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Edith L. Crawford 545 -words.
Carrizozo, N. Mex.
P/ONTFR flironx.
Narrator Mrs. Mary Burleson, Carrizozo, New Mexico, Age 7.
Our family left West Port to., which is Kansas City, Mo.,now,
in April 1865, and arrived in Yore., New exi.00, in September 1855,
we came over the Santa Fe, trail in a prairie rohooner drawn by
six oxen and our milk now for this was the only wey we had of
bringing our milk cow with us, we 'ere in a Govern:lent Train
guarded by soldiers, as the Indians were on the war -path at that
time and were alwayn on the look out for rettlers that were mov-
ing out to the went.
Mr. Boggs, the Foreman of the Government train told ue that
there was a band of Indians just ahead of us and that they had
attacked a wagon train, killed all the people, stole the horses
and food and burned the wagonn. The Government train that we were
with was hauling rupplies to Fort Union and Fort Craig. In those
days the Indians ured to hold lee the etage coaches, kill the dri-
vers and all the people and take the horcee. Nmetimes they would
burn the coacher and mail and then again they would leave every-
thing and jurt take the horses.
We came by way of the Raton Pass and left the Government
train there. Mr. Tipton and some friends met us there and escor-
ted ur to Mora, New Mexico, for the Indians were bad in New Mexico
in those days. We ear many large herd n of buffalo on our trip. It
rained a lot that summer and. we had no hardships an to feed and
water. It took us from April to September. I remember the great
event in our home was the arrival of the St. Louis Globe
Democrat and when it came all the neighbore would come to
our house and my father would read the paper to them by can-
dle -light. We made all our own candles in thore days. Some-
times it happened that re would not get the raner on time
and then we would hear that the Indians had held up a stave
coach and burned the mail. How we would mire the paper. My
father took thia name paper for 50 years. There were no
schools much in there deye.
rometimen a teecher was hired
by private subncription and all the children in a neighbor-
hood would go to eohoel and often the children would know
as much an the teacher.
I wee married to Vr. Pete Purleron July 21, 1878. My
hueband was sheriff in Colfax County for four years. He
hanged the firet an by law in New Yexico in the year of
1878, at Cimarron Colfax Co., 11.gex. He had
come from Fort Union and offer a prayer for
He war a negro and ran sentenced to be hunt
white man and hie eon 12 yeers old.
We care to Lincoln County in 1890. be lived at the V
Ranche where 'r. Eurleron war foreman for reveral yeare.
Then we moved to Lincoln New 17exico, where my husband was
deputy rheriff for yeerr. He drove the recond spike on the
Santa Fe Pailroad when it croeeed the line from Colorado
into New Mexico.
the chaplain
the prironer..
for killing a