New Members
The Chapter continues to grow. This quarter we welcome five new members: Earlene Dupree, Cimarron, Ks -- Bill & Barbara Tebow, Hays, Ks -- Betsy Crawford-Gore & Michael Gore, Larned, Ks -- Roger & Linda Burnett, Dodge City, Ks -- Thomas Seltman, Larned, Ks.

Badgers On The Road To Santa Fe
One day in the early spring of 1998, David Clapsaddle and I were out on the Santa Fe Trail photographing some of the Chapter's markers for a project we were working on.

When we came to the marker for the eastern terminus of The Post-1859 Dry Route we noticed a very large badger excavation at the base of the limestone marker post. The hole was so large and deep that the post was leaning slightly and getting ready to topple over. We assumed the reason for Mr. Badger's digging project at that location was to take advantage of the soft, loose dirt surrounding the recently installed marker. We were really perplexed, however, when upon closer observation of the badger's hole (the one in the ground, not an anatomical body opening), we were able to determine that the animal did not dig from the surface downward but, instead, dug upwards from below ground to the surface.

In order to solve the mystery, we consulted with a naturalist from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. We learned from him that badgers are excellent tunnelers and can travel great distances underground at a rate of speed that is slightly faster than an ox-drawn, freight wagon. Armed with these facts, we hypothesized that the badger was merely traveling westbound on the Road To Santa Fe and surfaced at the marker location to get his bearings and to determine if he should continue down The Wet Route or take The Dry Route cut-off.

Editor's Note: If any reader actually believes any or all of the above story, I'd like for them to contact me immediately to discuss an opportunity to provide financial backing for the first, annual, Coon Creek Invitational Subterranean Badger Race and Buffalo milking contest.

The Pawnee River
This is the second of a series of articles related to the Pawnee River.
At its headwaters in Gray County, the Pawnee River (Pawnee Fork) is a little trickle, but at its confluence with the Arkansas River near Larned, the stream takes on much larger proportions. During the historic period, the Pawnee emptied into the Arkansas near the railroad trestle bridge at the south edge of Larned adjacent to the bridge which now spans U.S. 56. There was the crossing of the Santa Fe Trail which was recognized as a ford fraught with danger and difficulty. Normally the Pawnee was not deep; but during the spring, the stream was swollen to great depths and widths.

So flooded was the Pawnee in 1844 that a Bent-St.Vrain caravan was held up at the crossing from April 23 to May 21. Similar difficulty was experienced by the command of Col. Stephen Watts Kearny who arrived at the Pawnee on July 4, 1846 during the onset of the Mexican War. The stream being impassable, Kearny waited until July 16 when he, "Caused trees to be felled across the deep, rapid current. On the trunks of these trees, the men passed over. In this manner, the principal loading of the wagons was transported." On the same day, Lt. William H. Emory's squad of topographical engineers made the crossing on a raft; and on September 9, the Mormon Battalion camped on the west bank of the river after a harrowing crossing. Sgt. Daniel Tyler described the incident well.

On the evening of the 9th, we encamped on a stream known as Pawnee Fork, the crossing of which was very difficult, and occupied much time. Each wagon had to be let down the bank with ropes, while on the opposite bank from ten to twenty men with ropes aided the teams in pulling the wagons up. The water was muddy, very much like that of the Missouri River.

The Mormon experience was a repeat of a crossing in 1844 described by James Josiah Webb.

The second day after, we arrived at Pawnee Fork, and, as the crossing was very difficult, we concluded to turn out, repair the road, and prepare for crossing the next morning. The east bank must be from twenty to thirty feet above the water and very steep so much so, that we were compelled to lock both hind wheels, hitch a yoke of good wheelers to the hind axle, and all the men that can be used to advantage to assist in holding back and prevent the wagon from turning over. Even with all these precautions, accidents frequently happen, and the descent is so rapid the teams get doubled up and oxen run over.

The next morning we began crossing; and when the wagons were about half across, one of Wethered's wagons turned over into the stream. The west bank was steep but not so high as the east one. Yet we had to double teams to get out and make a short and very difficult turn up the stream; so the wagon fell into deep water and bottom up. All hands took to the water and in two or three hours succeeded in getting dry goods and wagon to camp on the opposite bank. The next two days were spent in opening the goods, and spreading them on the ground to dry, repacking, and loading up. Two of the best hunters were sent out to kill meat and brought in a large amount, a part of which was jerked and hung around the wagons to dry.

