Forty years at El Paso, 1858-1898; recollections of war, politics, adventure, events, narratives, sketches, etc., by W. W. Mills. Page: 9 of 163

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FORTY YEARS AT EL PASO.

Colonel Scurry said that young men on foot could make
the trip to El Paso for relief better than any of our
worn-out animals, and my brother and I volunteered for
the tramp. We left the tank, thirsty, at sunset and
reached the river below El Paso before daybreak, and
after slaking our thirst, slept on the ground till morning,
when we sent out a relief party, with water. Soon thereafter
I went to Fort Fillmore, in New Mexico, forty-five
miles above El Paso, where I clerked in the sutler's
store of Hayward
but of them later on. I remember camping alone over
night at the place now known as Hudsons Hot Springs.
The second journey I made as wagonmaster of our train
laden with merchandise for the Santa Rita store, and
brought back a load of copper, which we sent by wagons
to Port La Vaca, eight hundred miles, and thence to New
York by Gulf and Sea.
While at the copper mines, three prospectors-Tayor,
Snively and another-came to my camp and reported
that they had discovered placer gold at Pinos Altos,
near there, and, as they were out of provisions and
money, I gave them what was called a "grub stake"that
is, provisions to continue their explorations. That
was in I859, and I am told that gold is still being washed
out at Pinos Altos, in I9oo.