Caches.—In 1812 an American named Beard, in company with about a dozen companions, made an expedition to Santa Fe, N. M., for trading or speculative purposes. He returned to the U. S. in 1822, and after interesting some St. Louis capitalists in an enterprise "undertook to return to Santa Fe the same fall with a small party and an assortment of merchandise. Reaching the Arkansas late in the season, they were overtaken by a heavy snow storm, and driven to take shelter on a large island. A rigorous winter ensued, which forced them to remain pent up in that place for three long months. During this time the greater portion of their animals perished; so that, when the spring began to open, they were unable to continue their journey with their goods. In this emergency they made a "cache" some distance above, on the north side of the river, where they stowed away the most of their merchandise. From thence they proceeded to Taos, where they procured mules and returned to get their hidden property." The caches are located at a crossing on the Arkansas river, near the mouth of Mulberry creek, a short distance east of the present Fort Dodge in Ford county. They have been used on many occasions since that time.