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Indian Pioneer History Project for Oklahoma
Date: June 26, 1937
Name: Taylor Fife
Post Office: Thewahle town (tulwa)
Residence Address: Dustin, Oklahoma
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
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Field Worker: Billie Byrd

There are tales that have been told by the older people of a trail called the McFarland Trail that went past the Dustin vicinity. I do not know the exact spot of beginning as I know only just where it ran in the vicinity that I am acquainted with. The trail started in Texas and went into the state of Kansas.

I have heard that this trail came along by way of the present Calvin through to the present Lamar then up along the Rattlesnake Mountains, northwest of the present Dustin, Oklahoma, and then across the Canadian River at a point what was then called the Little Joe Watson Crossing. Little Joe Watson operated a ferry at this crossing but he later sold out to some white men. The trail ran in a northerly direction until another crossing was made at the Canadian river near the Arbeka Busk ground which was about ten miles southeast of the present Henryetta, Oklahoma.

Texas steers commonly called Texas longhorns as well as other stock were driven over this trail. Not only were stock driven over this trail but it was also used by traders and other people.

It has been told that there were once some Spanish traders that traveled along this trail and made an encampment somewhere in the Rattlesnake Mountains. These traders were coming from Texas with fifteen mules and packs on each mule. The packs contained mostly gold.

It was further related that these Spanish traders were killed off by some Indians or whites in an attempt to rob them. It has been supposed and still is supposed that there is a tunnel in these mountains but which no one seemed to have verified it. It has been believed that these Spanish men led their mules with the packs into this tunnel which ended abruptly at a deep chasm, and the men threw or pushed their mules with the packs into this deep chasm at the end of the tunnel. The distance from the top of this chasm to the bottom has never been determined.

It was at a later time that a certain Indian man had heard of the story of the wealth that may be at the bottom of the chasm that he took courage enough to make some investigation. He went down into this chasm but he was never seen and nobody ever attempted to make further investigations. There are stories that there are numerous large snakes living in the hills and among the rocks of the Rattlesnake Mountains, which is southeast of present Weleetka, Oklahoma.

Transcribed and contributed by Lola Crane <coolbreze@cybertrails.com> September 2003.