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Explorations
in "The Big Bend" — Land of Grandeur
October 24 - December 17, 1913
| I set out on the 24th of October in
the year 1913 from the Hotel Holland in the town of Alpine, nestled
in the Alps of Texas. I was to follow creek beds (sometimes no more
than dry washes) due south to the Rio Grande, in search of the "big
bend" country upon which few white men have laid eyes and of
which fewer still have shared stories. It was my fervent hope that
water would be available as needed for myself and my horse in springs,
or -- at least -- in pot holes carved from the unforgiving rock.
I was well aware of the heartless nature of the desert, but perhaps
there would be some standing refreshment still from the great thunderheads
of August, as the winter dry period had not yet begun. My meanderings
were also dependent on the state of unrest between American and
Mexican contenders for this sparse and spacious land, and so I gingerly
picked a route between areas of recent bloodshed. A third caution
was the green mountainous area north of the river's great bend,
due to wild animals such as bear and panther that would find in
me and my steed ample nourishment. And so I began my travels, aware
of these above-mentioned dangers and yet eager to record for others
the wonder of this vast and uncharted territory. The only peril
encountered was one cloaked in the guise of a giver of life. It
was into the Ernst Tinjaha (Pool) where two saddle bags of photographic
negatives came to rest. I thus have few depictions to prove my tale
of this remarkable journey. I beg the reader who happens upon this
scrapbook to forgive a momentary lapse and to use what few photographs
remain as a spur to journeying into the Land of the Big Bend. In
such fashion may he confirm the truth of what some mere viewers
may regard as altogether fabulous claims. |
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