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Show 10 BIOGRAPHY OF MYRON TANNER. walk for a day or two before This route led to Sante Fe. we started We on the Simeron cut off. journey across the Simeron desert in the morning, and, after I had walked about ten miles carrying my knap SEck, my gun,bayonet,and all my accoutre began ments, I gave out, and during the I unloaded part of my permitted to do this our next five or six miles traveled, things at a time into the wagon. only when it became apparent tc the I was officers that my condition was such that I could not go any further. About fifteen miles from the Arkansas River, going over this cut off of about sixty miles in the desert, I gave out entirely and rode from there into the Simeron." "When we struck the Simeron, for stock and for domestic use. we had to dig wells for water At that time I took down with the mumps, which became very painful, and gathered under my right ear. That is the reason, as you will observe' that my beard is heavier on one side than on the other. In this condition I suffered and days nights I never moved my jaw. extremely, I could was liquid food, such as milk receive nourishment The only the or soup. day time, however, I now and then dozed a During little from the jar of the wagon. From the Simeron we went on to Santa Fe, crossing a mountain where it was necessary to put one hundred men on in head of the ox teams to pull, and then pry the wheels of the wagons to get them over the large rocks. "Owing to my condition, however, after our arrival at Santa I Fe, was permitted, with others of the sick, to go back to the Ar and for ten kansas for the winter, and we located somewhere near the present site of Pueblo. There we had our winter quarters, in '46 and '47. In consequence of the hardships of the journey and the want of proper food, many took down with scurvy. I was among them; Blanchard, and one or two others, died there; I do not remember their names. My legs were so drawn up that I was compelled to on my toes, which were turned back. "There prevailed among many of the Battalion a determination not to take any calomel whatever. However, my condition became 80 bad that I determined to consult the doctor after Blanchard's walk death, and he promised me a cure if I would take calomel, assur ing me that he would administer in such a manner that it would At the same time my legs were blisnot remain in my system. |