The record is replete with references such as those cited in the above which attest to the Pawnee as presenting one of the more difficult crossings in the entire length of the Santa Fe Trail.

Spring Meeting
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter met for its Spring Meeting at the Garfield, Kansas Community Center on Sunday, April 4, 1999. Following a hearty frontier meal of elk roast, the Chapter considered a number of business items. Reports were heard with regard to the mapping/marking project, Chuckwagon meals to be served at the annual Fort Larned Old Guard meeting, the upcoming seminar, Faye Anderson Award, and Kansas History Day Award. Discussion was conducted relative to T-shirt sales, bulk mailing permit and SFT awards. Also discussed were liability insurance for the Chapter and the geographical boundaries of the Chapter.
After the conclusion of the business session, members of the Chapter toured The Original Dry Route. Sites visited included three recently identified rut locations.

Changing of the Guard
Effective with this issue, Howard Losey will become the Chapter's newsletter editor. Joyce and Howard are taking this opportunity to introduce ourselves to those members that we haven't already met. We realize that we have large shoes to fill but David Clapsaddle has promised to continue writing his excellent articles for publication in Traces. His articles in this issue are prime examples.

Our address is on page 5 and I look forward to receiving information and articles from you that you feel would be of interest to the membership. With your help, Traces will continue to fulfil its purpose of communicating information concerning Chapter activities and informing members of up-coming events as well as publishing interesting, informative articles about The Wet and Dry Routes of the Santa Fe Trail and The Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road.

Burying Private Easley
Arriving at the Pawnee Fork crossing of the Santa Fe Trail on August 5, 1847, several companies of the First Illinois infantry went into camp. Within hours, Private Robert Easley of Company C died and was buried near the crossing, a victim of what was simply described as a "fever." The course of the Pawnee has long since changed obliterating any trace of the grave. However, Private Easley will not be forgotten thanks to The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the National Santa Fe Trail. Recently placed 500 yards northeast of the gravesite is a military style tombstone with an appropriate inscription relative to Easley's service record. The stone is located on the east side of the U. S. 56 bridge over the Pawnee River at the south edge of Larned, Kansas. Also at this location are two markers placed by The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter: a bronze plaque identifying Pawnee Fork Crossing mounted on a limestone post and an interpretive marker which describes the crossing and speaks to the death and burial of Private Easley. This is the first of five such markers that the Chapter is installing to help the public better understand The Wet/Dry Routes that traversed the area between present Larned and Dodge City, Kansas.

Faye Anderson Award
The Faye Anderson Award is given annually by The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter in recognition of some person, persons, or organization who has made a significant contribution to the interpretation and/or preservation of the Santa Fe Trail. The candidates need not be members of the chapter but the nomination must be from a chapter member in good standing. The award is presented at the winter meeting and the deadline for applications is November 1. The names are engraved on a permanent chapter plaque and the recipient is awarded a lifetime membership in the chapter. Applications are available from the chairperson or will be available at the summer meeting on June 26 in Larned.

Faye Anderson was a faithful member of the chapter and the Santa Fe Trail. Her dedication to trail history and the chapter is still remembered as well as the infamous "Buffalo Chip Cookie" recipe many have made for chapter events.

The Hancock Expedition
If you have never had the opportunity to take a traveling seminar with David Clapsaddle, you have really missed something! We left from Sibley's Camp April 17 via bus and had coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls as we traveled to Fort Riley. We visited the Cavalry Museum and viewed the military equipment and dress from the early 1800s through the World War II period when horses were replaced by modern mechanical machines.

We followed the route of the Hancock Expedition making stops at Chapman, Salina, Fort Harker, and Fort Zarah. We had been handed material about the expedition as we boarded the bus, but David added material about the places and the people as we stopped at the places. He made the events and the people come alive.

We checked into the motel at Great Bend and prepared for dinner at the Holiday Inn. We returned to the motel for the evening program of slides and more information about the expedition. We had a wonderful dessert of homemade angel food cake, strawberries, and ice cream furnished by Alice Clapsaddle.

Sunday morning was an early breakfast at the motel and we were on our way. We stopped at Pawnee Rock to view how the Indians could see the approaching wagon trains for miles. A house of post and beam construction is also there. It is built with notches cut to fit so tight that no nails or screws are needed. It would be a wonderful addition to view, as the construction has become a lost art.

