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Show Ste eden edhe eh a ale oe eoaek ee oa 7 T ca Lech Sete rae oes Sd pe ae Oe ed ee Sak Ae ta to eed ene et ote ee ek ed ESE PPL te G 2a bo eed ed 104 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY The second expedition conducted by Captain Becknell had a very difficult and hazardous journey to Santa Fé. He left Arrow Rock, Missouri near Franklin, May 22, with twenty-one men and three wagons, carrying merchandise of the value approxi mately of five thousand dollars. Between the Missouri and the Arkansas he was stopped by the Osage Indians, who threatened to confiscate his property, but through the good offices of one of the Chouteau s, who was trading with these Indians at the time, he was allowed to proceed. Upon his arrival at the Arkansas he was joined by the party of John Heath who is not elsewhere mentioned in the narratives of the times. This journey is of historic importance in that it was the first which led directly to San Miguel by way of the Cimarron river instead of following the Arkansas to the mountains. Anxious to avoid the circuitous route through the upper Arkansas country he decided, after reaching that point on the Arkansas known as the Caches, to go directly to Santa Fé, entertaining little or no fear of the terrible trials which awaited him in crossing the pathless desert. With no other guide than the stars and possibly a pocket ~auren 5 . Pe er te »-% A - Ce gaa Seen . — ri Bi et at ee ede a date Moar | Pe aly oe ely Ce Pe ee eeee ee ri rer ea oe ‘ ari eeret oe oe eee oe fact the Pe fl ee ee 2a “ halla * ¢ F ee AE eh (ot bear* ¥ s . ct J * & an Pa et a ee Be ee ae oe oe oe e Se er a ee e+ a * Intelligencer, party started of Franklin, calling for a company trading for Although ad Place horses Santa across the arid region Mo., June of seventy men 10, 1822, Becknell had a ‘to go westward for the and mules and catching wild animals of every Fé is not mentioned, it is difficult to concelve ‘westward’ (of ae Tro woe. bound. fame at Arrow Rock,Ppersoa ee yes the of the sufferers. Frantic with despair, in prospect of the horrible death which now stared them in the face, they scattered in every direction in search of water, but without traveled almost to the banks of the Cimarronsuccess. The party had when they determined 2 Feturn to the Arkansas, but they were unequal to the task and cS | Tae4 "424 Ree ln tne ee cae ** aebos. a | compass, lying between the Arkansas and Cimarron rivers. They left the Arkansas carrying with them a scant supply of water in their canteens. This source of supply was soon exhausted and the sufferings of both men and animals became intense. They were at last reduced to the necessity of killing their dogs and cutting off the ears of their mules with the vain hope of assuaging their burning thrist by drinking the hot blood. This only served to irritate their palates and madden the senses They where mules could be traded for. Thither ™ rendezvoused at the home of Ezekiel Williams fourth of August and crossed the Missourl |