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 ,
