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Carrie L. Hodges 9/25/36 Cl. 1056 words
TALES OF OLD TIMERS
Interview with O.W. McCuistion
Of Clayton, New Mexico.
"Many was the time," so relates Mr. 0.W. McCuistion, one of
northeastern New Mexico's earliest settlers, "that I found myself
just around a bunch of bushes from the hostile Comanche Indians,
they not seeing me and I only seeing them in time to save my scalp."
This tribe of Indians ravaged the herds of horses, and drove Off
all they coUld acquire, but left the cattle unmolested. They also
found horse flesh mord palatable than beef, and inthe rides across
the country "cow hunting" Yr. McCuistion relates,.it was -a usual sight
to see the carcass of a horse that this tribe of Indians hpd killed
and taken the flesh away with them for meat.
He tells of a time he was hunting his stray cattle on the Cimarron
River about where the town of Kenton, Oklahoma is now located, that,
after he had rounded up a bunch, he hobbled his horse for the night, and
cooked all the food left in his pack, leaving a.small amount of coffee
for breakfast. After eating, he retired for the night, and the next
morning all he had for breakfast was his coffee, then on again he rode
in, quest of wandering cows when he care to where Indians had camped the
night before, and near the srqoldering camp -fire lay the carcass of a colt
that had been killed by the Commanche's and robbed of its flesh.
Going on toward his ranch with the cattle that had been rounded up,
he passed a ranch home, A woman came running out, calling to him that a
band of some seventy-five Indians had just ridden past the panch, shooting
at a man who was herding a bundh of horses.
Mr. McCuisti.on being alone, could do nothing, so went on his way,
searching for more cattle, but on his return trip past this ranch, was
told that word had been sent to the soldiers at Fort Union, and they
Tales Of Old Timers. --2
were on their way to eive chase to the Indians. However, the soldiers
only came as far as the highway near Raton where they learned the
Indians were too far in advance of them to be overtaken, driving the
herd of horses off with them. The herder of the horses, 17y some miracle,
escaped and Mr. ReCuistion said, "this was one of the many times he
was near Indians without their discovering him."
kr. 4i.cCuistion relates an interesting incident of the early 60's
when he was a member of a freighting crew of some thirty wagons going
from the Yissouri River west, to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a cargo
of eatables, composed mostly of bacon and flour.
This wagon triin followed the U.S. Stage Line from the Missouri
River to California, and was the route fromerly used by the"Pony Express."
Every twelve miles along this line stage stands were stationed,
with relief men, horse& and all needed supplies for this express purpose.
The stage was drawn with from four to six horses, two men on the drivers
seat, with sometimes two U.S. Soldiers riding the top of the vehicle for
extra protection of the Government's mail and Express, And always, there
were from eight to ten men mounted on horsebeck, following the stage.
The horses were driven on a dead run between stations, therefore
necessitated the best animals obtainable, therby, also running the risk
of greater danger of being. molested by Indians, as they are great lovers
of good horses, and to raid one of these trains in transit, would result
in a cache of from twelve to sixteen very disireable animals.
When the stage would drive into a stand, other men and horses were
quickly substituted, in almost unbelievable time, and on they rushed in
a mad run, for another twelve miles to another stand, where the exchange
was repeated, and likewise, until the end of the line, which was California
to those going west, and the Lissouri River to those traveling eastward,
there being a stage going in either direction daily.
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A 6rand and exciting sight, Mr. McCnistion reminisced, as these
stEges rushed madly by his slowly moving caravan.
It was while his wagon train was on their way, near Julesburg,
Nebraska, that his men came on -to the body of a dead Indian. The body
had been strikped of clothing and the head was missing. On arriving at
the town and upon inquiry, it was learnec a band of Indians had raided
a stage stand with the view of driving off the horses. The soldiers had
given chase and this dead Ind an was the result of the fray, the soldiers
taking his head back to camp with them.
Horrified at such a deed, I asked, "But why did they cut off his
head, that was dreadful," at which Mr. McCuistion smilingly replied,
"They wanted to be sure the Indian wouldn't carry it off on his shoulders
again." At that remark I was reminded of heiaring that an Indian resorted
to "playing dead" when surrounded by enemies, thinkg there -by, to
ma ks his escape.
He relates another episode when he, together with two other men hEd
been down south on Carizzo Creek hunting cattle and were returning home to
the Palo rlanco Ranch at Kiowa Springs, when they met a band of Ute Indians
out hunting for a Mexican who had killed an Indian boy of their tribe. They
were infuriated, and were giving the country a thorough search, hoping to
find the ilexican. The men had seen nothing of the killer, so went their way.
That night, the Indians Felsol arrived at Mr. McCuistion's ranch still
in search of the Mexican. The band stopped some distance from the house
and the Chief went alone to the house to War to Mr. McCuistion, who gave
them a beef which they butchered and ate.
The Indians built a large bonfire and held a war dance over the body
of the boy killed by the Mexican. This dance took place in front of Mr.
McCuistion's house and lasted all night. When daylight came, the dancing
ceased and the Indians went on their way, the slayer of their boy still
roaming at large.
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Mr. McCuistion delights in telling of these past experiences
and the Ute tribe of Indians always found in him, a friend.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Interview, O.W. McC#istion, September 18, 1936.