13 or so crosscounty miles Northeast should get us to the RailRoad track about 4 miles West of Deming and we can do some gold spike hunting. Typical Southwestern sky. Bright ,crystal blue. Light wind from the West, no clouds. As we plod along through a trailless desert we see no sign humans have ever been here. Not a sound other than what we cause. The boys look great and happy ,this is what they like best wandering around in the desert. Steve and I like it as well.
After 8 miles or so we dismount, water the boys, stretch out the back , chance last night was a little tougher on us as we get older. In the ring on Pete's bridal a piece of polished turquoise is wedged , Steve has one also. Color enhanced photograph Thinking that someone in the chance hell hole did this for us , makes both of us turn around and look at our tracks headed back to chance. Later we both have finger rings of White Oaks gold and Chance turquoise made and wear them still today.
Remounted I’m figuring there are about 10,000 spikes per mile and its gonna be a dirt covered spike head nit some gleaming thing shining at us ,don’t hold out much hope just like Ed did when he went looking for it. At the track we dismount get on both sides of the track leading the boys and looking at spike heads after awhile you look at one but don’t actually see it, ahead the track turns into a black ribbon for as far as you can see. Hum of the telegraph wire adjacent to the track is constant , interrupted by clicking of a message being sent. About ready to forget it , Sheba pulls Steve to a halt we look down and what do you know it’s the spike . Twenty minutes of digging, prying and sweating it’s out. Pouring water on the spike removing the dirt and grime.
Three miles later we see Deming up ahead. Town was founded in 1881 as the tracks came through. There is some activity at the station, passengers get off with luggage and freight of various types is stacked on the platform. An Eastern air is sensed from the passengers getting off. At the depot office we meet Scott Mark’s the manager and inquire about accommodations to El Paso he tells us he has been looking for us since his brother in law the livery owner in Lordsburg telegraphed him about how well we treated the boys when we passed through.
Mark’s informs us he has a freshly cleaned cattle car with new hay. Available at no charge on tomorrow’s train . We try to pay , but he will not have it. R. W. Smith’s commercial hotel is the next stop. The streets are wide. Clean and well graded most of the structures are masonry, so are the houses ,there is a fair amount of traffic. Deming has a more refined air than Lordsburg and we think it could amount to something. Turns out 100 years later it never did and just flamed out. R. W. greets us In the lobby ,one would be hard pressed to find a nicer gentleman , this is unfortunately the last time we see him as he goes over to the other side before we come back in 1892.
Steak yams collards tea in the hotel dining room. Off to bed early. Still recovering from Chance visit. At dawn we are all in the cattle car. Doors open, watching the land roll by. Next stop el Paso
