Quivira Chapter, SFTA Quivira Notes

Don’t June 2011 Forget! The Traveling Trunks Program is Coming to McPherson! Next Program The Traveling Trunks Program is sponsored by The Fort Larned National June 8th Historic Site and the programs are conducted by Park Volunteer David Clapsaddle, Ph.D. Join us as Dr. Clapsaddle reads A Long Way to Santa Program: 7:00pm Fe, the story of Robert Earl, a ten year old lad who accompanies his fa- David Clapsaddle ther’s wagon train from Missouri to Santa Fe in 1850. En route, Robert Presents the experiences the slow monotonous travel of the trade caravan interspersed Traveling Trunks at times with exciting moments of adventure. Dr. Clapsaddle will display the trunk full of artifacts and answer questions from the audience. McPherson Co. Extension Office The program will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the McPherson County Extension 600 W. Woodside Office, 600 W. Woodside. All kids, parents, teachers and anyone else in- McPherson, KS terested are invited to attend. The program is free and open to everyone. For more info The program is hosted by the McPherson County 4H and brought to Call Linda at McPherson by the Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association.

620-241-8719 Dr. Clapsaddle has created five separate programs, each with a trunk of vintage artifacts accompanied by a story or email: related to the artifacts contained in the trunk. Each [email protected] story relates to the Santa Fe Trail. Dr. Clapsaddle’s presentation includes a reading of the story, a display of the artifacts, and a question/answer period. During the past year, Clapsaddle has presented the program to over 3000 students in Kansas, Colorado and Texas.

Membership Information Quivira Chapter Program April 14th Annual Membership in the Quivira Chapter: The Quivira Chapter met in Ellinwood on April 14th for a joint meeting Individual or Family: $10 /yr with the host organization, the Ellinwood Community Historical Society.

Annual Membership in the After dinner, Mary Jo Cunningham presented the program: “Calvin Moses SFTA: Dyche: Freighter on the Trail.” Dyche was Mary Jo’s great grandfather

Individual: $25/yr and was employed by Alexander Majors before starting his own freighting Family: $30 /yr business. Dyche was also commissioned in the Kansas State Militia and

For more information: was sent to the aid of wagon trains besieged by Indians near Cow Creek. Call 620-241-8719 or Mary Jo told stories of her great-grandfather and his life along the Santa Email [email protected] Join us on Facebook! Fe Trail. She also told family stories of the brood he raised and the life of Quivira Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association the large family and the things kids do! The program was attended by nearly 50 people. We appreciate, the great meal, facility and attendance. June 2011 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 2

James Aull Pays Visit to the Quivira Chapter

Although the original visit in February had to be cancelled because of the weather, James Aull, well- known trader on the Santa Fe Trail, managed to reschedule his visit to Little River on March 19th. James relayed stories of his life and the changes that had occurred in the Lexington area during his life- time and even after his death.

James made his one and only trip down the Santa Fe Trail as part of the famous 1846 caravan which included the well-documented trip of Susan Shelby Magoffin. Unfortunately, James made his one trip right during the time of the war with Mexico. James, was drafted into the Traders Battalion and trav- eled on down to Chihuahua. He fought in the Battle of Sacramento and ended up selling his goods in Chihuahua where he died violently along with his partner. James ended up buried in Chihuahua far from the hills of Missouri.

The program was attended by 27 Quivira Chapter members and guests. After the program, the other side of James Aull, Santa Fe Trail Association President Roger Slusher discussed the current happen- ings of the Santa Fe Trail Association. He relayed his recent travels to Washington and the activities there by the various trail organizations to acquire funding for the upcoming year. He reiterated the im- portance of keeping track and reporting the minutes and hours spent on Trail activities as it relates to obtaining funding the National Park Service and the SFTA.

After the program, we conducted a short business meeting. Elections were held of the Officers and the Board. We also discussed installing signs at the new Santa Fe Trail Park in Great Bend, Ralph’s Ruts, and the Stone Corral area. A geo-caching project was also discussed. Also present at our meeting was Ed Hodgson, Little River native who presented a copy of the one of the famous old oval road signs. Ed has now had replicas of the signs made and Ed urged anyone who is interested in buying one to contact him. If anyone is interested they can contact me and I will put them in contact with Ed.

The United Methodist Women who served our meal are to be complimented on the wonderful food they served at the meal preceeding our program. What a great meal! It was so fun to see so many people at- tend our meeting. My only regret as president is that I did not get a chance to talk to everyone!

