began In 1SG2 , and most of the offensive . were conducted i operations against Indians from Fort Kearney. Powerful bands of ; hostile Indians were swarming Into the northern part of the territory from Minnesota seta and caused general alarm. The Second end regiment of Nebraska cavalry waa hastily organized , and under Colonel Furnas did excellent service In a ehort but brilliant campaign. The next year the Seventh Iowa volunteer cavalry was ordered to the fron tier to protect the line of the overland etago route from Fort Kearney westward. Fol lowing the Chlvlngton massacre In Colorado theio wcro fears of a general uprising among nil the Nebraska Indians , nnd , at this Juncture the First regiment of Nebraska vol unteers was ordered to Fort Kearney. The Indians nro thought to have planned a gen eral nnd simultaneous attack on nil ranches nnd outposts. At Plum creek station , on Au gust 1 , 18C4 , they attacked the stage and killed the entire party , eleven In nil. The telegraph sent the news and the attacks at other points were Into nnd found the posts prepared. A general panic ensued and people fled from ranches In all directions to Fort Kearney. All overland travel waa etopped and all wagons arriving wcro detained nt the fort. It wns nt this time the earth embankment wns erected for n ride pit and It was ex pected that a bloody battle would be fought there , but fortunately It never occurred. The fort Itself was never attacked , but numerous sallies were made from there and many brave soldiers gave up their lives. After n time travel was again resumed , but precautions for safety were observed. Travelers and supply wagons were organized Into trains of fifty wagons each and after some drill were sent on under guidance of n captain. In all these troubles the Nebraska troops rendered excellent service until mustered out In 1SC6. Doliey Town. Just west of the reservation sprang up a collection of huts nnd hovels known ns Adobe Town , sometimes shortened to " Dobey Town" nnd nlso called Kearney City It Is related that the place at ono time had fourteen saloons , though there were only six families there. These saloons were , of course , sustained by the custom of travelers. A detailed history of Adobe Town would hava a weird sort of Interest no doubt If all facts could be brought to light. A little LARGE TREES ABOUT THE OLD PARADE GROUND. the post commander , together with officers and ladles of the fort to view the country. As they rode through Adobe Town someone ono from within one of the squalid llttlo houses hissed the party. Very soon after the general avenged the insult by ordering the abandonment of the post. An urgent protest from settlers who feared to bo left without protection resulted In ono company ot troops being left at the fort and from that tlmo It remained n one-company poet until It was permanently abandoned In 1871. The large trees which were planted In IMS , though cottonwoods , are remarkably beautiful. Ono of them measures nearly ten feet In circumference. Ttie embankment built for protection in case of nn Indian nt- tnck Is In the form of a square about ns large as a city block. The wall of earth still shows nn average height of five feet and must have settled , for it was inailo thirty-flvo years ago. The corners are rounded out In buttresses or caissons , and nt the time a drawbridge was arranged for en trance and exit. The grounds of the former post building are now occupied by a pros perous farmer of Kearney county. When the snap shot of the trees wns taken some thrifty calves were taking their supper from n wooden trough nnd about the em bankment peaceful cows were browsing. The quiet scene wns in contrast to that other when settlers nnd emigrants were hasten ing Into the fort for protection. The railroad reached Kearney station In 1SCC and In fact crossed Nebraska In 1SGG-7 and this put a stop to much of the overland travel. Supplies were then brought by rail to Kearney stntlon nnd transported across the river to Fort Kearney. The pontoon bridging which now forms part of a fence on the road leading through the old reserva tion was never used , probably becaule the water was too shallow to make It prac ticable. An ox ferry was used for a long time , a flat boat drawn by oxen , which walked or swam according to the depth. The rail road brought many excursionists as visitors and llfo at the fort was both pleasant and Interesting. At one time a party of eastern editors was entertained at the fort and while there participated in a grand buffalo hunt , an account of which was afterwards written up In numerous eastern Journals. When the fort was abandoned the buildings. were taken down , part were removed to oilier posts and others disposed of to settlers. Adobe Town , having no moro patronage , dwindled nway and fell to pieces until it became but n memory. M. n. DAVIS. Christmas Eve By Washington Irving. It wns a brilliant moonlight night , but ex tremely cold ; the postboy smacked his whip incessantly and a part of the time his horses were on n gallop. "Ho knows where he Is going. " said my companion , laughing , "and is eager to arrive In tlmo for some of the merriment and good cheer of the servants' hall. My father Is a devotee of the old school and prides himself on keeping uj > something of old English hospitality. * * * Ho was always scrupulous In exacting our holidays nnd having us around him on family festivals. It was the policy of the good , old gentleman to make his children feel that homo was the happiest place In the wcrld and I value this delicious home-feeling as one of the choicest gifts n parent can be stow. " * * The squire ushered us nt once to the com pany , which was assembled In a large , old- fashioned hall. It was composed of different REMAINS OF OLD EMBANKMENT tarthor west and near the river Is n clcse thicket of cottonwooils enclosing the spot ivher 11 once stood a house. The place was DH Iho old stage road nnd was called "Dirty Woman's Ranch" with n duo regard to the fitness of things. Travelers were often