Southwest High School - Sachem Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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TJ .-K EI db La pg l . m . i at S - 1 - , : f ' iw gfi'qQ.Qf,f 1 't E M llbpuv 4 j?,,Q-gfii1Qi 1 te ., 1 Q ee r ,, ,, . p ., . Jack Haisley PIKE GOES WEST By JANE JACKSON The picturesque Santa Fe Trail, as we know it today, is comparatively the same as the route Don de Onate took in 1598 in his search for Coronado's lost country of Quivira. This is largely suppositional, however, as docu- mentary evidence concerning the trail was destroyed in the Great Pueblo Revolt of 1680. The vivid and romantic adventures of Zebulon Pike, an American soldier and explorer, some two hundred years later, supply the Hrst really authentic account of the founding of the Santa Fe Trail. Pike was sent out by General Wilkinson and Aaron Burr, who, it is believed, were plotting to establish a government independent of that of the United States, and also to conquer Mexico. Unaware of this plan, Pike launched his journey to the city of Santa Pe with the idea of exploring this unknown territory. Wilkinson was able to give Pike a reliable staff of men, consisting of two lieutenants, a surgeon, a sergeant, and sixteen privates. They set out from Belle Fountaine, just outside of St. Louis, on July 15, 1806, and followed the Missouri River up to the Osage villages, crossed into the present state of Kansas, and traversed the plains to the Pawnee towns in what is now Nebraska. Melgares, a Spanish leader, on a previous visit to the Pawnee towns had left a Spanish flag with the Indians. Pike followed Melgares' example and gave them an American flag. Thus, when the Indians spied Spaniards coming, they could wave the Spanish Hag over the settlement: when Americans ap- proached, they could replace it with the Stars and Stripes. The little crew proceeded to the Southwest, and in a few days arrived at the Big Bend of the Arkansas River. After passing Pawnee Fork, Pawnee Rock, and Ash Creek--several of which are now historically important-Pike and his band crossed to the south bank of the Arkansas River. Presently, Pike caught his first glimpse of a mighty, majestic mountain, which in glamor- ous splendor towered above all the others. This peak has since carried the name of this early explorer. It appears unusual that this particular mountain should be named for Pike, since he did not venture to climb it, but merely ascended a neighboring mountain to get the 'ilay of the land. Four weary months dragged by, and Pike and his men were experiencing a bitter winter in the Rockies. They were now in Spanish territory, and had been ever since they had crossed the Arkansas River. Suffering from the cold and on the verge of starvation, several of the troop were unable to go on, so Pike took the few able men and continued the expedition. On January 28, 1507, they broke out of the Rockies at Sand Creek. Viewing the Rio Grande, Pike announced that they had reached the Red River. He believed that he and his party were still in American territory. Now the villain steps forward! Dr. John Robinson had been to Santa Fe earlier with Baptiste La Lande, and had been mysteriously placed in Pike's company. Pike sent him to Santa Fe ahead of the troop. This was unfortu- nate since Robinson proved to be a spy. Pike built a fort while awaiting Robinson's return, and on February 18, a Spanish dragoon caught sight of Twenty-four

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ii the structure. Pike informed them that he planned to go down the river to Natchitoches, which was neither on the Red River nor the Rio Grande. Ten days later, two French trappers rode up to Pike's fort and reported the advance of a Spanish force. Pike willingly opened his gate and surrendered to Don Fernandiz. lt was then that Pike really found out he was on the Rio Grande River. The Spanish brought Pike and his company into Santa Fe in triumph and sent a rescue party for his men in the mountains. Pike was questioned by Governor Alencaster as to Robinson's relationship to the company. Robinson had been captured and had pleaded that he was with Pike's troop. This, Pike readily denied. The governor had Pike's trunk. examined, but he found nothing of any consequence since Pike had already distributed his important papers among his men. Immediately after the inspection, however, Pike collected these docu- ments and replaced them in his own trunk for safe keeping. Alencaster became more friendly and assured Pike that he was not a prisoner of war, although he would have to go before General Salcedo, commandant at Chilhuahua. The next few days, the troop amused the natives by answering their numerous questions, They wanted to know what kind of houses the members lived in, and whether the people in the United States wore hats or not, since Pike and his men had entered the city hatless. The party was accompanied part of the way to Chilhuahua by their captor, Don Fernandiz, who became a good friend of Pike. They proceeded to Santo Domingo, down the Rio Grande Valley to San Felipe, and here were enter- tained with an elaborate concert. At Albuquerque, entertainment and feasting awaited them. Near Atrisco, Pike encountered Melgares, who, instead of treating him as an enemy, was jovial and friendly. He even provided enter- tainment for them at San Fernandez. - Finally, arriving at Chilhuahua, Pike's troop received a cordial welcome from General Salcedo, who, after relieving Pike of his valued documents, which he had so cleverly concealed from Alencaster, sent the little expedition once more on its way back to the United States by the Texas route. The American Fort at Natchitoches was reached on July l, 1807-a year after the colorful journey was begun, Consequently, through Pike's adventur- ous spirit, new lands were opened to the pioneers, and a footpath was provided for those who later traversed the great Santa Fe Trail! THE STARS By VALERIE HORAN Tonight I looked into the sky To see what I could see, Ana' there I saw a million stars, All looking down at me. So then I looked into a pool To see what I could see, And do you know, I saw more stars, All looking up at me. Twenty-Hue