Election of Officers and Board

The Chapter held elections at the March 19th meeting. The 2011 elected officers and board members are:

President Linda Colle Vice Pres./Sec. Lorna Nelson Treasurer Maureen Hall Rice Co. Director #1 Pat Hall Rice Co. Director #2 Janel Cook McPherson Co Director #1 Britt Colle McPherson Co. Director #2 John Martin Barton Co. Director #1 Robert Button James Aull addresses the Quivira Chapter Barton Co Director #2 Robert Yarmer June 2011 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 3

Part 1: Cholera in Central Kansas in 1867 Excerpts from the Report on Epidemic Cholera and Yellow Fever in the Army of the United States During the Year 1867. War Department, Surgeons General’s Office, Washington D.C. June 10, 1868.

Ely McClellan, Assistant Surgeon, and Brevet Major, U.S.A. describes the cholera epidemic in a report written to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. C. McKee, Surgeon, U.S.A., Chief Medical Officer, District of New Mexico. McClellan was detached on special duty from the headquarters of the 38th Infantry to ac- company the regiment on a march to New Mexico. The report was made from Fort Craig, New Mexico, November 1, 1867. Assistant Surgeon Ely McClellan arrived June 18, 1867, at Fort Riley, Kansas, and was occupied until the 25th day of the same month in providing for the sick from three detachments of the regiment. On June 22nd, two companies left Fort Riley accompanied by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Geo. M. McGill. On the same day, an aggravated case of sporadic cholera occurred in a quartermaster's employee. On June 25th, McClellan left Fort Riley with one company of the 38th and arrived at Fort Harker on the morning of the 26th. No sickness of any consequence was reported. McClellan describes the camp in his report as follows: “The regimental camp was made upon a small plateau or bench formed by the first rise of ground from a small creek, a tributary of the Smoky Hill fork, and about half a mile to the southwest of the post, and about the same distance from the creek. This plateau, although lower than the ground upon which the post was situated, presented so many natural advantages, that it was selected, after careful consideration, in preference to more elevated positions. The drainage was admirable; the natural slope of the plain was to the southwest; on the north and east large arroyos received the wash from the higher ground, while to the west the fall to the meadow bordering the creek was abrupt. The plain was covered with short prairie grass; the soil was loose and gravelly; the ground had never been occupied for camp purposes. The troops were well clothed, and provided with camp and garrison equipage; the tents were new, of the A pattern, and of a suffi- cient number to prevent any overcrowding. Great care was taken by the commanding officer to observe all sanitary precautions. There was no epidemic or any character at the post, and the tendency to diarrhea, which I had observed prior to my arrival at Harker, seemed to have subsided.” On June 28th, a detachment of the 38th Infantry, consisting of Companies D and F under the com- mand of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel H. C. Merriam, and under the medical charge of Brevet Lieuten- ant Colonel McGill, U. S. A., left the post en route to Fort Union, N. M. Damage to the Union Pacific Railway by the extraordinary June floods of 1867 delayed the medical supplies for this detachment at some point east of Fort Harker. Dr. McGill was forced to start the march with a depleted medical sup- ply. At the start of the march, McClellan assisted Dr. McGill in his inspection of the men of this com- mand, and no indication of latent disease was discovered. This command left Fort Harker and crossed the Smoky Hill about noon on June 28th. McClellan remained at Fort Harker, and shortly after the departure of the 38th Infantry Companies D and F, he was requested by Acting Assistant Surgeon Ira Perry, to see an employee of the beef con- tractor, whom he feared was seized with malignant cholera. McClellan described the visit: “The man was living in a “dug-out," the most miserable form of human habitation, in the immediate vicinity of a filthy slaughter-pen, and about one mile and a half south- west of the camp of the 38th. On our arrival the patient was found perfectly collapsed, JUNE 201 1 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 4

