WESTERN INCIDENTS. 47

VI.

THE PARTING SUPPER AT LAPORTE—-JOURNEY TO DENVER—-RETURN
TRIP OVER THE PLAINS TO KEARNY——-MEETING WITH BEN HOL-
LADAY AND FRIENDS——RAILROAD TRIP TO OMAHA—-TRIBUTE TO
THOMAS C. DURANT——-REMARKABLE PROGRESS OF THE UNION

PACIFIC RAILROAD—-TROUBLES AT THE HERNDEN HOUSE.

Omana, Neprasxa, Monday, Oct. 8, 1866.
LAPORTE TO DENVER AND KEARNY.

After a most excellent parting supper from the antelope,
killed the previous day, and other fixings which our
hostess, Mrs. Taylor, provided in her best style, Mr.
Williams and myself parted from our friends, Gen.
Dodge and Mr. Evans, at Laporte, on the evening of
October 1, and took the stage for Denver; which place
we reached for breakfast on the following morning, with-
out accident or adventure. The succeeding day was
spent in preparing for our departure eastward.

On Wednesday morning, October 3, we took our seats
in one of Ben Holladay’s best coaches, in company with
Senator Chaffee, of Central City, Colorado bound for
a connection with the somewhat more comfortable cars
of the Union Pacific Railroad, at the nearest practicable
point, which we hoped to be Plum Creek, or some point
further west.

The roads were in excellent condition; and nothing
worth noting occurred to break the dull monotony of
our passage over the dry and sterile plains, covered
with low tufts of yellow frost-bitten grass, and the