town as I expected lots of mail but I only got one latter but I got two for Charley. I also brought up two loaves of bread. Chas. and Gus now went down town to go to the depot after Fred J. Bentley who was to come up to take Mr. Thompsons [sic] place. The train was about 2 ½ hrs. late because of the storm and so Chas. came back and left Gus to waite[sic] for Fred. Chas got the bread out and as we couldn't waite[sic] for the rest we vanquished half of one of the loaves. Fred and Gus came at about 10.30 It was raining hard, But we talked awhile then went to bed. Fred brought some things for me from home

Sunday July 14th
We aroze[sic] about 7.30 Had a fine Breakfast. It drizzled till 9oclock Also some in the afternoon. [one line with line-drawing rebus: I shot a [indistinct animal]] It ran awful fast for a house and made me terrible nervous. Fred and I went down town, mailed some letters etc. The streets and cellars are all flooded. We also took my telescope and went on an awful high hill where they are building the water works reservoir. Got a good view of the town. Had a cold lunch at noon. Wrote letters all

Page 23

afternoon. Chas and Fred went to church also rustled an awful pile of wood comming[sic] home. I guess the sermon must have been upon the text "You shall not steal. It began to drizzle as I began to sleep, farewell.

Monday
July 15, 895[sic]
Got up at 5.45. Had a nice breakfast. I went down town to do some buis[sic] for papa, also went to shooting gallery. Settled all the buis.[sic] with Crable and Green for Papa. Went back to tent after taking a walk

Page 24

all over town and seeing some fine residences. We had a good lunch and then hitched up and left. We went up along the B & M via some awful bad roads. We bent the axle on one hill and just a few minutes after bent it back on an opposite kind of hill thereby saving the enormous amt. of $1. We reached Merna about 4.10 P.M. I mailed some postals and 1 letter. We got some water at the only windmill in town. The man said it was 450 ft. deep, but I know it wasn't over 165. We pressed on our weary

Page 25

way and came to a wind mill. I had to get the water but was rather timid as there were two dandy large dogs. We finally entered the canon and camped back in a little pocket. Chas had buck fever and didn't soot two quail. We had bird stewed for supper. Chas, Gus, and I went to bed outside the tent. At about 12.30, it began to softly rain in my face. I woke up the other boys and we went inside the tent. It kept growing worse til it rained real hard. TUESDAY July 16,'89 We got an early start and about ½ an hour entered the Beautiful

Page 26

Victoria Canon. We traveled in this about 6 miles. We found plenty of Gooseberries, Black and Red Currants and Ground and Choke Cherries. Chas & Fred walked a race, Fred to walk half the time, Chas all the time. We ran out of material as we arrived at the log town of New Helena situated at Victoria Springs. We camped right side of the road in the shade of a grove of trees. We had a dandy place to pitch our tent as it was so near the springs. I got a lot of

Page27

mail. It came over from Anselmo in a little sulky which was pulled by two burros which appeared to be a cross between little cotton-tail rabbits and a prairie wolf. Gus and Chas went hunting. I sat out in front of the tent and over by the largest sulphur spring writting[sic] letters nearly all P.M. The boys came back with some plovers, Quail and pigeon. We had a fine cooked supper. I got acquainted with old Judge Matthews, President of the Mineral Water Co. and who originally

Page 28

owned all the land. He had lots of curiosities there. He had 2 or 3 kinds of squirrels, rabbits, birds, Buzzards, etc etc. Chas and I wrote a little while after the rest retired then took a run down to the spring and had a fine mineral water bath free of charge. We then went to the big swing and worked way up in it. It was about 12.30 and if any one had come along and saw our white figures swaying to and fro I'm sure they would

Page 29

have filled us with buck shot. We were sleeping like lambs when the wee small hour of 1 came around.

WEDNESDAY
July17, 1889.
We opened our sleepy eyes at about 7.30. Had some breakfast and then went out to take in the sights. I got acquainted with an assayist from New Mexico. He was working at the
Sulphur Springs and was a kind of prospector, analyzer etc etc. He knew Paul Burleigh and lives near him in New Mexico. I also say Judge Matthews.

Page 30

Temperature 105 in shade.

He is a cripple and I got him to come and sit in the shade of some large trees in the nice seats out there. Then I pumped him for all I was worth & as he didn't talk very easily I had hard work but with my purswasive[sic] conversation and questions mixed with a little stick candy I learned the following facts. He came from old Virginia. Before the War he was worth $60,000. He is a graduate of the State University of Va. which school was founded by Tomas Jefferson. Also of the Washington University

created: September 23, 2003 by Karen Keehr
up-dated: September 23, 2003