them in the direction of Gonzales. We crossed the Guadalupe at or near Gonzales and traveled through a very thick brushy region to Lockhart, from where we went on to the Colorado, crossing it below Austin. At this place we fired the cook for getting drunk. We went from there to Georgetown, through Rockdale, Salado and Belton, making about fifteen miles a day. Our route carried us on to Lampasas, where there was a roaring spring and four or five houses. We proceeded due north and crossed the Brazos and passed through Valley Mills, Thence on the west side of Nolan River, west of the Chisholm Trail. Here we learned that the Comanche Indians had killed two persons just above where we were, then we traveled eastward and went by a small place called Cleburne, and on to Fort Worth, where we purchased supplies enough to enable us to cross the Indian Territory. From Fort Worth we drove to Montague, thence to Red River Station, where we crossed Red River and went due north about thirty miles east of Fort Sill. When we had crossed Red River all of us buckled on our six-shooters, for we expected to have to use them. We were on the Chisholm Trail in the Indian Nation, and on the Wichita River some Indians came to us and wanted us to give them some cattle for allowing us to pass through their country. We gave them a few lame cows, and they never bothered us any more. When we reached the Canadian River it was on a rise and swimming, but we made our cattle go across and about twenty of them were drowned. We followed the old trail and crossed the Cimarron River at a place where there was a grove of wild plums. Some men lived in a little house at this point who made it their business to trade with the Indians for furs and buffalo robes. We crossed the Arkansas River about forty or fifty miles west of Wichita and went on towards Ellsworth, Kansas. When we got to Ellsworth the owner of the herd, Collin Campbell, was there waiting for us.

'

We had been on the road four months. While traveling through the wilderness some of the boys roped and killed a few young buffaloes, and we found it very exciting sport.

At Ellsworth, Kansas, Mr. Campbell gave my brother a compass and a map of Nebraska and told him to take the herd to the North Platte, so we started on our way. Just before we left Ellsworth a man by the name of Crump, who was searching all of the herds for road cattle belonging to Captain King, found a few steers in our herd, and through the advice of our friend, Kilgore, who was there with a herd, we turned back. After leaving Ellsworth we had difficulty in getting enough water for the cattle until we reached the Solomon River. Here we were met by a crowd of about twenty armed men who told us we had crossed the deadline, and could not water the cattle there, and that we would have to go up the river some twenty miles where we could cross on the public lands. They permitted us to water our horses, and gave us orders to move on. Our cattle had not had any water for three days and some were almost perishing. The twenty men left us before dark, and a little while after they were gone there appeared a lonely "short horn," riding a big horse, barefooted and with a small cap on his head. We hailed him and asked if he owned land near there. He said he owned a section about half a mile away, where he lived, but said his neighbors did not want anybody to take cattle across the river for fear of the Texas fever. We told him if he would allow us to water our cattle on his property we would give him. two cows and calves or $100 in money, and remove our cattle as soon as they had been watered. When they had slaked their thirst we gave him two cows and calves and got him to accompany us twenty miles up the river, where we crossed to the other side. This was near a place called Republican City. We traveled due north for several days and saw many buffaloes. One day about

noon they began going by and at six o'clock that evening they were still passing. Our horses stampeded at the sight of them and my brother had to follow them about eight miles before they could be overtaken and brought back. We proceeded on in the direction of the Platte River, and when we reached that stream we turned westward, following the Northern Pacific Railroad which ran in the direction of Salt Lake City. From Fort McPherson we went to North Platte and at a ranch near there we delivered the cattle to the purchasers, and started back home. We were on the trail six and a half months from the time we left Karnes county. Of the crowd of boys who went with us on this trip only three are now living, myself, my brother, V. P. Carvajal and Francisco Longoria.

JAMES DOBIE

James Dobie was born in Harris county, Texas, in 1856, and entered the stock business in Live Oak county in the late seventies. He

drove cattle and horses to Kansas for several years, endured all the hardships incident to trail life, had lots of trouble with Indians, which he says his comrades can tell about. He shipped many thousands of cattle to the Indian Territory to fatten on the ranges there for many years, and operated large ranches in Bee, Live Oak, Duval, McMullen, La Salle and Webb counties, and at the present time has a large ranch and land holdings. In 1911 he shipped 12,000 fat

JIM DOBIE

steers from his Texas ranches, and is one of the biggest operators of Southwest Texas at the present time.

MADE SEVERAL TRIPS UP THE TRAIL

R. J. Jennings, San Antonio, Texas

I am a native of Texas, arriving in the Lone Star State on March 23, 1856. I made three trips "up the trail," the first being in 1876, the second in 1881, and the third trip was in 1886. I have ranched more or less all of my life in various

parts of the state, and have kept in touch with cattle conditions all of the time, witnessing the passing of the old longhorn steer and welcoming the introduction of the shorthorn breed. I have experienced the thrills of trail driving, standing guard, swimming rivers, being pelted with hail, seen streaked lightning played promiscuously around, been in the middle of

R. J. JENNINGS

stampedes, and all those other things mentioned by others in this book.

CHARLES DE MONTEL, JR.

Charles de Montel, Jr., was born at Castroville, Texas, February 3, 1848, and grew to manhood there. He was the eldest son of Charles de Montel, one of the founders of Bandera. In 1888 he was married to Miss Annie Steinle, and now lives on his ranch a few miles above old Camp Verde in Kerr county. He is in his 74th year and still quite active, being able to frequently ride horse-back to Bandera, a distance of about sixteen miles.

Mr. Montel remembers many thrilling incidents of frontier days in Medina county, where he was raised. He knew John T. Lytle, John Redus, and many other of the prominent trail drivers of those days, and was well acquainted with Mrs. Sallie Redus, who has a sketch in this volume. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. McLamore, lived on his father's ranch near Castroville for some time.

Charles de Montel, Jr. early in life became an expert rider, and could handle the lariat and rifle with precision, and despite his advanced age, he still maintains his skill. In 1869 he made a trip to California with a herd of cattle belonging to Jack Tilley and Gideon Thompson, wintering them on the Colorado River in that state and selling them to buyers in Los Angeles.

WAS IN PACKSADDLE MOUNTAIN FIGHT From a Sketch by N. G. Ozment, in "San Antonio Express" James R. Moss was born in Fayette county, Texas, January 24, 1843.

When he was a small boy, his parents moved to Travis county, settling near Lake Brushy, some 12 miles northwest of Austin. In 1857 he moved with his parents to Llano county. It was this year that the town of Llano was laid off. John Oatman erected the first store ever built in the town. His father donated 50 acres of land on which to build the town. In an election held to locate the county seat, Llano was selected. When but a youth, young Moss took his place as one of the defenders against the incursion of the Indians.

In February, 1862, a volunteer company of 700 men, including young Moss, was formed in the town of Llano to fight for the defense of the Confederacy. From Llano the company went to Camp Terry, southeast of Austin. Mr. Moss was in Company E, 17th Infantry, McCulloch's brigade, Walker's division. He was in the battle of Milliken's Bend. The day before the capture of his