Part 1: Cholera in Central Kansas in 1867, continued

exhibiting all the peculiar symptoms of the disease, and the case terminated fatally within a few hours. The clothing, articles of furniture, and ground around this patient were infected by the excreta, which had been thrown out in all directions, the patient hav- ing suffered from the disease and its premonitory symptoms many hours before calling in aid. Active disinfectant measures were instantly instituted by Dr. Perry. On the evening or the same day, Private Henry Groom, of Company “H," 38th Infantry, was taken with fully marked symptoms of the same disease and was conveyed from camp to the post hos- pital where he died early the next day.” These cases inaugurated the epidemic at Fort Harker. McClellan subsequently learned from a report which Hospital Steward D. D. Peabody, U. S. A., (who was on duty with Dr. McGill, ) that the first case in Colonel Merriam's command occurred at Plumb creek, their first camp, on the evening of the same day, June 28th. On June 29th, Private Tony Powell, also of Company “H," was attacked, and was sent to the post hospi- tal, where he was successfully treated. On June 30th, Private W. Jackson, Company H, was seized with the disease and sent to hospital, where he died the next day. According to McClellan, the Fort Harker camp of the 38th Infantry adopted the most rigid precaution- ary measures. The men were debarred from communication with the post as much as possible. The sup- ply of water was obtained from a spring near the site of the abandoned Fort Ellsworth, nearly two miles from Fort Harker; and new cedar water casks were procured for this purpose. Great care was observed in disinfecting the sinks (latrines), with fresh earth and quicklime used each day. The company tents were struck and removed to fresh ground every few days. Company officers were required to inspect the food prepared for each meal. Hospital tents were erected and bunks were provided for the sick. McClellan reported the following cases at Fort Harker: July 1: Five enlisted men were attacked with milder cases of cholera and six cases of diarrhea were reported. July 2: Three cases of cholera occurred, with four of prodromic diarrhea. July 3: There were four cases of cholera and two of diarrhea. July 4: Two cases of cholera and one of diarrhea July 5: One case of cholera and one of diarrhea July 7: One case of cholera. Five of these cases were fatal. After this date the disease in Company H seemed to be arrested, al- though diarrhea still continued. The treatment for cholera as described by McClellan consisted of pure chloroform for the relief of cramps and vomiting, and also as a stimulant; the employment of calomel in graduated doses, camphor, opium, the various alkaloids, brandy, and food. Personnel destroyed infected articles of clothing and bed furniture by burning. Deep, narrow pits were dug to receive excreta of all kinds, and were con- stantly kept disinfected by fresh earth and mineral acids. Close stools (commodes) were constructed of small boxes, which were nearly filled with earth, and were exclusively used by diarrhea patients. After each evacuation, the stools were inspected by an intelligent attendant, who recorded the character of the discharge, disinfected it with acids, placed it in the pits before described, and renewed the earth in the boxes. In the tents, carbolic acid and chlorine were used as disinfectants; and in the drinking water JUNE 201 1 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 5

Part 1: Cholera in Central Kansas in 1867, continued the solution of permanganate of potash. From the 7th of July no new cases of cholera occurred in the command. The disease continued in and around the post and seemed confined to two companies of the 38th Infantry and one company of the 10th Cavalry, who were doing garrison duty, to the quartermaster's employees, and to citizens. No officers or members of their families had been attacked; nor had it spread to a company of the 37th Infantry. After a slight lull, the disease suddenly reemerged with increased severity. The first victim was Mrs. Sternberg, wife of the post assistant surgeon. She died after eleven hours of intense suffer- ing, which defied medical aid. On July 16 - 19, the disease raged with unabated fury, but no new cases were developed in the camp of the 38th. The precise manner in which the disease was introduced to Fort Harker would be difficult to deter- mine. The post had been but lately located upon high, well-drained, and unused ground. It was ap- proximately two miles from the road to the Arkansas and Santa Fe. The supply of water was good, and was obtained from a spring, which was guarded with every care, to prevent the introduction of excrement. The June floods had not produced any susceptible malarial influences. No obvious cause was to be found in the post for the development of the cholera poison. The most logical source was that that the cholera was directly imported from Fort Riley, for the following reasons: 1. The progress of cholera had been arrested at Fort Riley in 1866, after fifty-nine cases off cholera and six hundred and thirty-five cases of acute diarrhea had been treated in that garrison. 2. On June 22nd, a fatal case of sporadic cholera had occurred at Fort Riley while troops of the 38th Infantry were encamped in its vicinity. 3. Three detachments of the 38th Infantry, also en route for Harker, had been temporarily encamped near that post, and on ground which had been used for camp purposes. 4. The disease appeared at Fort Harker, among the men of the 38th Infantry within seven days of the case at Fort Riley. About the same time, the quartermaster's department was removed from Fort Riley to Fort Harker. This introduced a large number of employees, many of whom had been employed at Fort Riley for a considerable period. On the other hand, the disease was developed simultaneously in three distinct localities: 1. The employee of the beef contractor, who lived nearly two miles from the post. 2. Among the enlisted men in the camp of the 38th Infantry. 3. In the command of Col. Merriam, at Plumb creek, some eighteen miles distant. The following facts were determined from the events surrounding the appearance of cholera at Fort Harker: 1. The disease also existed among the men of Mexican freight trains that had been loaded further east. 2. The quartermaster's employees, who were first attacked and who had the disease most severely, were not those brought from Fort Riley, but those who had been employed for some length of time at Fort Harker. JUNE 201 1 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 6