Our next stop was where Hancock camped East of Fort Larned; then we proceeded to Camp 12 near the confluence of Buckner Creek and the Pawnee Fork.

Hankcock's crossing of the Pawnee was done by a pontoon bridge built by Lt. Brown's engineering Squad. Here again, David explained how that was done. This is just one example of knowledge gained by the trip. Arriving at the sight of the Cheyenne/Sioux village, it was understandable why it was chosen. It is a lovely and restful spot. To the northwest the high bluffs described by Custer were in reality an unimpressive hill about a mile and a half away.

Fearing a massacre such as had occurred at Sand Creek, the Indians were smart to ride out to meet Hancock with several hundred warriors drawn up in a battle line. A council followed this with Hancock, his officers, and a complement of Cheyenne and Sioux Warriors. The Indians returned to the village followed by Hancock's command, which camped nearby. The officers discovered that while they were counseling with the warriors, the Indians had abandoned the village and fled traveling light. When Custer surrounded the village that night, he discovered that the village was completely empty except for one old man and a young girl.

Although both the Indians and the U.S. military committed atrocities, you wonder what really was behind the destruction of the Village. Was it to keep the Indians from coming back to get their equipment or was Hancock miffed at being out maneuvered?

Or both?

As Custer pursued the Indians who destroyed way stations and killed the men who manned them, you have to wonder what your reaction would be if someone took over your home.

After exploring the village area, the day was topped by a wonderful meal of turkey drumsticks fixed with seasoned rice and wild rice, green beans, tossed salad, bread and butter, and chocolate cake. This was cooked and served by Jack Gardner and Pat Thomas.

What camaraderie developed as we exchanged jokes, became better acquainted, and gained knowledge and insights about the people and events of that era.

The Web Page
By
Larry Mix, Webmaster
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter's web site has been selected as one of the Net's finest informative sites and is included in StudyWeb's listing of educational links.

StudyWeb is one of the Internet's premier sites for educational resources for students and teachers. Since 1996, StudyWeb's expert reviewers have scoured the Internet to select only the finest sites to be included in StudyWeb 's listing of educational links. Inclusion in StudyWeb will increase our exposure and attract new visitors to our site. StudyWeb's reviews have been featured on Webcrawler Select, The Lycos Top 5%, Education World and many others, and StudyWeb updates are provided to media and educational resources around the world.

The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter web site has averaged 13 "hits" per day since it has been on the World Wide Web. The site has had visitors from Canada, Germany Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Austria, Russian Federation, Poland, New Zealand, Mexico, Singapore, Brazil, Malaysia, France, Ireland Czech Republic, and South Africa.

We have been invited to display the prestigious StudyWeb Excellence Award that is only offered to sites included in StudyWeb.

End of the Trail
Dale Wesley "Wes" Duke, son of Wet/Dry Routes Chapter member Elizabeth Duke, was killed in an auto accident east of Lawrence, Kansas on Saturday, April 24, 1999. Wes, a charter member of the Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, enjoyed many Clapsaddle Tours with his mother. Those who knew him will long remember his enthusiasm for trail history and willingness to help where needed in trail activities.

Our thoughts are with you and your family, Elizabeth.

Chuckwagon Committee
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter completed another successful fund raising project this last April 24th by serving the Fort Larned Old Guard's Annual Dinner and Lunch at the fort. The noon meal was the Sutler's Old Beans and was requested by Dr. Leo Oliva. The evening meal was the all time favorite roast beef, parsley potatoes, green beans, and home made bread baked in the fort's oven. As always when I ask for help it comes from all direction and is the best help anyone could ask for. It's like one big happy family with a lot of work and fun. I am going to try to remember all of the people who helped. Here goes: Mildon Yeager, Jack Gardner, Ida Kay Yeager, Howard and Joyce Losey, Kathryn Javier, Vivian Bennett, Clara Lowrey, Barbara German (Dick's thoughts were with us), Clara Goodrich, Rosetta Graff, Mona Wysong, Betty Romero, Thelmarie Wilhite, Pat Thomas, David and Alice Clapsaddle, Kathy Jadwin, Janice Klein, Anita Thomas, Barbara Koester, Rob and William Millerbund, Kyle Fischer, Kelly Hays, Betsy Reneau, Michaela Koester and A. J. Thomas, Gary and Lou Nelson, Karen Otte, and Earlene Dupree. That's an army. I hope I didn't forget anyone. If I didn't get your name on the list please let me know, as we need it for our records.

