The route of the original Texas Trail was not direct, it swung eastward across Oklahoma, or Indian Territory, to Coffeyville ; then swung westward up the Arkansas river valley a hundred or more miles, and while such a route had water advantages over a route more direct, I had often wondered if that was the reason for its being in such an indirect way.

The story came to me in the later eighties, that in about 1860, a herd had been sent north by the direct route, but that it never reached the Arkansas river. Searching parties failed to disclose what became of them although they found evidences of a stampede near the southwest corner of Kansas. The following year another expedition was planned but it met with the same fate. Not a trace beyond a few miles from where they had appeared to stampede.

The next expedition was manned with a bunch of trustworthy men, and absolutely fearless. It occurred to the owners that perhaps somewhere off to the westward someone or several were starting new ranches at the expense of the Texas owners. So after sending out the original party, a second outfit of ten men and a wagon were directed to follow. Their duty was apparently to pick up the stragglers that were left behind, or that would get up in the night and start back along the trail.

One of those beautiful moonlight nights so common to the southwest, while the cattle were all lying down apparently at ease, they suddenly arose, and after a brief thunder of hoofs, seemed to melt into the moonlight mist, and the night riders had gone with them. When daylight came the trail was followed a short distance after which it became too indistinct to follow. In the night a sudden whirl wind had arisen and shifting sands had obliterated the tracks.