Part 1: Cholera in Central Kansas in 1867, continued

3. At the inception of the epidemic, the citizens living in the vicinity of the post were found to be most susceptible to the disease. Prior to the outbreak of the disease, the stations of both the Santa Fe and Smoky Hill stage routes were in the vicinity of the post. The cholera may have been transferred via these routes. However, the inhabitants of these stations were exempt from the disease and no cases were documented as occurring on either of these routes until after the movement of the troops then at Fort Harker. The working par- ties of the Union Pacific Railway had reached the post but, as far as could be determined, no cases of sickness had occurred among them. The organization of the 38th Infantry may point to the manner of distribution of the disease. The en1istments for the 38th Infantry occurred October, 1866 to June, 1867. The regiment was then 1,200 strong. The majority of the men were enlisted in the southwest, and had served in volunteer organiza- tions; the western and middle States furnished the remainder of the quota. The localities in which the largest number of enlistments were made had outbreaks of cholera during the season preceding the regimental organization: Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville and Mem- phis, Tennessee; Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi; Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. However, McClellan outlines the most plausible theory in his report. “…the fact of the first case occurring near an old slaughter-pen, which contained masses of filth, and in a miserable foul "dug-out." The man had been sick two or more days be- fore the attention of Dr. Perry had been called to his case and his death ensued within a few hours of the first medical visit. Until the diarrhea and vomiting had become profuse, the patient had gone into the hushes near at hand to empty his bowels; when they be- came more frequent and urgent, a bucket was used as the receptacle, and at the time of our visit it contained quite a considerable quantity of rice-water discharges. 'Iime enough had therefore elapsed for fermentation to have occurred, and for the cholera matter to be widely disseminated prior to the departure of Colonel Merriam's command.” To be continued….

Joint Tour with Cottonwood Chapter Scheduled for July 23, 2011

The Quivira Chapter will join with the Cottonwood Chapter for a tour of selected sites in Rice County on Saturday, July 23rd. The tour will be a car caravan. We will meet at the Little Arkansas Cross- ing/Cottonwood Grove Cemetery which is 3/4 mile west of Plum St. along the Rice/McPherson Co. line on Ave. P at 10:00 a.m. Britt Colle will lead the tour of the area including the dugouts, cemetery, Camp Grierson, stone corral, the bridge, fords, and the Marker Cottonwood as well as the Swanson Swales and Fry ruts in the surrounding area. We will follow the Local Tour Route past the Chavez robbery/murder site before making our way to Lyons. Lunch is on your own. Due to a recent buffalo hunt, the chef may provide snack samples of buffalo tongue, heart, and liver. At 1:30 p.m. we will rendezvous at the Coronado Quivira Museum for a guided tour and viewing of the Hayes Collection of Indian artifacts gathered from the Indians sites that are part of the afternoon tour. From the museum we will travel back east on Highway 56 to 22nd Road and then north to the sites of the Intaglio Serpent, the Peverly Petroglyphs, and the Hayes Pit House. Come prepared for walking in a hot, weedy, muggy, and muddy environment with poison ivy preva- lent so wear comfortable shoes, socks, pants, bug spray, etc. If you need a ride, let us know. At the conclusion of the tour, we can discuss meeting for dinner or just going home after a fun day of touring! In case of rain and/or mud, there will be no access to tour sites and the tour will be rescheduled. June 2011 QUIVIRA NOTES PAGE 7

SANTA FE TRAIL HALL OF FAME The SFTA is looking for nominations for the Santa Fe Trail Hall of Fame. The Quivira Chapter is in the process of preparing information to nominate the following individuals: Ashael Beach Elizabeth Mathewson Abijah Beach William Mathewson George Armstrong Custer Charley Rath Ernestine Huning William Allison Franz Hunning Charles Fuller George Peacock

Anyone may nominate a person to be considered for the Hall of Fame by providing a 100-word or longer justification for adding that nominee to the Hall of Fame. The inductees will be comprised of individuals who traveled the historic Santa Fe Trail and/or made a significant contribution to the history of the Santa Fe Trail. Illustration and text for each inductee is to be displayed in the Santa Fe Trail Center on a touch-screen computer monitor featuring information on all the inductees plus related materials. If anyone has an additional person to nominate, contact Linda Colle, 620-241- 8719 or [email protected]

Quivira Chapter & Santa Fe Trail Association Application for Membership

Membership in the Quivira Chapter is just $10 per year for individuals or families. Membership in the Santa Fe Trail Association is $25 per year for individuals and $30 for families. SFTA membership includes a subscription to Wagon Tracks, the SFTA Quarterly publication. Make it easy! Let the Quivira Chapter take care of every- thing. Make one payment of $35 for individuals and $40 for a family and cover both memberships!

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Telephone: Email:

Total Amount Submitted Membership Type: (Please Circle one) $ Individual Family

Mail to: Quivira Chapter, SFTA Quivira Chapter Single or Family $10 c/o Linda Colle, President 724 Penn Drive McPherson, KS 67460 SFTA Single $25 SFTA Family $30

For more information call 620-241-8719 or email: [email protected] QUIVIRA CHAPTER, SFTA

President Linda Colle 724 Penn Drive McPherson, KS 67460

Tour Rice County sites July 23rd @ 10am Meet at Little Arkansas Crossing/ Cottonwood Grove Cemetery

Call Linda at 620-241-8719 Or email her To advise of attendance for planning purposes