In this Book
- Crossing Rio Pecos
- Book
- 2012
- Published by: TCU Press
- Series: Chisholm Trail Series
summary
The 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 legendary names such as Horsehead and Pontoon, could travelers hope to gain passage. Even if the river proved obliging, Indian raiders and outlaws often did not.
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 to relate 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 emerges as the definitive study of these gateways which were so vital to the opening of the western frontier.
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 to relate 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 emerges as the definitive study of these gateways which were so vital to the opening of the western frontier.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright
- pp. 2-7
- Chapter 1: River of the West
- pp. 1-8
- Chapter 2: Pope's Crossing
- pp. 9-30
- Chapter 3: Emigrant Crossing
- pp. 31-42
- Chapter 4: Horsehead Crossing
- pp. 43-60
- Chapter 5: Spanish Dam Crossing
- pp. 61-70
- Chapter 6: Pontoon Crossing
- pp. 71-86
- Chapter 7: Lancaster Crossing
- pp. 87-108
- Chapter 8: Other Crossings
- pp. 109-120
- About the Author
- pp. 123-124
- Bibliography
- pp. 171-186
Additional Information
ISBN
9780875655611
Related ISBN(s)
9780875651590
MARC Record
OCLC
42854715
Pages
208
Launched on MUSE
2014-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No