I wore my nile-green silk, which I am afraid showed off
my splendid coat of tan only too well.
The party was given for Doctor and Mrs. Anderson, who are guests of
General Bourke for a few days. They are en route to Fort Union, New
Mexico. Mrs. Anderson was very handsome in an elegant gown of
London-smoke silk. I am to assist Mrs. Phillips in receiving New
Year's day, and shall wear my pearl-colored Irish poplin. We are going
out now for a little ride.
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY,
January, 1872.
WHEN we came over on the stage from Kit Carson last fall, I sat on top
with the driver, who told me of many terrible experiences he had
passed through during the years he had been driving a stage on the
plains, and some of the most thrilling were of sand storms, when he
had, with great difficulty, saved the stage and perhaps his own life.
There have been ever so many storms, since we have been here, that
covered everything in the houses with dust and sand, but nothing at
all like those the driver described. But yesterday one came - a
terrific storm - and it so happened that I was caught out in the
fiercest part of it.
As Faye was officer of the day, he could not leave the garrison, so I
rode with Lieutenant Baldwin and Lieutenant Alden. The day was
glorious - sunny, and quite warm - one of Colorado's very best, without
a cloud to be seen in any direction. We went up the river to the mouth
of a pretty little stream commonly called "The Picket Wire," but the
real name of which is La Purgatoire. It is about five miles from the
post and makes a nice objective point for a short ride, for the clear
water gurgling over the stones, and the trees and bushes along its
banks, are always attractive in this treeless country.
The canter up was brisk, and after giving our horses the drink from
the running stream they always beg for, we started back on the road to
the post in unusually fine spirits. Almost immediately, however,
Lieutenant Baldwin said, "I do not like the looks of that cloud over
there!" We glanced back in the direction he pointed, and seeing only a
streak of dark gray low on the horizon, Lieutenant Alden and I paid no
more attention to it. But Lieutenant Baldwin was very silent, and ever
looking back at the queer gray cloud. Once I looked at it, too, and
was amazed at the wonderfully fast way it had spread out, but just
then John shied at something, and in managing the horse I forgot the
cloud.
When about two miles from the post, Lieutenant Baldwin, who had fallen
back a little, called to us, "Put your horses to their best pace - a
sand storm is coming!" Then we knew there was a possibility of much
danger, for Lieutenant Baldwin is known to be a keen observer, and our
confidence in his judgment was great, so, without once looking back to
see what was coming after us, Lieutenant Alden and I started our
horses on a full run.
