Forty years at El Paso, 1858-1898; recollections of war, politics, adventure, events, narratives, sketches, etc., by W. W. Mills. Page: 26 of 163

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FORTY YEARS AT EL PASO.

29

its population. I know this from my own experience
during my visits to Eastern cities, and the same statement
was made by every El Paso wanderer on returning
home. I mean that a gentleman registering from El Paso
in any of the great cities received more attention and was
more questioned about his town than one from San
Antonio or Denver.
It seemed impossible to go anywhere without meeting
an army officer or some one who had lived at El Paso, or
some stranger who had heard of the little hamlet and
was eager to learn more.
In spite of privations, our little village seemed to have
an unaccountable fascination for every one who saw
it, refined American ladies as well as the less fastidious
and sterner sex.
This was my El Paso. To me it was like the Deserted
Village to Goldsmith.
The new El Paso got away from me. Que sea por
Dios.
Our merchandise and supplies were brought from St.
Louis, a distance of sixteen hundred miles, or from Port
Lavaca, Texas, a distance of nine hundred miles, by large
trains of immense freight wagons, "Schooners of the
Plains," drawn by fourteen to eighteen mules, usually
four abreast, at a cost of twelve and one-half to fifteen
cents per pound for freight only. These trains were
usually accompanied by twenty-five to forty men, including
the drivers, all of whom were well armed, and stoodguard
like soldiers.
The "wagonmaster" was a character of importance
and authority, and a hunter was usually employed to
procure fresh meat and to look out for Indians and for
Indian "sign." These trains, like the stage coaches,
were often attacked by Indians, but because of the

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Mills, William W. Forty years at El Paso, 1858-1898; recollections of war, politics, adventure, events, narratives, sketches, etc., by W. W. Mills., book, 1901; Chicago. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6112/m1/26/ocr/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .

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