lodged here over night and If those trees could speak they could tell some wild , weird Inles. After the close of the war , in 1866 , General Pope , commantler-jn-chlef , visited Fort Kearney , Ho was much pleased with the location and under his orders great improve ments were made. A steam sawmill was set up , loss were brought from Inland and numerous buildings were erected , The next j-car General Sherman succeeded General [ 'ope and he made a tour of Inspection of the Platte valley. While at the fort General Sherman rode out with Colonel Carrlngton , branches of a numerous family connection. * They wcro variously occupied , and a profusion of wooden horses , penny trumpets and tattered dolls about the floor showed traces of a llttlo troop of fairy be ings who had frolicked through a happy day. While the mutual greetings were going ou between Bracebrldge and his relatives I had time to scan the apartment. * The grate had been removed from the wide , over hanging llreplnco , to make way for a fire of word , In the midst of which was an enor mous log , glonlng nnd blazing and sending forth a vast volume of light and heat. This. I understood , was the Yule-log , which the squire was particular In having brought In and Illumined on Christmas eve , according to ancient custom. H was really delightful to see the old squire seated In his hereditary elbow chair by the hospitable fireside of his ancestors and looking around him llko the sun of a system beaming warmth and gladness to every hcnrt. Even the very dog that lay stretched at his feet , as ho lazily shifted his position and yawned , would look fondly up in his master's face , wag his tall against the floor and stretch himself again to sleep , sure of kindness and protection. Slipper was announced shortly after our arrival. It was served up in a spacious oaken chamber , the panels of which shone with wax , nnd nround which were severnl fnmlly portrnlts , decorated with holly i and Ivy. Besides the accustomed lights , two * great wax tapers , called Chrlstmns cnndles , wreathed with greens , were plnced on n highly polished buffet among the family plato. The table was abundantly spread with substantial faro , but the squire made * his supper of frumenty , a dish made of wheat cakes boiled In milk , with rich apices , being n dish in old times for Christmas eve. I was happy to find my old friend , minced pie , In the retinue of the feast. * The e'jpper had disposed every one to gayety - ety , nnd nn old harper was summoned from the servnnta' hall. * * * The dance , like most dances nfter supper , was n merry one. Some of the older folk Joined In It , nnd the squire himself figured down several couples with n partner with whom he afllrmed ho had danced nt every Christmas for nearly half a century. The party broke up for the night with the kind-hearted old custom of shaking hands. As I passed through the hall on the way to my chamber , the dying embers of the Yule- log still sent forth n dusky glow , nnd , had It not been the season when "no spirit-dares stir abroad , " I should have been half tempted to steal from my room nt midnight and peep whether the fnlrles might not be at their revels nbout the hearth. * * * I had scarcely got Into bed when a strain of music seemed to break forth In the air just below the window. I listened , and found It proceeded from n band which I concluded * to bo the waits from some neighboring village. I drew aside the curtains to hear them more dlstnnctly. The moonbeams fell through the upper part of the casements , partlaly lighting up the antiquated apart ment. The sounds as they receded became moro soft nnd nerlal , nnd seemed to ncc-rd with quiet and moonlight. I listened and listened. They became more nnd more tender and remote , and as they gradually died away > my head sank upon the pillow nnd I fell nsleep. An Omaha Metal Worker Gold , silver , nick- ei aim copper nrr not to bo desplset when new , nor nr- they worthless wher old nnd dull. Ar experienced plntei with machinery am" materials can mnkr old pieces appear now. The Omalia PlnthiK Co. Is pre pared to do hand some plating nnd polishing most snt- iB fljr B " ' vfj Isfnctorlly. Mr. Louis Slavln LOUIS SLAVKiph's" lias devoted years In is attaining prominence ns a plntor nnd has the cmnmcndatirn of leading plating factories of the country. Ho employs no agents nor fakirs. Skates sharpened and hollow- ground. Bee Building , 17th street entrance. Prominent Young Business and Profes sional Men of Omaha The young men whose pictures are pre sented on the opposlto page are today without question the most potent fac tors In the prosperity and advancement or the city's social nnd material Interests. Their success In commercial and profession al life Is duo solely to energy , ability and enterprise nnd they nro today the best repro- Foutnllvm of the progressive element. Some of tlu-Fo young men control nnd direct largo commercial Interests nnd others have already achieved distinction In their chosen professions. The closing days of the nineteenth century show n largo number of young men occupying I > i Billons of trust nnd honor and In this respect , as In everything , Omaha Is well to the front In the race with other cities , Kruger's Armored Trains The South African armored trains now beIng - Ing employed consist of nothing moro or less than ordinary cars covered over with from half to three-quarters of an Inch of common steel , the locomotive being similarly protected and a car placed In front with a gun In advance. These trains are , cf course , of llttlo or no UBO If the line falls Into the handrt of the enemy a few dynamite cart ridges , or the removal of a rail or two ( as was painfully demonstrated In the recent disaster to the Mafeklng train ) would ren der them a source moro of danger than rf service. German Spinners Coming The Hreiu JCeituug of Berlin says that the largo spinning works at Ge a. a group of worsted spinners and several Rhenish silk nnd woollen eplnners will soon establish branches in the United States ,