Crossing Rio PecosThe Pecos River flows snake-like out of New Mexico and across West Texas before striking the Rio Grande. In frontier Texas, the Pecos was more moat than river, a deadly barrier of quicksand, treacherous currents, and impossibly steep banks. Only at its crossings - with such legendary names as Horsehead and Pontoon - could travelers hope to gain passage. Even if the river proved obliging, its Indian raiders and outlaws often did not. Its banks echoed with the sounds of the mythic Old West - the war cry of the Indian, the blast of the cowboy's six-shooter, the crack of the stage-driver's whip, the thunder of the stampeding longhorn. While documented history was painting dreary lives for pioneers in many other locations, the Pecos stirred with color and drama and nurtured the stuff of legend. Long after irrigation and dams rendered the river a polluted trickle, Patrick Dearen went seeking out the crossings and the stories behind them. In Crossing Rio Pecos, a follow-up to his Castle Gap and the Pecos Frontier, he draws upon years of research and relates the history and folklore of all the crossings: Horsehead, Pontoon, Pope's, Emigrant, Salt, Spanish Dam, Adobe, S, and Lancaster. Meticulously documented, Crossing Rio Pecos is the definitive study of these gateways which were so vital to the opening of the western frontier. |
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Apaches April August bank beeves Brevet Butterfield Butterfield Overland Mail Camp Melvin canyon Captain Castle Gap Clayton Williams Colonel Comanches command Company cowboys Davis Dearen December Department of Texas diary downstream drovers east Emigrant Crossing Evetts Haley Fifth Military District ford Fort Concho Fort Davis Fort Stockton Frontier Goodnight-Loving Trail Haley Library Haley Memorial Library headquarters Horsehead Crossing horses Ibid Indians interview with author interview with Haley January journal of marches July June Lancaster Crossing letters and telegrams Lower Road Mexico Midland miles mules Ninth Cavalry O. W. Williams October Olinger party Paso Paul Patterson Pecos County Pecos River Pontoon Bridge Pontoon Crossing Pope's Crossing post adjutant Post returns ranch recalled reported Rock route Salt Crossing San Angelo San Antonio scouts Second Lieutenant September Southwest Collection stage Stockton taped interview telegrams received telegrams sent Torres trail U.S. Army upstream West Texas Williams Collection wrote