Interpretive Markers
Three of the chapter's five new interpretive markers have been placed. The first one was installed on the Pawnee Fork Crossing on The Wet Route. Just recently, new ones have been installed. A marker was placed at the Roadside park in Offerle, Kansas explaining that The Original Dry Route passed one mile north of the marker on its course from Big Coon Creek crossing to The Caches and that the later Dry Route passed one mile south of the marker. Another marker was placed at the Junction of the Wet Route and Dry Routes, one mile east of Fort Dodge, Kansas.

The attractive, interpretive markers are accessible to the driving public and are screen printed on high intensity aluminum and mounted on 4X4 cedar posts. Chapter member Cecil Johnson from Larned constructed the mounting posts. Program Director David Clapsaddle installed the markers with the able assistance of members Leonard Aufdemberge and George Elmore, both from Larned. Leonard was happy to help with the marker placement since ladder climbing was not required.

Two additional markers are ready for installation. One will mark the Forks In Santa Fe Road and the other will be placed at The Junction of the Fort Larned Military Road and The Wet Route. The markers will be installed after appropriate liability insurance is obtained.

Kansas Teacher' Hall of Fame
Shirley Stein, past member of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter was inducted into the Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame recently. Stein, a teacher of 28 years has the ability to "make learning fun."

Community activities are also important to Stein, as she is involved in her church as well as organizations such as the Grant County Scholarship Foundation, Grant County Historical Society, and Grant County Recycle, Inc.

Stein has not only touched the lives of her students, but her peers believe she has motivated them as well through her teaching style.

Summer Meeting
Where: "The Little Red House", 2nd and State Streets, Larned, Kansas.
When: June 26, 1999, 6:00 pm.
What: PotLuck Supper. Bring covered dish and serving utensils. Service and drink provided. Special entrée furnished by hosts.
Special: Tram ride to historic sites in Larned following the meeting.
Important: An amendment to our constitution to change Chapter boundaries will be considered. The change is for mapping purposes only. We will retain Pawnee Co., Edwards Co., and all counties encompassing the Fort Hays/Fort Dodge Road. The Fort Dodge chapter will assume Ford County.
Notes: Restrooms will be available in nearby Schnack Park. Bring lawn chairs.

Did You Know?
The Cheyenne Indians did not present much of a threat to the encroaching whites until 1857 when Col. E. V. Sumner's troops attacked a village of Northern Cheyennes. Sumner then ordered that annuity goods for Cheyennes stored at Bent's New Fort be distributed to other tribes, and caused the lead, powder, and flints designated for the Cheyennes to be thrown into the Arkansas River. Prior to that time, the Bents' influence had promoted a good relationship between the tribes and European-Americans; but subsequent to the Sumner incident, the relationship began to deteriorate culminating in the so-called Indian Wars of 1864 onwards.

Third Annual Seminar
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter successfully completed its 3rd annual seminar at the Kansas Soldiers Home in Fort Dodge. The seminar was held on Friday evening, June 4, and all day Saturday, June 5, 1999. Friday evening's event was an "Art Show" featuring the works of Jerry Thomas nationally recognized western artist as well as works from artists Keith Chadd and Bob Button, and works from the collections of Ray Schulz, and David Clapsaddle.

The theme of the seminar was "Trading Ranches On The Santa Fe Trail" and speakers David Clapsaddle, Dr. Michael Olsen, Dr. Leo Oliva and William Chalfant covered the topic thoroughly and interestingly.

The Chapter's new book, "A Directory Of Santa Fe Trail Sites," that is in final stages of editing, was unveiled. Orders are now being taken. To reserve your copy, contact David Clapsaddle (316 285-3295) or Howard Losey (316 722-8669). Price is $35.00 payable upon delivery.

Janice Klein made the arrangements for the location and food service. Ida Yeager was in charge of registration, and Rusti Gardner was mistress of ceremonies. Helpers were Joyce and Howard Losey, Alice and David Clapsaddle, Clara Lowrey, and Milden Yeager. Congratulations to all for a successful seminar.

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